The Optimized Social Distance Lab: A Methodology for Automated Building Layout Redesign for Social Distancing

ABSTRACT

The research considers buildings as a test case for the development and implementation of multi-objective optimized social distance layout redesign. This research aims to develop and test a unique methodology using software Wallacei and the NSGA-II algorithm to automate the redesign of an interior layout to automatically provide compliant social distancing using fitness functions of social distance, net useable space and total number of users. The process is evaluated in a live lab scenario, with results demonstrating that the methodology provides an agile, accurate, efficient and visually clear outcome for automating a compliant layout for social distancing. © 2022, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.