Week 6 - Relational Database Theory

The relational model was developed by E.F. Codd around 1968 as a mathematical principle to visualize large data, make it more scalable, enhance its performance, and make it portable. In simple terms, a relational database uses relations between values and symbols to organize data. The theory behind a relational database consists of rules and terminology that dictate how the relational database is represented and interpreted. 

One representation of a relation can be shown as a table independent of the order in which its given (i.e. rows and columns). However not every table displays a relation therefore the terminology used to describe the anatomy of a relation is different than that of a table (i.e. the word table is substituted for relation, tuple for row, and attribute for column). A set of attributes is also referred to as the head, and the degree refers to the number of attributes. A set of tuples is also referred to as the body, and the cardinality refers to the number of tuples. Attributes correspond to names and types, while tuples correspond to the values that are defined by the attributes. 

The relational database theory is different from structured query language (SQL) which is another communicative method for databases that stems from the relational database theory. For example, SQL automatically orders the data whereas for a relational database the order of the data is arbitrary, and SQL allows the data inputted into rows to be duplicated unlike relational databases which cannot have duplicate tuples.

Why do we use the relational database theory? One reason is that it will save time from having to arbitrarily guess which database design to use. The objective of a good database is to reduce the redundancy of data to save storage space and avoid inconsistencies, and to ensure that the data is secure, accurately represented, and maintains its integrity. The emergence of inconsistencies due to abstraction or “accurate data extraction” is avoidable by using the relational database theory, and many of these inconsistencies include deletion errors, incorrect or multiples of results, and comparison of unrelated variables. Relational databases can be customized for particular applications; in smart buildings these applications include energy efficiency measures and building automation systems. These databases are well known and accepted as an industry standard as opposed to NoSQL which tends to pose fewer benefits in most situations.

References:

[1] http://archive.oreilly.com/oreillyschool/courses/phpsql2/phpsql203.html

[2] https://dvikan.no/ntnu-studentserver/kompendier/an-introduction-to-relational-database-theory.pdf

[3] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relational_database

[4] https://www.ntu.edu.sg/home/ehchua/programming/sql/relational_database_design.html

Comments:

Richard Kimball – You mentioned normalization of databases which is not a concept that I came across in my research and will be sure to review. It is important that as the amount of data increases with the emergence of new technologies, that databases are able to be enlarged to accommodate growing needs. With the increase in size of databases it will likely become more difficult to track the accidental changes or potential losses in data. I think security of this information especially when being transferred will bring about new ideas to this field.

YIDI LI – The Database Manager Program sounds like it would be beneficial not only in construction firms presently but for future construction practices under the assumption that artificial intelligence technologies would be programed to assist in construction design. While this could be far beyond the realm of possibility, I think these databases could interact with technologies, even dictate or send data, which would allow for projects to be monitored by machines instead of humans. 

Nick Maloney – I discussed relational databases and the use of SQL lead me to inquire about why SQL and other databases employ different languages. From a proprietary business standpoint it makes sense however I think that the transition between using one database or another could be made easier if the languages were similar. Perhaps the two databases could even work together and do so very efficiently if they were the same language.

B4 Project

      I.        Introduction

a.   Define Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning/Deep Learning

b.   Define Smart Infrastructure

c.    State the Argument (there will be adverse effects from using Artificial Intelligence which stem from the demographic of individuals in engineering and construction practices, thus encouraging counterproductive results to the betterment of society and future buildings we construct)

    II.        Advances in Current Engineering/Construction Practice

a.   Examples:

                                               i.     Drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

                                             ii.     Sam 100 (Bricklaying Robot) or Construction Robots

                                            iii.     Comfy Application or HVAC Robots

                                            iv.     BIM or BLM Software

                                             v.     Chatbots

b.   Personal Comments

   III.        Future of Engineering/Construction Practice

a.   Examples

                                               i.     Based on Existing Technology i.e. Part II and Future Demand i.e. References

  IV.        Discussion of Artificial Intelligence and Connection to Human Behavior

a.   Define Characteristics of Machine Learning

                                               i.     Methods of Learning

                                             ii.     What Makes a ‘Good’ Machine?

b.   How does Human Behavior Impact Machine Learning

                                               i.     Before and During Implementation of Technology in Actual Situations

    V.        Psychological Implications of Using Artificial Intelligence Generally

a.   Human Dependency

                                               i.     Laziness

                                             ii.     Carelessness

                                            iii.     Lack of Understanding for Traditional Ways/Threat to Jobs

                                            iv.     State Some Positive Impacts for Fair Argument

b.   Social Views

                                               i.     Cultural Differences i.e. race, income, religion, politics, etc.

  VI.        Psychological Implications Inferred from Using Artificial Intelligence in Engineering/Construction

a.   Based on Part V and Psychology i.e. References

                                               i.     Emphasize Machine Learning

 VII.        Final Thoughts and Expert Opinions 

a.   Example Critics and their Arguments both for and against Part I.c.

