Frequently Asked Questions

Pricing and installation

What Data does DBF need to get started?

Depending on the requirements, we integrate open-source, synthetic, and proprietary data to develop tailored solutions.

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How does DBF's usage-based pricing work?

DBF offers flexible usage-based pricing, allowing you to pay for our services based on your actual usage. This means you'll be charged according to the specific features, resources, or services you utilize.

Does DBF provide custom software development services?

Yes, DBF provides custom development services tailored to your unique needs. Whether you require specialized integrations, customized features, or specific solutions, our expert team collaborates closely with you to develop and implement these services effectively.

What are the performance requirements of my computer?

You can use any reasonable laptop and will be able to create your own design in minutes. Digital Blue Foam is currently optimized for the chrome browser. For large scale urban projects, we recommend using a desktop computer.

We love what you guys do! Can we have tailored solutions for our organization?

Absolutely! We work with several large organizations to make customized versions of our software to optimize customer relations and project deliverables. With our clients we also work on custom data from their past projects or simply on specific typologies and efficiencies.

I'm a Mac user. Can I use your tool?

Yes we do not discriminate or delay other platforms. As long as you use Chrome you can use our online service. We are working to optimize Digital Blue Foam for IPad and other tablet devices to take advantage of the stylus and touch screen.

How long does it take to learn Digital Blue Foam?

By designing the best user experience, you can get started with Digital Blue Foam in minutes. To learn about our advanced features, we have created a fully-loaded resource center, and video tutorials.

How many projects can I work on?

Regardless of your account type there is no limit on how many projects you can save at a given time.

How do you work in the Enterprise account?

We typically start with an interview style meeting from where both parties learn to scope out the pilot project and deliverables. During the pilot project there will be weekly meetings on requirements and progress. During the pilot project we will create multiple prototypes. We sometimes do a competition with everyone in the organisation to try the tool and come up with a design. A pilot project typically runs for 2-3 months and during the last phase we make proposals with our customers for the enterprise account.

We prioritise custom development using agile methodology to maximize value we deliver to the organizations we work with in a transparent manner.

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How do I cancel my subscription?

Please contact us directly if there is anything you are not happy with and we will do our best to address your concerns. If you are still not happy we will give you a full refund.

Can I have a free trial?

We have a dedicated team, working on the product and believe in what we do. Sign-up for our early access program to see for yourself. We believe in hiring great talent and a sustainable business. By charging our customers fairly we can create more value and continue our mission to accelerate the world's transition to better cities.

Do I need to download anything?

Digital Blue Foam is web-based. This means you do not need to fuss about installations or updates to get started. Our interface runs best on Chrome.

Learn how to get started with DBF

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Features

What sets DBF apart from other generative design tools?

DBF is more than software; we specialize in enterprise software for leading organizations, offering expertise in software planning and strategic consulting. Additionally, our technology focuses on analytics to completement generative design, providing evidence-based recommendations to identify the best options.

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How does the tool meet multiple objectives and targets?

Using multi-objective optimization, our tool is designed to meet multiple targets efficiently and effectively. However, there are instances where trade-offs or conflicting objectives arise. For example, you might specify a low maximum height for a building while also requiring an extremely high total floor area.

In such cases, our user interface will gently alert you to the conflict. The system then provides a trade-off solution, balancing the conflicting requirements as best as possible. This ensures you are informed about the trade-offs and can make decisions based on a clear understanding of the design limitations and possibilities.

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What data sources are used by DBF?

We provide extensive project contextual data, encompassing maps, satellite imagery, 3D terrain models, building information, road networks, land use, social media data, and local weather station-based wind and solar data. Additionally, we offer flexibility to integrate proprietary data into your solution, either on-premises or via a hybrid configuration, seamlessly integrated with our spatial analytics.
Learn more about our data sources

What scale of project is Digital Blue Foam suited for?

Small? Medium? Large? Extra-Large? Digital Blue Foam does it all. To find out more, check out our user-achievements.

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How much time does Digital Blue Foam save?

A recent survey of our current customers shows savings of at least 1 week on a 2-3 week project duration. This is a typical feasibility study for the majority of customers, more gains can be made in terms of saving time by creating a range of options. Downloading data such as complete excel sheets and IFC files is assisting our customers further to save time and allow them to focus more on the design to create quality.

How does the Generate Function work?

