Computational Models of Space: Isovists and Isovist Fields

Abstract A new computational model for space representation, called the isovist, is defined. Given a point x in a space P, the isovist at x, Vz, is the subset of P visible from x. Procedures for computing Vx for polygonal spaces are presented. Next, isovist fields are defined by associating a scalar measure of Vx at each point x in P. The architectural and computational significance of these fields is discussed. Finally, an analysis of computing small, sufficient sets of points is given. A set of points is sufficient if the union of the isovists of the points in the set is the entire space P. Sufficient sets are related to the endpoints of branches of the skeleton in the case of polygonal spaces.

[1]  Ron Sylva,et al.  The Spatial Environment. , 1972 .

[2]  W F Clocksin,et al.  Perception of Surface Slant and Edge Labels from Optical Flow: A Computational Approach , 1980, Perception.

[3]  Theodosios Pavlidis,et al.  A review of algorithms for shape analysis , 1978 .

[4]  Azriel Rosenfeld,et al.  Digital Picture Processing , 1976 .

[5]  H. Blum.  A New Model of Global Brain Function , 2015, Perspectives in biology and medicine.

[6]  R. Mawby,et al.  Defensible Space: A Theoretical and Empirical Appraisal , 1977 .

[7]  Theodosios Pavlidis,et al.  Waveform Segmentation Through Functional Approximation , 1973, IEEE Transactions on Computers.

[8]  Alfred V. Aho,et al.  The Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms , 1974 .

[9]  King-Sun Fu,et al.  Shape Discrimination Using Fourier Descriptors , 1977, IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern..

[10]  Ugo Montanari,et al.  Continuous Skeletons from Digitized Images , 1969, JACM.

[11]  Björn Kruse,et al.  A Parallel Picture Processing Machine , 1973, IEEE Transactions on Computers.

[12]  Ming-Kuei Hu,et al.  Visual pattern recognition by moment invariants , 1962, IRE Trans. Inf. Theory.

[13]  Ralph Roskies,et al.  Fourier Descriptors for Plane Closed Curves , 1972, IEEE Transactions on Computers.

[14]  Theodosios Pavlidis,et al.  Computer Recognition of Figures through Decomposition , 1968, Inf. Control..

[15]  Amos Rapoport,et al.  The Perception Of Urban Complexity , 1970 .

[16]  Azriel Rosenfeld.  Compact Figures in Digital Pictures , 1974, IEEE Trans. Syst. Man Cybern..

[17]  J. Gibson.  The Senses Considered As Perceptual Systems , 1967 .

[18]  Theodosios Pavlidis,et al.  Segmentation of Plane Curves , 1974, IEEE Transactions on Computers.

[19]  Robert M. Haralick,et al.  Decomposition of Two-Dimensional Shapes by Graph-Theoretic Clustering , 1979, IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence.

[20]  Theodosios Pavlidis,et al.  Structural pattern recognition , 1977 .

[21]  Azriel Rosenfeld,et al.  Computer representation of planar regions by their skeletons , 1967, CACM.

[22]  M. Benedikt,et al.  To Take Hold of Space: Isovists and Isovist Fields , 1979 .

[23]  Larry S. Davis,et al.  Understanding Shape: Angles and Sides , 1977, IEEE Transactions on Computers.