Simulation and visualization tools: how could they support urban designers and planners in shaping a sustainable urban form? a case study in seattle, wa, us

Despite their potential, simulation and visualization tools’ usage in urban design practice lags due to technical, financial, and institutional constraints. There is a need to understand these tools' limitations, methods, and impacts of usage on shaping the urban form. This mixed-method single case-study research was pursued in Seattle, WA, US. It involved three phases: a literature review, an Internet questionnaire, and semi-structured interviews. The research objective is to investigate the methods and extent of SV tools’ usage at various phases, and how their usage supported designers in shaping a sustainable urban form. The findings showed the inadequacies, inconsistencies, and ineffectiveness of their usage. Their impact is correlated with several procedural and substantive factors influenced by the tools' capabilities, availability, and relevance, the design approach, and designer's skills and expertise. Although a single case cannot support general conclusions, the findings represent a data point.