The generate button takes in large amounts of data and from there starts to create options on the location you have selected using our tool. We assist you to produce building designs based on your input and create a range of options that you can easily compare using our compare overview page. The generate function takes into account your targets and design guidelines, and generates solutions using our proprietary algorithms.

How does Digital Blue Foam analyze sustainability?

We provide, precise and up-to-date, wind analysis and solar studies for any given site location and time period.

Solar studies involve shadow and radiation analysis, and dynamic daylight metrics like Daylight Autonomy (DA) and Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA). You can focus on comparing sustainability of different design options and creating value for your clients, without worrying about any setup requirements.

How can I set requirements for Covid-19 planning of interior spaces?

We have developed a covid space planner tool and we currently are working with clients on specific projects. If you have any inquiries and like to get in touch to learn more we would be happy to assist you further.

How accurate is the Data?

All our data is geolocated and relates directly to your site and building or urban district. We overlay a range of different data sets so our customers don’t need to worry about bringing in data such as climate and context, everything is available right at your fingertips. We also highlight the source of our data in the asset manager. If you wish to work with your own datasets, drag and drop them into the tool easily.

Learn more about our data sources

How are you using Machine Learning?

We employ a variety of Machine Learning techniques within our platform. For example, we have trained Machine Learning Models to compute daylight autonomy for a design. To find out more, check out our medium page. Our team frequently, posts and shares about our current research and development.

Are you trying to replace designers?

Digital Blue Foam is developed by architects for architects. We know how much time it can take to create the context and gather all information for a site, let alone draw a few massing studies and create excel sheets for each of them.

We assist our customers to efficiently and effectively start and communicate early stage project development within their team and with their clients. (Think Jarvis for architects).

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Can I request a new feature?

Absolutely, Digital Blue Foam exists for its customers so we welcome all feedback and ideas. You can drop us a line via the form below and we will get back to you.

You can also check our DBF Community, to give feedback and request features. We do our best to respond to all feedback and requests through frequent updates.

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How do you generate viable designs using AI?

Our AI technology is customized for various building types based on client specifications, ensuring tailored and optimized designs. We use a two-step design generation process:

Exploration: We help users efficiently explore the design space using a novelty search algorithm and our proprietary feasibility indicators.
Optimization: Our advanced AI optimization algorithms then refine the input designs according to user criteria.

This approach guarantees that our clients receive innovative and precisely optimized building designs.

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Why building design is important?

Building design has its significance, which can be proved in multiple ways. Building design includes the design of a concept to execution of its manifestation. So, the designs have to be responsible in many aspects. Each stage of design should be appropriate and safe for society and users. The site should be strategically located to favour the occupants, and the purpose should match the context. The concept must be very thoughtful so that it is pleasing to people and gives the building an identity. The design must be sustainable and engaging. The planning must be done considering proper circulation and space making for the users. It should be structurally stable and safe. And lastly, it should be inclusive of people, nature, and ideas. This is why there is a detailed study of many aspects of life before designing.

Why is generative design important?

Generative design is the technology that is going to change the design industry in many ways. Designers can understand that as satisfying as designing is, the job can be stressful a lot of times. From initial analysis to deriving a concept and then arriving at a form, the task is tedious as this process is not linear. The process is like a web where one needs to come back at various design points while simultaneously keeping a tab on others. This takes a lot of time and effort. Generative design is a way that can give designers hundreds of options based on the constraints that are fed as input in minutes. This works on parameters that control the design, which in turn can be controlled by us. This is how generative design saves a lot of time, costs and effort, and thus it is essential to the design industry.

What makes a good urban design?

An urban design aims to foster togetherness; thus, creating a sense of common interest can make a good urban design. But that isn’t enough, and there is much more to be thought of. First of all, the design should have a good concept that goes well with people and is attractive as a form. Next, the design must have something that people could relate to; rather than just a beautiful form, it must be inclusive. A good urban design must have a local significance and must be responsive to the context. Urban structure, urban grain, density, and zone must be addressed to make the design comfortable for everyone. On a micro-scale, factors like streetscape, façade, interface and materials also contribute towards a good design. So basically, a good urban design can blend in and stand out at the same time.

What is urban design?