VIII.        Conclusion

  IX.        References

My project will discuss how the use of artificial intelligence combined with human behavior can lead to negative repercussions in the future. Specifically, I would like to use machine learning, based on how it is used today and presumably in the future, as an example of the interconnectivity between machines and human thought and behavior to show that machines are not completely independent of social prejudices.

I chose this topic based on an article that I read about a self-driving Uber. One night a passenger was being transported by a self-driving Uber, and after each pedestrian walked by the Uber would identify them to the passenger. The car was unable to identify and nearly hit two African American men because it could not see nor recognize dark skin. This made me realize that even though machines can be adaptive to their surroundings, they are still influenced by the experiences that they have during the time of their construction. If there is not a lot of diversity in the groups of people who design or use artificial intelligences like machine learning then in essence, these machines will make seemingly unbiased judgments based on biased/limited interactions.

This is relevant to Intelligent Buildings because like the automotive industry, the engineering and construction industry is slowly adapting to incorporate advanced technologies to replace traditional human labor. I think the diversity of these machines in solving problems and interpreting the external environment is important to the overall success of accomplishing a construction task (ex: laying bricks, pouring cement, carrying material). This is why it is necessary to expose these machines to a multitude of foreign environments and people before actual implementation, as well as to monitor how these machines respond to problems over time and if this response is in alignment with the goals for having designed the machine.

Specific to Intelligent Buildings machines will adapt to do tasks like assist with the labor in building construction, automatically adjust interior conditions based on occupancy and weather, and monitor the deterioration of building components. A diversified machine will have been exposed to a number of building failures and have a better likelihood of solving any problems that arise during the buildings lifetime (especially if the same machines were used during the construction of the building).

The challenges with this topic are that much of the argument will stem from interpretive analysis. That is, I will be drawing conclusions from psychology and sociology experts as well as engineering and construction experts because there are not a lot of scientific resources surrounding this topic. There are arguably many benefits to artificial intelligence and this paper isn’t intended to detract from those; the intention for the paper is to bring awareness to a potential future problem that should be prepared for in order for it to be mitigated and ideally, but not likely, prevented.

Comments:

Alkiviadis – I appreciate that you are not only writing about building security through new technology but are also implementing a concrete deliverable. I would suggest that you expand further by learning but also predicting future technologies that could arise to solve building design issues in say your model for example.

Borelli – I like your topic and the fact that you are pulling from existing examples to explain the current capabilities in these machines. I would compare the traditional method of Energy/Life Cycle Analysis with that of using AI to see if there is, if any difference in the quality of the results.

YIDI LI – Your topics stems from much of what we learned in class. I would expand on the impact of urbanization both in America and in underdeveloped or building countries and draw conclusions on how the machines could be designed to address the concerns associated with those areas.

References:

[1]https://www.engineering.com/DesignerEdge/DesignerEdgeArticles/ArticleID/14723/Artificial-Intelligence-and-Engineering.aspx

[2]https://www.construction.com/toolkit/ai-changing-construction

[3]https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Artificial_intelligence_and_civil_engineering

[4]https://www.thebalancesmb.com/drones-affecting-construction-industry-845293

[5]https://www.construction-robotics.com

[6]http://samsungbusiness.economist.com/how-artificial-intelligence-puts-the-smart-in-smart-buildings/

[7]https://www.aia.org/articles/178511-embracing-artificial-intelligence-in-archit

[8]https://www.sas.com/en_us/insights/analytics/machine-learning.html

Future Problems with Revit/BIM

What are the possible future problems with Revit/BIM?

There are always new concerns that emerge with the implementation of unorthodox methods of accomplishing traditional tasks; BIM is of no exception. Some of the problems will stem from the software itself and/or the affect of implementation on the future engineering and construction industry.

            The software will need to find compatibility with hardware that has large enough capacity to support the growing size of BIM models. HOK suggested that their company would anticipate “24GB of RAM for its new workstations so it can hold the Revit datasets without paging to disk on its biggest projects. This is a considerable investment. BIM simply cannot run on old machines designed for running AutoCAD”. These models will grow exponentially as more details are added to the design addressing the question of whether quality of design and in essence “the benefits of modelling” should be sacrificed for space which is necessary to “load and manipulate” models. This could encourage future competition in the hardware industry to invent faster, larger, lighter easier hardware which comes with investment. I think that there will a period in the distant future where the amount of resources required to store these models will lead to the invention of alternative databases.

