Design Efficacy Evaluation of a Landscape Information Modeling–Stable Diffusion (LIM–SD)-based Approach for Ecological Engineered Landscaping Design: A Case Study of an Urban River Wetland
Yan HUANG1(), Tianjie LI2
. School of Design and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China . School of Art and Design, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 311199, China
This study introduces a Landscape Information Modeling–Stable Diffusion (LIM–SD)-based digital workflow for ecological engineered landscaping (EEL) design, focusing on urban river wetlands. It explores how students from diverse academic backgrounds perform EEL tasks using the LIM–SD approach. A total of 30 participants, including industrial design postgraduates and landscape architecture undergraduates and postgraduates, completed the design tasks. The efficacy of their designs was assessed through expert evaluations on site appropriateness, aesthetics, spatial layout, and eco-engineering techniques of the design proposals, as well as the parametric simulation which calculated the vegetation coverage rate and proportion of riparian areas for each design. Moreover, evaluation of participants' subjective design experiences was conducted via questionnaires. Results indicated that landscape architecture postgraduates outperformed others applying ecological engineering principles. The study also elucidated discrepancies between LIM models and SD-generated renderings, as well as the uncertainty of SD-generated renderings, suggesting improvements are needed to align digital outputs with ecological design criteria.
Yan HUANG,Tianjie LI. Design Efficacy Evaluation of a Landscape Information Modeling–Stable Diffusion (LIM–SD)-based Approach for Ecological Engineered Landscaping Design: A Case Study of an Urban River Wetland[J]. Landsc. Archit. Front.,
2024, 12(5): 68-80.
Fig.1 The site plan of the virtual EEL design task.
Phase
Step
Actor
Method
Outcome
1
Basic modeling
Research team
Prepare a 3D model source file
An original test model for the experiment
LIM object preparation
Research team
Input data for the LIM objects within Rhinoceros software
3D parametric LIM objects, including plants, eco-engineering elements, and landscaping elements
SD model preparation
Research team
Input typical photos of other EEL design projects to train the SD model
SD model with EEL characteristics for rendering the outputs of LIM documents
2
LIM modeling
Participants
LIM modeling based on participants' conceptualization
Detailed LIM documents for participants' EEL design schemes, including modified micro-topography, planting design, eco-engineering elements, and landscaping elements
SD-generated rendering
Participants
Render captures from LIM documents using the constructed SD model, with the aid of prompts
Renderings of design works
3
Evaluation of design efficacy
Experts
Conduct qualitative evaluations of participants' design works
Qualitative evaluations of design works
4
Evaluation of design experience
Participants
Evaluate their design experience during the design project
Students' feedback
Tab.1 Detailed phases of the experiments
Fig.2 The research framework.
Fig.3 The graphical user interface of the plant library within the LIM environment.
Fig.4 Components in the landscaping element library and eco-engineering element library within the LIM environment.
Aspect
Explanation
Site appropriateness
The design adheres to the site-specific attributes of the prototypical urban river wetland in Hangzhou, ensuring that the volume, scale, and intensity of development are harmoniously integrated with the site's inherent characteristics
Aesthetics
The design presents a diverse plant selection and a structural arrangement, creating a visually appealing and natural riparian zone with strategically placed viewing points
Spatial layout
The design reveals the coherence and functionality of the spatial layout, including the integration of roads, squares, and piers, vegetation, water bodies, landscape elements, and ecological engineering components
Eco-engineering techniques
The design incorporates appropriate eco-engineering elements, such as aeration weirs, eco-sluice gates, eco-barges, appropriate slopes, and abundant vegetation coverage in the riparian areas to enhance ecosystem services and promote hydrological resilience (source: Ref.[7])
Tab.2 Detailed evaluation standards for the design outputs
Fig.5 Samples of 27 valid EEL designs.
Fig.6 Samples of 27 valid EEL designs.
Fig.7 The professional evaluation for design quality of each criterion across four aspects.
Fig.8 Results of VCR and PRA values among the three participant groups.
Fig.9 Evaluation results of students' subjective experiences.
Fig.10 Rendering examples of the river wetland landscape under the normal water level (left) and during a 30-year high-water-level event (right).
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