Tangible 3D urban simulation table

Design models for an urban landscape could simulate how design alternatives perform with regards to volatile environmental phenomena, human movements and social interactions in the city. This paper presents a low-tech markerless approach to designing and developing a tangible 3D urban simulation table, using an ordinary table, generic building blocks and fabricated urban models, a Kinect and a projector. The digital 2D scene was projected on the table, in response to the forms and configurations of physical 3D models on the table. The installation that was developed for a public exhibition was specifically designed for visualizing wind flows and speed on an urban site. Users can get their hands on the 3D tangible building blocks to change the configuration of the urban model on the table and get a sense how it influences the wind flow around the site.