Innovative Approaches to Design Representation in Civil Engineering

Abstract

In design and architecture, ‘reality’ exists through sign systems, the structured arrangements of signifying that which previously existed as ideas, beliefs, values, images and events. These representations conform to the philosophical and ideological dispositions that post the philosophical description of the Zeitgeist. An explicit emphasis on representations is characteristic of civil engineering design, which allows for the integration of technological, cultural, and esthetic values and information exchange across the temporal, spatial, and cultural divides. Consequently, it has been identified that, though representation is an important concept in civil engineering, there is no concrete and unambiguous definition of representation in modern civil engineering. This paper fills this gap by providing a theoretical analysis of representation and how it is used in contemporary design professions. From a theoretical viewpoint, the research defines the concept and builds a sound framework to deconstruct and implement representation to a real-life civil engineering model. Representation encompasses imitation and embodiment of prior elements through processes of abstraction or simulation, revealing two key dimensions: generative source (semiotic) and materialization (performed). Representation in civil engineering is present but in two primary dimensions. The first one, which is based on classical procedures, is semantic and realistic, and these works unambiguously express ideologies or technical concepts. The second, non-classical approach, relies on abstraction and subjectivity and here the designs look like an open question – not unique and predetermined by certain context and culture. These dualities place representation as a generative and communicative medium in civil engineering while providing conceptual solutions to structures, city planning and sustainability.