B6 Course Reflection

As other students have mentioned in their own course reflections, now is the time to reflect on what was learned and discussed in AE 410 and how I can take my knowledge and put it to good use in my future career. A common theme among some of the students is that this course was not what we had originally expected. As a mechanical engineering student, I really did not know what to expect out of an AE course. I can say now that I am extremely happy I participated in this class as I was exposed to material with which I would never normally have any experience.

When coming into this “Intelligent Buildings” course, I fully expected to be doing calculation work on buildings that compensate for earthquakes or on smart HVAC systems. I was pleasantly surprised and appreciative that this course took a more overview objective approach to intelligent building operations. I also really enjoyed the structure of the course that integrated guest speakers and allowed for group discussion among students.

In terms of an impact on my profession, I do not see myself using intelligent building course material directly in mechanical engineering. I am hoping to enter the world of automotive design, so intelligent buildings just don’t fit in there. At the same time, though, some parts of this course can be held close to heart when moving forward. For example, a big part of this course was the discussion of sensors and databases. Mechanical processes always incorporate some sort of sensor usage, so managing those sensors and logging large amounts of data in a database is very helpful for information management. In this course we also discussed the idea of robotics making its way into the active work force in building design and construction. As we know, robotic systems are used quite often in automotive manufacturing. At some point I will encounter work along side a robot, and I’m more open to that idea now that I’ve learned a bit about the nature or robotics in this course. 

Going forward in my career, I will be open to the idea of ever-changing technology, just as we’ve learned that the AEC industry is experiencing constant change in technology. I have a better sense of what is the industry “norm” and I have learned to understand why certain processes change over time. This course has prepared me to “think outside the box” when it comes to overall engineering purposes, and I’m glad I decided to take AE 410 this term.