            The effect of BIM on future design industries is a complete shift in the traditional communication standard between parties working together on a project. BIM will be ingrained into the design process as another player in the firm and may encourage cooperation between designers and builders such that all firms will adopt an integrated approach to design (i.e. Integrated Project Delivery). The implications of a one for all and all for one mentality could promote competitiveness and comradery between joint firms. It’s worth noting that firms which refuse to adopt this ideal may become obsolete, ineffective, and lose major contracts and business partners—at the same time these firms will have to adopt training and set money aside for BIM. As far as the engineers at these firms, there may be a somewhat ‘utopian’ mentality taken towards experienced engineers and novices; if a novice could use BIM to produce the same results as someone with seniority than the value of the experienced engineer would be changed and possibly lowered.

References:

[1] https://aecmag.com/technology-mainmenu-35/450-the-trouble-with-bim

Comments:

Laney Fries - I agree with your suggestion that technology will completely integrate with newer generations. I would expect this change to come many years from now but if BIM could be integrated into a portable device and/or represented virtually in real time (i.e. without computers) then that would create the opportunity to bring the design to the client and to the site. It could further eliminate the issues associated with hardware space and storage concerns.

Robert Borrelli - I think that you are fair in saying that BIM will threaten many people in the engineering and design industry who are comfortable with the traditional means of communicating a project. I wonder if the change in culture will lead to more or less interest from new engineers and if the older generation will adopt the changes or become obsolete in their ideals. As with any new intrusion, there will be a period of dislike for the program; at the same time engineers are always considering better ways to solve a problem and BIM is undoubtedly a coming solution to creating efficient design.

Andy Kuriatnikov - I appreciate your comments on clash analysis and how it impacts field construction. This is a benefit of BIM that is undeniable and saves money and time for all involved. While traditional designs are difficult to duplicate and create precisely, I believe they still serve a purpose for laying out initial ideas and groundwork for a project. The human mind can help to detect concerns prior to design, while BIM contributes to addressing errors during design.  

Blog 2 - Ch. 2 BIM Handbook

Part of the BIM handbook (Ch. 2) discusses lightweight modeling applications which are used to distribute the model information outside the bounds of the software. These applications are 3D PDF (Portable Document Format) and DWF (Design Web Format). 

At least one of these applications doesn’t originate from the use of BIM software, with PDF designed to translate text and DWF to translate intelligent design data. However, both applications have been evolved to adapt to the growing BIM industry. Three main examples of these applications are Adobe Acrobat, Autodesk Design Review, and Streamline. Adobe Acrobat supports the ability to view and make comments, but not directly change, a design. Autodesk Design Review is more flexible in that while it has the same functionality as the prior, it is compatible with Autodesk modeling software and thus the process from creating a model, viewing, then changing a model is quick and seamless. Streamline is like Adobe Acrobat but more secure via password protection and can generate simple data about the model.

Of the three applications, I have used two of them, Adobe Acrobat and Autodesk Design Review. I usually use the former for text as opposed to design so this information was fairly new but unsurprising to me. I used Autodesk Design Review during my first coop without knowing some of the additional benefits like viewing stats on the model prior to printing. I would like to be exposed to Streamline to compare its platform to the others, but imagine that it is beneficial to private or public industries that share confidential information electronically (ex: designs for a military or police unit).

I never considered the importance of distributing a model through other applications until now. These products assist in the reviewing stages of a model and without them, it would be difficult to discern the issues within a design. It’s worth noting that these products cannot change the model but only allow the user to make revisions and comments, and/or provide numeric data to the user. If BIM evolves, it could influence other software’s to adapt their platforms and allow models to translate into 3D printing or Virtual Reality (for example). In the meantime, PDF and DWF software have made it easy to mass distribute and analyze a model with relevant parties including those who have no experience with BIM.

Comments:

Harvin Bhandal – You addressed the importance of being able to update a design automatically via objects that naturally exist in the design environment, like doors. Similar to you, I have had little experience with BIM software but can imagine how building designs across private or public sectors are made quicker to construct and uniform in appearance by use of BIM. I think it is just as important to create these designs to save time and money as it is to be able to translate the information between parties as well as set a standard from which our predecessors (i.e. someone who takes over a project that was before their time) can learn by. 

Gabriel Grajewski – You mentioned the impact of changing one object on the entire model which saves time from making repetitious alterations. I worked on a coop where I had to categories buildings with AutoCad and similarly, I would create one design and propagate that design throughout the building. While AutoCAD and Revit have some differences in their functions, they both still share similar principles in creating a platform for quick and effective design. I imagine that in the future BIM software will adapt to changing environments in real time to reflect the changes in a drawing instantaneously.

Jenny Fretta – The benefits of BIM are clearly evident for both engineers and other industries like finance or real estate. I feel that this software isn’t as readily discussed or known in other industries but could well provide cost estimates, energy usage, and other data to help bring awareness to the expenditures of a project. If all industries had BIM (i.e. an equivalent software) and were mandated by the government to be as frugal yet optimal as possible in their projects, then we would probably conserve more resources and contribute to restoring the enviroment.

Dummy Post - Student Names

This is here to allow me to make your last names as labels.