B5 – Use of databases in design Offices

Databases can apply to different applications. For a class I am in with databases we are creating a system that connects students within classes. This concept of connecting different aspects within a database is the main thing in databases. From Almudena [1] databases can help with scheduling and cost. The database can output some x, y, and z for the engineer and estimates to see what the cost of construction might be. This does not apply to all contracts but has its perks when applicable. No one has to go through and count or number since that can get messed up very quickly by human error.  

The next article I read spoke about CAD, Mustapha [2], but I think the industry is going toward Revit. While the points made are insightful and true the CAD application seems dated. My company uses CAD very sparingly but only due to some older projects and code requirements for those projects. Databases understand it is coming up in the world of civil and architectural engineering. This article delved deep in the layers of a database and how things are sorted. Take a cube, for example, it breaks down the cube into faces then into vertices and what faces share what vertices. All that info for a database is needed to be able to duplicate and edit these objects for further manipulation.

I am currently taking a database class, for sure one of my harder classes this term. I do see the importance of the setup and use but creating such a database is a lot of work in just outputting data from tables. Now applying that knowledge to a Revit model and taking a “physical” Revit bookshelf and putting its info into a table seems master level advanced to me. So the use of databases in the office is used all the time, but I don’t think it is known that that is what Revit and other programs are doing to the average office worker.

Comments:

1.      Maalik – I think you make good statements here about the uses of databases in an office. Revit is for sure one that takes advantage of the databases by being able to populate a table with just a button.  

2.      Blas – I am currently taking a class that uses SQL language. Since I have not used a coding language since freshman/sophomore year, it’s a bit of a struggle but coming along. I agree with you that there is a higher need for understanding and using databases and SQL in the workplace. As Revit and other programs use more coding rather manual design, there will be a need for this knowledge.

3.      Julie – I think you had a hard topic to talk about. Relational databases are complex and can have very useful applications. I think this might also be able to be applied to the phasing of a building and help with scheduling, but I may not be understanding the concept as a whole yet. But the good overall breakdown of the topic.

References:

[1] Gomez, Almudena. Revit OmniClass, Keynote and Assembly Code type Parameters. May 19, 2015. https://www.modelical.com/en/revit-omniclass-keynote-and-assembly-code-type-parameters/.

[2] Koriba, Mustapha. Database systems: their application in CAD design. September 1983. Available online March 3, 2003. DOI: 10.1016/0010-4485(83)90016-7 https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/science/article/pii/0010448583900167.