Compare Hektar vs. Urban Network Analysis Toolbox for ArcGIS

Hektar is an innovative cloud-based software designed for generative design, specifically aimed at assisting with early-stage urban planning, pre-design, and schematic design tasks. Created by Parametric, it empowers architects and urban planners to improve their projects by effectively managing the complexities involved in critical design phases. By leveraging evolutionary algorithms and artificial generative intelligence, the platform transforms user inputs from broad concepts into detailed, viable designs and accurate estimates. Hektar’s suite of tools incorporates both geometrical and geographical intelligence, enabling users to specify essential features like access points, exclusions for construction, and custom street layouts. Furthermore, it offers numerical controls, allowing for precise adjustments related to project elements such as building depth, greenery integration, and parking arrangements. The software begins processing intricate information about lighting and sun exposure early in the geometry pipeline, leading to the creation of informed design proposals that can adapt to various scenarios. In this way, Hektar not only enhances the design process but also fosters collaboration among multiple stakeholders involved in urban development projects.

The City Form Lab has unveiled an innovative toolbox designed specifically for analyzing urban networks. This groundbreaking ArcGIS toolbox is the first of its kind, featuring centrality tools that facilitate the computation of five distinct graph analysis measures on spatial networks: reach, gravity, betweenness, closeness, and straightness. Additionally, it includes redundancy tools that calculate the redundancy index, identify redundant paths, and assess the wayfinding index. Notably, these tools boast three key features that enhance their effectiveness for spatial analysis in urban street networks. Firstly, they are capable of considering both geometry and topology within the input networks, allowing for the use of metric distance (such as meters) or topological distance (like turns) as impedance factors during analysis. Secondly, in contrast to earlier software tools that only handle two network elements—nodes and edges—the UNA tools introduce a third element: buildings, which serve as the spatial units for all analytical measures. This comprehensive approach not only improves the accuracy of urban analysis but also provides deeper insights into the relationships within urban environments.