abstract:
Architects use different symbols and configurations in their drawings to explore alternatives and to communicate with each other. They use sketches to perform functional and formal reasoning in their design process. For example, when thinking about spatial arrangements, they draw bubble diagrams; when thinking about natural lighting, they draw a sun symbol and light rays. This paper reports the findings from empirical studies of drawings and reports the software systems that were implemented to support intention inference and automated activation of knowledge based design tools to support design.
http://www.aaai.org/Symposia/Spring/2002/sss-02.html
http://www.me.cmu.edu/faculty1/stahovich/sketchsymposium.htm