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ArcGIS CityEngine: Procedural Urban Design for a Waterfront Destination in Jeddah

By Jen Johnson

Fig 1: CityEngine Model Rendered with Industry-standard CGI tool
Fig 1: CityEngine Model Rendered with Industry-standard CGI tool

Greetings, fellow visionaries! Exciting news: the ArcGIS CityEngine community is shaping cities responsibly and doing it with style! Imagine transforming a brownfield into an urban center that reconnects people to a beautiful waterfront, honors their heritage and embraces cutting-edge design. This vision is quickly becoming a reality for the City of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

Welcome to part 1 of a 2-part series, where we explore how CityEngine was essential to the masterplanning process of this vibrant waterfront destination. Could this inspire your next project? Let’s find out!

Project Overview

This Jeddah Central Development project is part of an initiative to position the city as a sustainable, smart, global destination, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Spanning 5.7 million square meters along a stunning 9.5-km shoreline, the project will feature iconic landmarks. An opera house, a stadium, an oceanarium with coral farms and a museum to name a few. It will also boast a world-class marina, over 2 km of sandy beaches, and lively spaces for tourism, culture, entertainment, and commerce.

Commissioned by the Jeddah Central Development Company (JCDC), Dar is leading the detailed master planning for Phase 1 and using ArcGIS CityEngine as a foundational tool to shape this waterfront reclamation and redevelopment project.

Site Context and Vision

Located near the Royal Court’s Al Salam Palace and close to the historic center of Jeddah, this high-value urban land presents a significant opportunity for redevelopment. Operated by the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) and the Ministry of Defence (MoD), currently the site sits as a brownfield, but not for long! JCDC has a vision for this prime waterfront location to become a premiere destination and the new “heart” of the city.

Fig 2: Site Location and Scope of Planned Development
Fig 2: Site Location and Scope of Planned Development

Getting the green light to move forward with this project meant that the public would be able to reconnect with their cherished waterfront which previously remained inaccessible to them. In order to guide its transformation, defining the Central Master Plan (CMP) became Dar’s focal effort. They quickly began to strategize and embrace the challenge of designing a master plan that drew inspiration from the historic relevance of Al-Balad (Old Jeddah) while also integrating contemporary design solutions, sustainability best practices and distinctive aesthetics of the local area. By blending tradition with modernity, the CMP would serve as a blueprint for creating a vibrant new urban center for the city.

Fig 3A / 3B: Existing Morphology of Surrounding Areas
Fig 3A / 3B: Existing Morphology of Surrounding Areas

Masterplan Teaming Strategy

To address the complexity of this ambitious project, Dar assembled the Jeddah Central Development project team. It took the coordination of over 100 professionals across a range of specialized disciplines. Data control, architecture, economics, electrical, telecom, geotechnical, civil, landscape, mechanical and industrial engineering, project management and contracts, structural engineering, bridges, transportation, water and environmental management, and BIM management professionals all had a seat at the table.

At the start of the project, the site inventory revealed that there were not many existing structures. Initially, this might seem like a blank slate to develop without constraints, but this was not the case. In fact, the project presented several significant challenges that required the diverse expertise across the larger team.

  • Environmental pollution from historical military use and water pollution from stagnation and outfalls required attention from environmental engineers.
  • The proximity to coral reefs demanded a thorough examination of the viability of any proposed seafront expansion.
  • The sensitive context of surrounding buildings and major infrastructure influenced design and planning considerations.
  • Local climate challenges included high external temperatures, humidity, and solar radiation, that required innovative solutions to ensure comfort for residents and visitors.

CityEngine Teaming Strategy

The Dar Jeddah Central Development project team used CityEngine to centralize and streamline the production of 3D models. Two in-house CityEngine experts (and co-authors of this blog) led the effort to transform and interpret various data sources, developing a strategy for visualization, analysis, and procedural model generation. Their ability to maximize CityEngine’s capabilities while maintaining consistency and accuracy greatly benefited the iterative design process. This effort also kept designs well aligned with the master plan vision and fostered collaboration across this ambitious multidisciplinary project.

