A systematic review of urban form generation and optimization for performance-driven urban design

To address the increased energy demands and carbon emissions caused by global urbanization, it is imperative to seek high-performance urban design solutions. Urban form generation and optimization (UFGO) is a powerful way of supporting performance-driven urban design by strategically searching for a possible design space to approach optimal solutions. Relevant areas of urban form generative design, urban energy and environment simulation, and urban form optimization have been widely studied. However, UFGO, which integrates these parts into an effective workflow, is still an emerging and meaningful research field lacking a systematic review. We examined studies that utilized UFGO techniques for urban design at different scales and outlined the general workflow. An overview of the available methods and tools, as well as their basic principles for each step, namely, urban form generation, performance simulation, and optimization, is provided. The reader will be well versed in the key problems and technical paths of UFGO. According to the review, UFGO is technically feasible; nevertheless, existing limitations necessitate further exploration. Future studies should focus on developing userfriendly UFGO software packages for urban designers, systematic and flexible generative design methods, and efficient data-driven models for urban performance evaluation. In addition, an evaluation system for UFGO techniques is also required to facilitate comparative studies and the widespread application of UFGO techniques.