Urban design is the designing of the physical features of a town or a city. It mainly deals with designing features that a city has to provide, primarily for public use. The urban design aims to create public-friendly and engaging environments. It should be visually appealing to people, must accommodate necessary facilities, and must be inviting. The main points to be addressed in urban design are that it should be accessible to all and inclusive of people and nature. The urban design process needs to address everything in the context, including topography, landscape, environment, and all the biggest to most minor details. It should respond to the social and economic fabric. It should aim to create an attractive public realm, a responsive urban form, and an appropriate scale.

What is urban planning?

Urban planning is placing all the features, including buildings, landscapes, neighbourhoods, etc., in a town or city. It requires more zoning of spaces for accessible transit and usability. Zoning here is a process where the areas are arranged according to the purpose— residential, commercial, industrial, market places, and community spaces. The basis of planning is that everyone should have easy access to all the town or city zones. The main thing that is addressed is moving through a city, the transportation facilities and environment, alongside strategic placement of spaces of different purposes. Organic cities can’t have all of these features, but new concepts like 15-minute cities add to urban planning. A good urban planning model makes all the spaces accessible to everyone living there, and it ensures the distance of travel is the least, to be environmentally responsible, feeding in to the need of the hour.

What is the difference between urban design and urban planning?

Urban Design is the designing of the physical features of a town or a city. It mainly deals with designing features that a city has to provide, primarily for public use. Urban Design aims to create public-friendly and engaging environments. It should be visuallyappealing to people, must accommodate necessary facilities, and must be inviting. The main points to be addressed in urban design are that it should be accessible to all and inclusive of people and nature. Such projects are generally given to individual firms or a team of 2-3 firms.On the other hand, Urban Planning is planning of placing all the features, including buildings, landscapes, neighbourhoods, etc. It requires more zoning of spaces for accessible transit and usability rather than designing. The government mostly does such projects in collaboration with a team of experts and firms and the public, the users.

What is the role of urban design?

Urban design is a process and an outcome of designing physical places where people live. The role of urban design is to be a medium or to create a space where people can easily be attracted and engaged in activities as a society. The design can be a cultural or social identity, which binds people to it, and as a result, gives a sense of togetherness. An urban design must foster social interaction and create a lively environment for the public to enjoy. An urban design aims to create a space where all living beings feel included and welcomed. It must be enduring and enhancing to diversity, comfortable, vibrant, and engaging. The space should be safe, walkable to, and most importantly, responsive to the local context of the place, as that is the point where the public can have a sense of togetherness, something common to connect upon.

What is the importance of urban planning?

Urban planning is zoning and laying out all the features in a city or town. It is a systematic approach to planning places or zones in a city so that everyone can easily access what they require. It is a necessary process that let cities grow sustainably. It is essential as it has a significant role in the development of a city in all aspects. It organizes cities, so navigation and transportation grow easier. It provides a better quality of life as it is altered to the needs of the public. It aids economic growth and development. It makes the cities more environmentally responsible and resilient. Infrastructure is improved with better sustainability. Everything is more accessible in a well-planned city, so education and healthcare facilities grow nearer. It gives a reliable waste management system and, most importantly, a greener transportation system.

What is sustainable urban planning?

Urban planning places all the features, including buildings, landscapes, neighborhoods, etc., in a town or city. Sustainable urban planning refers to planning to locate the parts of town so that people can witness green buildings, mixed-use developments, walkable neighborhoods, open spaces, alternative energy sources, transit options, accessible amenities while keeping a balance with being approachable, attractive, and environment friendly. A sustainable urban environment also conforms to the idea that a city can be organized without excessive reliance on the surrounding countryside and power itself with renewable sources of energy. Self-sufficiency and resilience are also some factors that cities and towns can achieve to be sustainable. The concept of 15-minute cities encourages sustainable urban planning while keeping the infrastructure accessible to all. These cities have all the amenities a regular household needs within 15 minutes of walking or bicycling and are a great way to reduce dependence on motor vehicles.

What is sustainability in building design?

Sustainability in building design is how efficiently the building saves resources while being built and in operation. A building is designed as per functional and aesthetic requirements. Still, it becomes sustainable only when it is a building that doesn’t add to the amount of carbon and doesn’t waste resources, and many more criteria that help the environmental health. Some aspects that are taken care of are life cycle assessment and structure design efficiency. A Life Cycle Assessment is the systematic analysis of the potential environmental impacts of products or services during their entire life cycle. Apart from this, attention is paid to details like material efficiency, waste reduction, and leaving over the most negligible carbon footprint. Water efficiency and energy efficiency are managed through various methods. There are many steps taken to make sure that the users would have indoor environmental quality enhanced, and the building could achieve thermal comfort.