Fig 4: Illustrative Master Plan
Fig 4: Illustrative Master Plan
Fig 5: Illustrative Masterplan Perspective of Waterfront
Fig 5: Illustrative Masterplan Perspective of Waterfront

Technical Workflow and Data Exchange Overview

The technical workflow began with data acquisition and concept design using Autodesk Civil 3D and ArcGIS Pro. Esri’s ArcGIS Pro served as the central hub for geospatial data enabling seamless bi-directional integration with CityEngine. Given the large team and extensive data collection, a trusted data-sharing format was essential. After evaluating options, shapefiles (*.shp) proved the most reliable for importing data into CityEngine. The team found that the humble shapefile consistently maintained attributes, ensured stable data transfers and reduced the complexity in managing large datasets.

Following the data import, CityEngine was key for generating the attribute driven 3D models.  These models were then exported to rendering/game engines like Unreal Engine and Twinmotion via Datasmith for high-quality visualizations. With Datasmith as an exchange format, model integrity was easily maintained when transferring between rendering applications. At this stage, additional industry standard CGI tools and assets supplemented final outputs as needed.

To keep stakeholders in the loop, CityEngine models were regularly published to ArcGIS Online via the ArcGIS Scene Viewer for interactive web-based reviews during each project phase and design iteration.

For tabular data, Microsoft Excel supported the management of attributes, analyses and reports extracted from CityEngine. Meanwhile, the Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign) helped to refine illustrative plans and presentation graphics required for project’s deliverables.

Fig 6: Workflow and Product Placement
Fig 6: Workflow and Product Placement

Heritage and Cultural Significance

Studying Al-Balad’s existing urban fabric and building typologies was a critical step in shaping the design principles for the masterplan. Decoding the historic urban form and analyzing circulation, materials, building types, clusters, and façades identified key modifications for CityEngine’s procedural workflow. Special care ensured mixed-use development met vernacular needs – going beyond just replicating historical aesthetics – to support domestic life.

Respecting cultural significance also influenced the flow and function of proposed urban spaces. Orienting façades toward public spaces helped shape circulation patterns and building scale. Also, traditional elements like Mushrabias, Roushans, and Loggia rooms were placed on north-facing and west-facing elevations. These choices balanced public and private spaces while honoring the local heritage to create an elevated urban environment connected to both the past and future of Jeddah.

Fig 7: Codifying the existing character and scale of Al-Balad
Fig 7: Codifying the existing character and scale of Al-Balad
Fig 8: Designing Masterplan block circulation
Fig 8: Designing Masterplan block circulation

Fast Tracking Design Decisions with CGA

CityEngine is ideal for masterplanning projects due to its GIS enablement, collaborative file sharing system, diversity in exchange formats and its intuitive procedural rule-based modeling capabilities for generating 3D objects en masse. For these reasons, Dar recognized that CityEngine, and particularly CGA could be a game changer for this project.

Computer Generated Architecture (CGA) is the shape grammar in CityEngine that enabled Dar to author procedural rules. It is a scripting language unique to CityEngine used to generate dynamic 3D geometries representing buildings, streets, vegetation and other elements of the built environment. Armed with their own CGA rule files (*.cga), the JCD project team could rapidly test different layouts, densities, and design parameters for client meetings and workshops.

No more waiting for time-consuming updates. Stakeholders could instead see models edited in real-time, provide interactive feedback and make more informed decisions on the spot – something traditional manual modeling couldn’t achieve. The ability to quickly adjust and refine designs collaboratively was crucial. Also, given the scale, level of detail, and the rapid nature of the decision-making process, accuracy and efficiency were essential for this project.  Fortunately, this was something procedural modeling in CityEngine could absolutely deliver.

Now, let’s take a closer look at how CGA rules were used to create these 3D forms and modify design parameters on the fly. Here’s a sample snippet that demonstrates how Dar utilized the functions outlined in the CGA reference manual to build custom architectural features for their master plan design:

