| Collaborative urban design emphasizes public participation and cooperative work among design professionals with different backgrounds. In such a collaborative urban-design process, a variety of different types of information is exchanged and discussed by the participants. In reality, however, information inequality and communication malfunction have become a serious planning issue. A public participant who has no educational background and understanding of design has great difficulty understanding information based on current communication media.;Therefore, my study proposed a computer-aided 3D urban simulation technology as an information-delivery medium for collaborative urban design. I evaluated the possibilities of a 3D urban simulation tool as a communication medium in a collaborative urban-design process with comparisons to other contemporary urban-design presentation media.;To achieve the goal, I developed a 3D urban simulation tool for the High Springs town center visioning process. I conducted a survey of High Springs residents and design students (representing design professionals) for evaluating the simulation tool. I also used the 3D urban simulation tool in several public meetings throughout the High Springs visioning process, and conducted a series of interviews and observations about the application of the tool in those meetings. Statistical analysis showed that the 3D urban simulation tool was better than conventional design-presentation media for delivering design information. The design students preferred the simulation tool in five of six design categories, while the High Springs residents indicated the simulation tool's superiority in two design categories. The interviews and observations provided important points that explain the roles of the simulation tool as a communication medium; data storage, facilitation of dynamic communication environment, expansion of discussion, facilitation of learning, and attraction of participants' attention.;In conclusion, the results of all the quantitative analysis and qualitative data support the fact that the 3D urban simulation tool can improve information sharing and seamless communication among the stakeholders in a public meeting. Based on these research results, my study recommended several approaches that can maximize the uses of the 3D simulation tool and minimize the cost for constructing and managing the 3D datasets. The approaches are to use current 3D models, 3D urban simulation as a spatial database, 3D datasets covering large areas, and 3D urban simulation for multiple purposes. |
