Bridging qualitative spatial constraints and feature-based parametric modelling: Expressing visibility and movement constraints

We present a concept for integrating state-of-the-art methods in geometric and qualitative spatial representation and reasoning with feature-based parametric modelling systems. Using a case-study involving a combination of topological, visibility, and movement constraints, we demonstrate the manner in which a parametric model may be constrained by the spatial aspects of conceptual design specifications and higher-level semantic design requirements. We demonstrate the proposed methodology by applying it to architectural floor plan layout design, where a number of spaces with well defined functionalities have to be arranged such that particular functional design constraints are maintained. The case-study is developed by an integration of the declarative spatial reasoning system CLP(QS) (CLP(QS) – a declarative spatial reasoning system. www.spatial-reasoning.com.) with the parametric CAD system FreeCAD.