What is generative design?

Generative design is an iterative process that helps us explore designs. This is useful to everyone, designers, architects, and engineers. It harnesses the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to develop new high-performance design iterations that help solve complex challenges, reduce component weights and manufacturing costs, scale customization, and optimize performance. The inputs are a set of constraints that are met by the designs later. Unlike traditional design, where the process begins with a model based on an engineer’s knowledge, generative design begins with design parameters and uses AI to generate the model. By modifying the design parameters in an increasingly refined feedback loop, designers can find highly optimized and customized design solutions to a wide range of design challenges, such as making product components lighter, stronger, and more cost-effective. Generative design applications exist across many industries—from aerospace and architecture to manufacturing and consumer goods.

What is site planning in urban planning?

Urban planning is a process focusing on development and design of land use and built environment, it also includes a whole set of social and economic activities. Whereas site planning is a subset of urban planning, arrangement and development of site of elements, like buildings, roadways, subplots, utilities, landscape elements, topography, water features, and vegetation. Site Planning is generally done by city planners to develop and design a clear organizational interior and exterior plan for a community.

What is site planning?

Whenever building design or urban design processes start, a site is to be selected, or it is appointed. Site planning is assigning functions to spaces in a site to properly utilise all the resources at disposal. It includes processes of research, analysis and finally, a synthesis of the results found. It includes a detailed study of various aspects like location and neighbourhood context. The zoning of the neighbourhood is crucial as it determines by-laws according to the purpose of the space. The by-laws include the FAR, ground coverage, parking norms, and restrictions. The subsurface features and climate analysis of the location help the design to be climate responsive. Circulation is examined to study important roads and linkages. Availability of utilities is also a factor checked upon under site planning. Along with this, the socio-cultural background study is also done to make the study the population.

What is generative design used for?

Generative design is an iterative design process that helps us explore more design options in lesser time. By modifying the design parameters in an increasingly refined feedback loop, designers can find highly optimized and customized design solutions to a wide range of design challenges, such as making product components lighter, stronger, and more cost-effective. It is used for various operations and in several fields, ranging from aerospace engineering to architecture. It can design in a minute a joint in a truss, to even a whole building form. It is instrumental in designing furniture with a set of given constraints. Everything from chairs, tables, beds, and essential furniture, to advanced technical furniture can be designed using this. It is highly recommendable to be used for product design. It gives a new form to anything, according to our requirements.

What is building design?

Building design is the science of planning and executing a design to physically combine all the features an occupiable building must-have. It involves taking the ideas and requirements of clients as a challenge, processing all those creatively into a design and delivering the output in a way that it can be physically constructed. Complete building design solution deliverables include plans, façade treatments, functional presentation, services and construction process details, all in the form of technical drawings and models. All these reflect a single idea or a concept that is intertwined and is the base of how the building is to be designed. A building design amalgamates science, art, technology and philosophy that would support the given requirements. It gives an epicentre for architecture, engineering and construction industries to revolve around it as one.

What are the stages of site planning

“The art of arranging structures on the land and shaping the spaces between; an art linked to architecture, engineering, landscape architecture and city planning” by Kevin Lynch. Kevin Lynch outlines eight stages of site planning. The first one is defining the problem. This includes analysis of brief and requirements are given, and then to define a problem. The second stage is programming and the analysis of the site and user. This gives the idea of how could the site be addressed. Schematic design and cost estimate gives a preliminary idea of cost and design. Developed design and detailed costing confirm everything required for the design. Preparing contract documents with designs and cost estimates is stage five. Stage six is bidding and contracting. Stage seven is the construction of the building according to the site, followed by stage eight, followed by occupation and management of the building or space.

What does a site analysis include?

Whenever building design or urban design processes start, a site is to be selected, or it is appointed. A site analysis is a part of the architectural process that includes a study about the site where the building is to be made. Site analysis should include the climatic, geographical, historical, social, legal, and infrastructural context of a given site. There are many ways to represent site analysis. The climatic analysis includes the study of climatic data of a particular region where the site is based. For that, charts are included, for example, sun path, and wind rose. Geographical analysis can include soil type examination and water table. Social and historical analysis, along with context analysis, can give an idea of orientation and typology. Also, legal aspects and by-laws are reviewed under site analysis. It is done in 3 stages- research, analysis, and finally synthesis.

