Visual Attention Software

A Novel Instrument for Analyzing Iconic buildings

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24086/cuesj.v10n2y2026.pp1-10

Keywords:

Eye-tracking, façade, neuroscience, iconic buildings, visual attention

Abstract

Visual Attention Software (3M-VAS) is an artificially intelligent application created with eye-tracking data sets. It can generate fixated point probability maps and fixation point sequencing projections to assess audience responses to visuals in their surrounding environment. The primary objective of this study was to apply this neuroscience-based software to analyze people’s visual behavior toward iconic buildings. This study attempted to discover an adequate response to the following questions: Which types of iconic buildings attract the most attention, and why? A case study experiment was conducted to evaluate 3M-VAS’s effectiveness for analyzing the visual perception of architectural facades. The selected cases include both historic and contemporary iconic buildings. This work investigates the practicability of employing a single computational method to investigate potential visual stimulus-sensation correlations in facade design. The method explains how to effectively use VAS in architecture by identifying the most focusable variables. The findings revealed that contemporary tall buildings in Erbil city are more visually attentional than historic buildings due to their visual features and proportional articulation, such as significant height.

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Author Biographies

Lana S. Shahab, Department of Architectural, Collage of Engineering, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Lana Shahab Ahmed is an Assist. Lecturer in the Department of Architecture, College of Engineering, at Cihan University-Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Her research interests include the philosophy of architecture, with a focus on conceptual and theoretical approaches to architectural design.

Salaheddin Y. Bapir, Department of Architectural, Collage of Engineering, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Salahaddin Yasin Baper is head of Architecture department  /college of Engineering at University of Salahaddin- Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.  He works as a Consultant Architect and designed several important projects in Erbil city like supplementary buildings in Erbil International Airport and Sami Abdurrahman Park.

Rashid H. Yaseen, Department of Architectural, Collage of Engineering, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Rashed Hamed Yaseen is a professor at the Department of Architectural, Collage of Engineering, Cihan University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. His research interests are in Architectural Engineering, Urban Design, and Urban Planning

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Published

2026-07-01

How to Cite

1.
Shahab LS, Bapir SY, Yaseen RH. Visual Attention Software: A Novel Instrument for Analyzing Iconic buildings. Cihan U Erbil SCI J [Internet]. 2026 Jul. 1 [cited 2026 Jul. 21];10(2):1-10. Available from: https://journals.cihanuniversity.edu.iq/index.php/cuesj/article/view/1500

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 2 (2026)

Section

Research Article

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Lana S. Shahab; Salaheddin Y. Bapir, Rashid H. Yaseen (Author)

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