Computational Architecture & Swarm Simulation · 2007 – 2008

Venetian Vagabond: Aquatic Agent Swarms

Pratt Institute (Studio under Alisa Andrasek)

  • Processing (Java)
  • Swarm Intelligence
  • Agent-Based Modeling
  • RhinoScript (.rvb)
  • Maya MEL
  • Alisa Andrasek (Studio)
  • Gil Akos (Scripting)
  • Ezio Blasetti (Scripting)
  • Jason McGee (Partner)
Venetian Vagabond Wireframe Drawing

Venetian Vagabond Wireframe Drawing

Agent Growth Overall Render

Agent Growth Overall Render

3d Tendril Mesh Perspective

3d Tendril Mesh Perspective

Axonometric Growth Structure

Axonometric Growth Structure

Aquatic Network Plan

Aquatic Network Plan

Mesh Surface Detail Top

Mesh Surface Detail Top

Mesh Surface Detail 1

Mesh Surface Detail 1

Mesh Surface Detail 2

Mesh Surface Detail 2

Agent Density Field Dots

Agent Density Field Dots

Aquatic Infrastructure Section

Aquatic Infrastructure Section

Generative Swarm Field Simulation D4

Generative Swarm Field Simulation D4

Emergent Lagoon Tendril Density 02

Emergent Lagoon Tendril Density 02

Vector Field Growth Iteration A5

Vector Field Growth Iteration A5

Bathymetric Attractor Swarm Mesh

Bathymetric Attractor Swarm Mesh

Aquatic Transport Pathway Simulation

Aquatic Transport Pathway Simulation

Noise Disturbed Agent Branching

Noise Disturbed Agent Branching

Lagoon Depth Scalar Field

Lagoon Depth Scalar Field

Waterbus Traffic Density Vector Map

Waterbus Traffic Density Vector Map

Engineered custom 3D agent-based swarm algorithms in Processing (Java) and RhinoScript (with partner Jason McGee) under studio professor Alisa Andrasek, with scripting instruction from Gil Akos and Ezio Blasetti.

STUDIO PEDAGOGY & MENTORSHIP: Developed as an advanced design studio project at Pratt Institute led by studio professor Alisa Andrasek (Biothing). Computational scripting foundations were tutored by Gil Akos (Processing & RhinoScript .rvb) and Ezio Blasetti (Rhino scripting & algorithmic logic). Created in partnership with Jason McGee.

COMPUTATIONAL SWARM ENGINE: Authored object-oriented 3D agent classes (Colony, Strand, Segment, Vector3D) in Processing (Java) to simulate autonomous, self-organizing agent swarms. The algorithm generated emergent 3D spatial tendril structures along complex vector trajectories.

ENVIRONMENTAL FIELD MAPPING: Integrated 2D scalar fields mapping Venice lagoon bathymetry, waterbus routes, and aquatic traffic density. The scalar fields dynamically steered agent velocity, acceleration, branching frequency, and strand decay across the lagoon.

RHINO & MAYA GEOMETRY PIPELINE: Exported dynamic 3D agent point clouds and authored custom RhinoScript (.rvb) and Maya (.mel) scripts to construct continuous NURBS meshes, tendril structural ribbing, and floating aquatic infrastructure.