Fig 9: CGA Snippet
Fig 9: CGA Snippet

Overview of what was achieved with CGA

  • Level-Specific Facades: Facades were systematically defined by floor level, ensuring consistent façade articulation while accommodating multi-story structures.
  • Dynamic Context Adjustments: Context and occlusion queries in CGA rules were used to support the dynamic modification of facades based on their spatial relationship to neighboring buildings. This helped to ensure no overlapping elements or anomalies.
  • Architectural Variations:  CGA generated a high degree of flexibility and customization of unique building elements (e.g. windows, doors, roofs, etc.) within the same building envelope.
  • Interactivity and Local Edits: Attributes were updated interactively to change the model in the viewport using handles or manipulating the values directly in the inspector. This allowed the team to visualize various layouts, façades, corner treatments and heights across the project area allowed for precise in-model adjustments without extensive code changes.
  • Randomized Subdivisions: A randomized subdivision strategy was implemented to introduce variation across building facades and building envelopes to create a more organic and visually interesting urban fabric.
  • Hijazi Style Architectural Interpretations: Two distinct interpretations of the Hijazi architectural style were developed using the same building envelope and CGA code. This demonstrates the code’s versatility and its ability to produce stylistic alternatives while maintaining a cohesive base.
  • Levels of Detail (LOD): Two LODs were created to optimize model manipulation and visualization.

 

Fig 10: Interactively editing a CGA generated model in CityEngine
Fig 10: Interactively editing a CGA generated model in CityEngine

CGA development successfully delivered a versatile and efficient framework for articulating unique building facades on this project. If you wish to do the same, be sure to check out advancements with CGA and Visual CGA in the latest release notes and what’s new article! If you’re otherwise new to CGA and want to dive in feet first, you can also get started with the Rule-based modeling tutorial.

Building Form Parameters

Building configurations evolved from simple rectangular plans to more complex multi-bay structures with upper floor setbacks and stacking levels. These features reinforced the scale in adjacent open spaces, prevented abrupt height transitions, softened the skyline and maintained harmony with the surrounding urban fabric.

Fig 11: Digital architecture composition studies
Fig 11: Digital architecture composition studies
Fig 12: Hand drawn cluster composition studies
Fig 12: Hand drawn cluster composition studies

After finalizing compositions, Al-Balad’s intricate morphology was quickly replicated in CityEngine by clustering building types and aligning them along alleyways (Sikkas) and courtyards. Once in place, key building form parameters focused on façades and roof treatments. For example, setting maximum facade length thresholds prevented unpleasant monotonous street walls while varied roof treatments such as green roofs (covering 40% of roofs across the masterplan) balanced functional and aesthetic objectives.

With custom CGA rules, the team creatively arranged these 3D puzzle pieces to refine designs and enhance site legibility. These considerations made sure new buildings honored the city’s past, while meeting contemporary urban needs.

Placemaking at Human Scale

Designing from plan view (above) only goes so far. In 3D however, you can better understand the unique look and feel of a place. Placemaking requires the designer to embrace the characteristics that make a location nostalgic and meaningful to the people who transcend the spaces they create. Understanding how those spaces would be experienced at human scale is a necessary and thoughtful way to enhance the comfort, function and well-being of the people you are designing for. With these urban design principles in mind, Dar ensured that the master plan met these expectations, resulting in a well-balanced, vibrant, and engaging destination that honored the development’s historical character and intended morphology.

Fig 13A: CityEngine Model for Export / Fig 13B: Rendered Model
Fig 13A: CityEngine Model for Export / Fig 13B: Rendered Model
Fig 14A: CityEngine Model for Export / Fig 14B: Rendered Model
Fig 14A: CityEngine Model for Export / Fig 14B: Rendered Model
Fig 15A: CityEngine Model for Export
Fig 15A: CityEngine Model for Export
Fig 15B: Rendered Model
Fig 15B: Rendered Model
Fig 16A: CityEngine Model for Export
Fig 16A: CityEngine Model for Export
Fig 16B: Rendered Model
Fig 16B: Rendered Model

Next Steps

The Jeddah Central Development showcases how CityEngine is transforming the urban design industry. Particularly for project-specific concepts, CityEngine’s flexibility, real-time collaboration, and support for high-quality visualizations offered the project team robust solutions. Impressively, they were also keen to leverage their diverse expertise to raise the bar for good design.

Stay tuned! In Part 2, we’ll explore the 3D analyses in CityEngine that Dar used to test designs and turn them into functional criteria. As this project team moves into the construction phase, are you ready to draw inspiration from their approach and unlock the full potential of CityEngine? The possibilities are limitless!

Co-Authors

Co-authors from Dar

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