Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture

Seite drucken

Assessing Computational Tools for Artful Rainwater Design: Evaluating Flow Simulations in Smallscale Hydrology

Small-scale hydrology is vital to landscape architecture, particularly in urban environments where water management must integrate functionality with visual appeal. Artful Rainwater Design (ARD) emphasizes creating sustainable, expressive landscapes that celebrate water's dynamic behavior while managing stormwater. This research began with a preliminary evaluation of approximately 20 computational tools, narrowing the focus to three – Flow3D Hydro, Autodesk CFD, and Blender, for detailed analysis. Using the Flow Box test, we measured flow behavior variables such as flow rate adjustments, water drops, splashes, and visualization capabilities to assess each tool's reliability, accuracy, and usability. The findings demonstrate the potential of computational simulations to capture complex water interactions in ARD, providing valuable insights into simulation criteria for designing functional and visually engaging water management systems in small-scale applications.

Autor / Author: Rezvan, Mohammad; Echols, Stuart Patton; Duarte, José Pinto
Institution / Institution: Penn State University, Pennsylvania/USA; Penn State University, Pennsylvania/USA; Penn State University, Pennsylvania/USA
Seitenzahl / Pages: 10
Sprache / Language: Englisch
Veröffentlichung / Publication: JoDLA – Journal of Digital Landscape Architecture, 10-2025
Tagung / Conference: Digital Landscape Architecture 2025 – Collaboration
Veranstaltungsort, -datum / Venue, Date: Dessau Campus of Anhalt University, Germany 04-06-25 - 07-06-25
Schlüsselwörter (de):
Keywords (en): Small-scale hydrology, artful rainwater design (ARD), computational fluid dynamics (CFD), water flow simulation, water flow visualization
Paper review type: Full Paper Review
DOI: doi:10.14627/537754052
8353 -