Architecture, engineering and digital technology - that's a good IDeEA!

What do kinetic facades, carbon fibre, data visualisation and serious games all have in common? They are all current projects in Deakin University’s Interdisciplinary Design environments for Engineering and Architecture laboratory – the IDeEA lab. 

Led by Professor Jules Moloney, the IDeEA lab is based in Deakin’s School of Architecture and Built Environment at the Geelong Waterfront Campus. It provides a home base for staff with expertise in digital technology including Dr Anastasia Globa (parametric design), Dr Rui Wang (virtual reality) and Dr Chin Koi Khoo (physical computing). The lab is equipped with a suite of high-performance computers, stereographic video projection, 7.1 surround sound, Oculus Rift VR and state of the art 3D modelling and simulation software. 

The IDeEA lab’s objectives are to provide multiple proof-of-concept and pilot studies that can underpin larger funded research projects in collaboration with Deakin’s School of Engineering as well as other Deakin researchers and industry partners. 

Professor Moloney is Professor of Architecture and Interdisciplinary Design at Deakin and was previously Professor of Digital Design and Head of School at the Victoria University of Wellington School of Architecture in New Zealand, where he championed interdisciplinary research through the medium of design.

‘Advances in digital technology are transforming the way architects and engineers are designing the built environment,’ Professor Moloney explains. 

‘The IDeEA lab provides expertise in spatial modelling, data visualisation, and virtual reality to enable designs to be evaluated at the crucial early stages. Proposals for buildings and infrastructure can be compared in terms of technical performance and visual impact, enabling innovative new solutions that address environmental and cultural sustainability.’ 

The IDeEA lab is open to inquiries from prospective PhD students interested in architecture and engineering applications of digital technology.