What does a building design do?

Design, in a nutshell, is a solution to any problem. A good design, to add further, is an efficient solution to any problem. Building design refers to solving a problem, a challenge, of how buildings can function, and more importantly, function efficiently. The building design is a task that incorporates various aspects of society by a study into their need in a building design. Thus, the role of a building design is more than solving the problem of accommodation. It has to function as per the occupant requirements, much more like the requirements and context of the place it’s being built in. The role of building design is to add identity, comfort, and sustainability (not just in energy consumption but also in financial sustainability). It must be functional for occupants, pleasing to humanity, and grateful to nature.

What are some examples of generative design?

Generative design is being highly used in many fields of design. Especially in product design and now even in the AEC industry. It quickly analyses the requirements and constraints and gives us several different options to choose from. There are many examples to be listed. Architect Zaha Hadid revolutionized generative design by actually bringing great designs into form. One of the most outstanding examples is Haider Aliyev Center. Daiwa House Industry’s Urban Housing by Daiwa house industry in Japan uses generative design to create great living spaces in the very compact area provided. Autodesk buildings in Toronto are also included in the most excellent examples of generative design in architecture. Works of Alessandro Zomparelli and Layth Mahdi are just two of the most creative generative designers. They create products, vases, and even fashion using intriguing technology.

Is generative design the future?

Generative design is the future of design. It quickly analyses the requirements and constraints and gives us several different options to choose from. It reduces the amount of time and effort of designers by a lot. Generative design software allows designers to generate designs and complete tasks in periods that would be humanly impossible when using more traditional software. The amount of design options generative design software can produce is truly mind-boggling. Ultimately, they’re much more numerous than anyone designer (or even one team of designers) could produce. When using generative design software, it’s straightforward to make changes and adjustments of any size to your design. Overall, generative design software can help designers make better products. It can be very cost-effective as a lesser workforce is required. The generative design presents unique possibilities for local, smaller-scale designers and makers too.

How to design a building?

Designing a building is not a single flow of processes or stages. A building design module moves back and forth multiple times in its making so that no design aspect is left out. It all starts from studying the design brief or client requirements. Next is choosing a site or getting a site to analyze its physical and contextual features. More studies include literature studies on the building typology and sometimes even case studies. Research is an essential task as it includes studying all the critical requirements like historical study, green measures for sustainability, climate- responsiveness, feasibility and economic responsibility. After combining these studies, a concept is ideated to reflect a particular philosophy, ideal, or maybe just function. A planned design needs to come up which would respond to all these needs. The necessary structural analysis and services are paid attention to. Construction techniques and details are worked upon. The drawings and design have to be approved by authorities, after which a building design is ready for construction.

How do you create a concept in architectural design?

A concept is an idea that an architectural design follows. A concept is a philosophy, which can follow a particular style or workflow or even be ideated for a design. So, a concept is an idea that responds to the needs in a creative, efficient, and attractive way. A concept can be of various types, and the list isn’t exhaustible. The types are based on what aspect is focused on. There can be a concept that involves a particular form. It can be based on a particular style that is incorporated in forms or functions. The concepts can prioritize function the most. But a concept is best if it follows specific benchmarks. It should be responsive to climate, responsive to the local context, and it should give an identity to a building. It can respond to sustainability needs by methods like biophilia or recycled architecture. It could be responsive to requirements.

How do you create a sustainable building?

To create a sustainable building, we need to check that the building leaves a minuscule carbon footprint. The AEC industry is responsible for 40% of carbon emissions in the world. So, to create a sustainable building, we need to make sure of some basic parameters. First of all, the construction material should be eco-friendly and robust. The waste generated from the building should be treated concerning the environment. As designers, there are many factors in designing that can affect the sustainability of a building, which can be creatively handled. Orientation of buildings and the fenestrations as per the sun-path and increasing natural daylight reduce artificial sources. Also, alternate energy sources like solar energy can be tapped for saving more on energy. The right amount of planned ventilation can help maintain thermal comfort and indoor air quality. Using some particular building techniques can help the labor and building process by being reusable and easy to use.

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