Compliance calculator 99
with urban algorithms. Urban parameters, optimization
and scenarios [5] uses Grasshopper software to mathe-
matically interpret the features of existing urban spaces,
such as roads or basic services. These activities are used to
create scenarios that optimize existing urban complexes.
The method of analysing urban space presented by Robert
Szmytkie in his article Application of graph theory to the
morphological analysis of settlements [6] involves study-
ing the morphology of an urban complex and then creat-
ing a corresponding settlement pattern based on quantita-
tive measures that dene the spatial settlement module.
The aforementioned method was used by Robert
Szmytkie to determine the complexity of the street net-
work. This kind of analysis goes in a similar direction to
the analyses of the degree of homogeneity of the various
features determined by the DCP method. Also, the depic-
tion of the collected data in the form of diagrams shows
some technical similarities with the method presented in
this article. In the work of Engin Zeka A methodology for
measuring the form of organic settlements [7], another
method for studying the morphology of urban structures
is described. In this case, it was decided to analyze and
categorize three of its most important elements. These in-
cluded streets, lots and buildings. With regard to the afore-
mentioned elements, detailed measurements were taken
regarding particular distances, areas, proportions. In the
conducted research, graphics were also used to syntheti-
cally illustrate the conducted research.
The article A methodology for measuring the form of or-
ganic settlements also postulates the use of computer soft-
ware in the future, with the help of which it will be possible
to automate the process of taking the relevant measure-
ments and compare the results obtained during the survey
of dierent urban complexes. From reading this mate-
rial, it is possible to infer some intentional convergence
with the research goals of the DCP. However, the method
is based on dierent analytical mechanisms. In addition,
DCP research already uses software specically designed
to conduct relevant analyses. A review of the state of re-
search indicates a clear trend towards an increase in the
importance of methods for objectifying design activities
in the eld of urban planning with extensive use of com-
puter-assisted techniques. However, they mostly focus on
optimization analyses of urbanized structures.
Research methods
“Compliance calculator” is a new research module
attached to the Spatial Continuity Diagram method. The
method has been described in detail in a monograph [8],
a computer program manual [9] and numerous scientic
articles. The most recent article entitled Spatial Continuity
Diagram was published in 2020 as part of the 25
th
Interna-
tional Conference of the Association for Computer-Aid-
ed Architectural Design Research in Asia1 (CAADRIA
2020) [10]. The DCP method is used to identify basic
architectural and spatial features of existing urban devel-
opment. The purpose of the research is to formulate guide-
lines to support the process of harmonious transformation
or expansion of existing urban development – particularly
its architectural and urban design features in the spirit of
creative interpretation of cultural heritage. In the DCP
method, it is very important to extract all the relevant fea-
tures concerning both architectural objects and the urban
structure of the analysed urban complex. The list of these
features is always dened individually and is closely re-
lated to the nature of the analysed development. There are
sets of features that are constant and recurring in any ur-
ban structure. These include, for example, in the area of
architectural studies: the height of individual buildings,
the angle of inclination of roof slopes or the material used
to cover them. In the area of urban studies, these include,
for example, the length and width of streets, distances be-
tween intersections, etc. There are also features that are
typical only of a particular development and testify to
a certain uniqueness of the analysed urban area. Each of
the studied features has its own categories. For example,
the architectural characteristic “height of buildings” has
categories such as one, two, three or more stories – depend-
ing on how tall the buildings are. The set of urban features
includes, for example, “urban interiors”. In this case, the
categories of this feature can be the areas of each interior.
For each feature, its degree of homogeneity is assigned. It
is the result of calculations made by means of an author’s
mathematical formula:
(1)
where:
SJ
C
– the degree of homogeneity of the feature,
KC – feature category.
With the help of this formula, the degree of homoge-
neity is calculated, which is an emanation of the percent-
age share of the individual categories included in a given
feature in all objects located in the area of the analysed
urban development complex. Degrees of homogeneity of
features are a very important guideline in the process of
transformation or expansion of existing urban complexes.
An extremely important assumption of the DCP method
is that design solutions for planned developments are also
subjected to analogous studies. If the distribution of data
on the categories of features of existing and planned devel-
opments coincides within certain ranges, it can be assumed
that the planned investment processes will proceed in the
spirit of preserving spatial and architectural continuity with
regard to the urban structure undergoing transformation.
By denition, these activities are not intended to lead to
the copying of the existing development, but to the creative
interpretation of its archetypal and urban features. Since
the DCP method is usually used to study large sections of
a city, thousands of architectural and spatial data are anal-
ysed. Processing such a large amount of information by tra-
ditional methods is extremely labour-intensive and, in de-
sign practice, extremely inecient. For this reason, special
software has been developed to maximally support the an-
alytical procedures included in this method. It is a fully au-
tomated computer-based analytical process. The software
that enables research using the DCP method is an open
source overlay, working in the environment of the most
widely used Excel spreadsheet. The use of this well-known