Challenges in procedural architecture

This is the first article focusing on ‘procedural cities’, in which we will dive into some of the general challenges of managing the creation of procedural architecture. There are multiple tools for the task out there, such as SideFX Houdini and ArcGIS CityEngine, though the artistic and managerial challenges are the same in every tool.

Creating a gazillion 3D buildings procedurally is quite easy – creating good buildings procedurally is difficult. Good in the sense of variety of types, consistent architecture, and optimised data (e.g. ‘levels of detail’ or ‘draw call optimisation’ for realtime use). With everything challenging, good management is key. Which is why, in this month’s article, we’re focusing on the often overlooked strategic aspects of planning procedural systems. Let’s dive in!

1. MANAGEMENT

The most crucial aspect of any project