A practical guide to geographic information systems and spatial datasets relevant to architectural site analysis, urban design, and heritage documentation. --- ## Open Geospatial Data Sources **OpenStreetMap (OSM)** - Coverage: Global; building footprints, roads, land use, POIs, natural features - Access: openstreetmap.org; Overpass API for queries; Geofabrik for bulk downloads - Formats: PBF, OSM XML, Shapefile via export - Strengths: Community-maintained; good coverage in urban areas globally; Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) provides rapid mapping of disaster-affected and under-mapped areas - Limitation: Rural coverage in developing countries can be sparse; quality varies - License: ODbL (Open Database License) **Copernicus / Sentinel Data** - Provider: European Space Agency / European Commission - Coverage: Global satellite imagery - Key satellites: - Sentinel-2: 10m optical imagery, 5-day revisit — land use, vegetation, urban change detection - Sentinel-1: Radar imagery — works through clouds; useful for ground deformation monitoring - Sentinel-5P: Atmospheric data — air quality, NO₂, ozone - Access: Copernicus Open Access Hub; Google Earth Engine; Microsoft Planetary Computer - License: Free, open, no restrictions **Natural Earth** - Coverage: Global vector and raster data at 1:10m, 1:50m, 1:110m scales - Use: Base mapping, country boundaries, physical features, populated places - License: Public domain **SRTM / ASTER GDEM** - Coverage: Global elevation data - Resolution: ~30m (SRTM), ~30m (ASTER GDEM) - Use: Terrain analysis, slope mapping, viewshed analysis, watershed delineation - License: Free **National Open Data Portals** - Examples: data.gov (US), data.gov.uk (UK), data.gouv.fr (France), govdata.de (Germany) - Content varies: census data, transport, environment, property, planning applications - Use: Site context analysis, demographic studies, transport planning --- ## GIS Methods for Architecture ### Site Analysis - **Viewshed analysis**: What is visible from a point? Identifies views to protect and views to screen - **Solar exposure mapping**: GIS-based solar radiation analysis at urban scale — complements building-scale Ladybug analysis - **Slope and aspect**: Terrain orientation and gradient — critical for building placement and drainage - **Buffer analysis**: Distance-based proximity to amenities, infrastructure, environmental hazards - **Isochrone mapping**: Walking, cycling, transit accessibility from a site — essential for transport planning and sustainability assessments ### Urban Analytics - **Land use classification**: Mapping building functions, density, and mixed-use patterns from cadastral data or satellite imagery - **Space syntax at urban scale**: Street network analysis predicting pedestrian movement, commercial vitality, and spatial segregation - **Building age mapping**: Combining GIS and historical records to map construction dates across urban areas — essential for heritage zone identification - **Environmental justice analysis**: Overlaying pollution exposure, green space access, income levels, and demographic data to identify spatial inequity ### Heritage Documentation - **Site recording**: Georeferencing archaeological finds, architectural features, and condition assessments - **Change detection**: Comparing satellite or aerial imagery over time to identify heritage site degradation, encroachment, or destruction - **3D GIS**: Integrating point cloud data with geographic databases for heritage sites in landscape context - **Risk mapping**: Combining geological, climatic, and anthropogenic risk data with heritage site locations --- ## Integration with Architectural Workflows ### GIS → Rhino/Grasshopper - **Elk** plugin: Imports OSM data (buildings, roads, terrain) into Grasshopper - **Heron** plugin: Imports GIS data (Shapefiles, GeoTIFF) into Grasshopper - **Urbano** plugin: Urban analysis tools within Grasshopper (walkability, accessibility) ### GIS → BIM - **Revit GIS integration**: Limited native capabilities; IFC Georeferencing extension - **Esri ArcGIS GeoBIM**: Connects ArcGIS with Revit models for urban-scale context - **FME** (Safe Software): Data transformation between GIS and BIM formats ### GIS → Web Visualization - **Mapbox GL JS**: Custom web maps with architectural data overlays - **Kepler.gl**: Large-scale geospatial data visualization (Uber) - **Cesium / 3D Tiles**: 3D geospatial visualization at city scale --- ## Learning Resources - **"GIS for Architects"** by Mustapha Sadeghipour Roudsari (Ladybug Tools creator) — focuses on GIS integration with parametric design - **QGIS documentation** (docs.qgis.org) — comprehensive free reference - **Spatial Analysis Online** — free web textbook on spatial analysis methods