elementsdb is a web-based catalogue of urban design examples, images, models and data developed to facilitate and inform urban planning and design teaching, applied research and practice.
This modular, scalable, spatial lexicon of ‘parcel scale’ urban form elements or cases was built by the elementslab from field-measured examples of the land use ‘elements’ of urban form — parks and open spaces, streets, residential, commercial, civic and industrial parcels and buildings. Each case is rigorously measured and illustrated to comparable standards and graphic conventions to capture its significant qualitative attributes and quantitative dimensions. Included are planning data such as density, use and coverage, environmental performance as well as illustrative data such as photos, plans and 3D models. Data and models can be imported into planning and design software tools such as SketchUp, GoogleEarth and Geographic Information Systems. Some illustrative applications are linked below.
elementsdb IN EDUCATION:
- University of British Columbia Teaching Learning Education Fund (Engaging students with the environmental dimensions of urban design via the web)
elementsdb IN APPLIED RESEARCH
- Measured Visualization Cambie Corridor (City of Vancouver)
- Green Your City Challenge (City of Vancouver and Envision Software)
- CIRS BC Hydro Theatre (Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability and the Canada Fund for Innovation)
- +20 Contemporary Open Spaces
Lead authors: Ronald Kellett and Cynthia Girling
Web programmers: Vibrant Software, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Acknowledgements: With thanks to the following current or former students and colleagues who have provided insight, skill and many hours to elementsdb: Duncan Cavens, Steven Lamb, Doreen Leo, Alexandre Man-Bourdon, Courtney Miller, Nicole Miller, Inna Olchovski, Phil Riley, Warren Scheske, Caroline Schutrumpf, Nick Sinkewicz, Eric Siu, Elsa Snyder, Michael van der Laan, Kevin Zhang.
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