Intelligent shells for Qanats: Integrating algorithmic design with traditional flood management, a case study from Baluchestan, Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Hamed Ebrahimi 1
Mehdi Mortazavi 2
Faramarz Hassan Pour 3
Seyed Arman Hashemi Monfared 4
1 Department of Art and Architecture, Zahedan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zahedan, Iran
2 Department of Archaeology and Archaeological Sciences Research Center, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran
3 Department of Architecture, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
4 Department of Civil Engineering, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran
10.22075/ijnaa.2024.34481.5149
Abstract
Algorithmic design principles, combined with parametric modelling and optimization techniques, offer a promising approach to environmental challenges and renewable energy solutions. A pressing example is the water scarcity faced by many regions in the country. The Baluchestan region of Sistan and Baluchestan province exemplifies this challenge. Despite annual floods, strong currents damage Qanats (traditional water channels), rendering them unproductive. Utilizing and managing these floodwaters to recharge these ancient structures presents a potential solution. This study proposes an algorithmic and intelligent flood management Shell design inspired by traditional architectural patterns and adapted to Qanat structures. The Shell aims to regulate water inflow into Qanats, maximizing water capture while minimizing flood damage. The field data for this study was collected during archaeological fieldwork conducted in 2018 in Dezak Village, Saravan County, where ancient methods of directing floodwaters into Qanats were documented. Such insights highlight the potential of indigenous systems as sustainable alternatives to costly interventions like seawater transfer projects. The research employs Autodesk CFD, Rhino, and Grasshopper software to analyze the impact of the algorithmic flood management Shell design on Qanat inlets in the Dezak Village, Saravan county of Baluchestan Region. The study investigates whether algorithmic architectural principles can be effectively employed to address environmental challenges. The results demonstrate that by utilizing the region’s traditional triangulation motifs, transforming them into a parametric structure, and incorporating algorithmic knowledge, it is possible to create climate-responsive shells that manage flood flow.
Keywords
intelligent shell
algorithmic design
architectural heritage
flood management
Qanat
Baluchestan
archaeology
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International Journal of Nonlinear Analysis and Applications
Volume 16, Issue 11
November 2025
Pages 111-122

  • Receive Date 17 April 2024
  • Accept Date 30 June 2024