Blog 6

This class was a very unique experience in regards to the other classes I have taken at Drexel. While most classes focus on teaching us math and other engineering topics that had already been decided, this class focused primarily on the future. This experience was one that I think was invaluable and one that I feel would be beneficial for more classes to follow.

When I took Dr. Lo’s lighting class and the last lecture was about intelligent buildings I thought that that was very interesting. It was this lecture that inspired me switch from the AE structural concentration to the AE mechanical concentration as I felt that would better prep me for a career in intelligent buildings that I am now interested in pursuing. Due to this, I was very interested in taking this class. I knew that it would be a good opportunity to get more educated in this field. This class definitely delivered and I did indeed found it very valuable. I felt that the insights into the technologies that are emerging was invaluable.

One thing that I found particularly valuable was the emphasis that this class put on databases. I have been self-teaching myself databases, and specifically how to create a web based database for about 4 months now. Having the opportunity to speak at length about databases in this class was very valuable to me. In addition to the discussion on how databases work and how to construct them, the discussion on the uses of databases with BIM models was not something that I had ever considered. But after having that discussion I see that understanding how BIM models access databases would be very beneficial to an engineer or a building owner.

One of the biggest takeaways I had from this class came from Kayleigh Houde’s presentation. Part of the reason that I started to learn databases was to learn how to code and do things more efficiently. Specifically in automating routine tasks that are just tedious. I was not aware that this premise could be applied to BIM models as I did not know that you could program into Revit using Python. Knowing that that is an option is something I plan to pursue in my career.

To Hanyan Chen:
This class was very valuable to me as a mechanical concentration AE student. I can only imagine how beneficial this class would be to a digital building student. I agree that the course really benefits from having all concentrations of AE as well as CivE and even MechE all at different levels.

To M Kaptue:
I agree that this class was unexpected in regards to our typical classes. It was very different in scope and tone as it focused on the future rather than what had already been derived or proved. I think that Drexel should offer more classes that have this perspective as it has proved to be very valuable.

To Hailey Ihlow:
I agree that this class did a good job at introducing prospective current or future topics or careers in the field. Its great that it has helped to narrow your focus somewhat on what you are interested in doing. I agree that the groups tended to fall apart near the end of the term.