ABSTRACT
Chapter 1 provides an overview of historical uses of data in design. It describes various types of data, methods of collecting data, and quantities of data. This includes descriptions of data that are acquired from existing sources, such as government agencies, non-profit organizations, communities, and other resources. This also includes descriptions of methods for acquiring data directly, and collecting data through observation, surveys, and the use of digital technologies. This chapter focuses on the use of digital technologies and the use of digital resources for obtaining data and collecting data, through the use of sensors. The chapter introduces scales in which data sets are collected, from large regions to small areas, and the parsing of large data sets and granular data. Chapter 1 includes descriptions and examples of how data has been used in architecture and design processes, where materials, artifacts, and physical constructions are influenced and impacted through the use of data.
