B6: Course Reflection

I have greatly enjoyed this course. It has been interesting to attend every class and learn something new about the AEC industry and how new technology will change it. The knowledge gained from this course has influenced my view of the AEC industry and has displayed to me its potential moving forward into the 10 to 20 years into the future.

In particular, I found the database assignment to be useful and relevant. I am glad that I have now created a basic database and have an understanding of the basic functionality of databases, which will be useful when communicating with individuals regarding databases in my career. It is also nice to have a simple understanding of how online services like Amazon and Spotify, organize and store their information. Prior to this class, I had not considered the role that databases have in the management of building information. From our discussions in class, building databases are a crucial part of intelligent building and allow for more effective monitoring of system statuses by cataloging sensor measurements and building information. Effective databases, sensors and automation system combinations improve system monitorability and allow building managers to prevent problems before in the system before the problems can occur.

The database assignment required the creation of a relatively simple database, but it still took a considerable amount of time, planning, and set up to execute properly. In class Professor Mitchell showed us the database for a simple Revit family; the number relationships required for that simple family was staggeringly high and probably contained about one hundred more relationships than our simple assignment. The complexity of large and applied databases to be extremely overwhelming and confusing, but it is interesting to know that hundreds of fields, tables, and interconnected relationships make up the framework for the data we make use of today in the digital age.

From BIM and Dynamo to databases and sensors, the topics discussed in this class have changed my view on what an intelligent building is. There are a lot of factors and considerations that need to be made and continued from early stages of design to construction and building management. Intelligent buildings are obviously favorable and possible, but cost, poor coordination, and low desire to change impede the progress of intelligent building construction.

For my term project, I developed a Dynamo script to convert rooms in a linked Revit file to spaces. While not a complex script, the project was still challenging. I am glad that I decided to complete a Dynamo project; I am excited to start co-op and begin looking for tasks assigned to me that could be automated.

I also greatly enjoyed the guest speakers for this class,  notably all of the Drexel AE alumni that came to speak to us. It was refreshing to have lectures from AE graduates to give us insight into the jobs possible for graduates from our program. I enjoyed learning about each presenter's current position in the industry and was surprised and excited to learn that a lot of the technologies we discussed in class are being used by firms in effective manners.

B5: Relational Databases and SQL

A relational database is a set of interconnected tables, which can be queried, or called for, to display the data in new ways without the restructuring of the tables themselves. Databases are useful for managing and organizing large quantities of data, and are therefore, a useful tool for the AEC industry. [1]

Structured Query Language (SQL) is the primary “... computer language for relational database management and data manipulation.” [2].  SQL is the standard query language, and is the primary interface to communicate with relational databases. The common language makes interoperability possible; SQL is “... supported by all popular relational database engines.” SQL is used to query, insert, update and modify data.” [2]

Very simply, a query is a question. In the context of a database, there are numerous types of queries including a “select query” and an “action query”. Select queries are for data retrieval. Data is stored in tables. The tables are tabular, similar to formatting for an Excel document. Each table has numerous fields (the columns) in each table, and records (the rows) exist for each field. Typically, the records are auto-numbered with a specific ID. However, databases differ from an excel document with the use of relationships. Relationships can be created between numerous tables, which link the information, and allow for information to be called for in a “select query”, even if all the information desired is not in the same exact table. The select query presents the selected data results in a new and separate data sheet.

Action queries can be used to change the field values in the database. Instead of just altering one table and field at a time, entire groups of records can be called for with a select query, and then altered with an action query, which then changes the database. Action queries can also be used to make new tables, append specific tables. The SQL also has built in functions to aggregate the data values. Specific queries can be ran for selected fields to analyze the data. SQL has functions for count, average, sum, max and min, standard deviation, and others. SQL can also be setup as a search function, which looks for the user inputted characters that match with the record text in the specified tables or a formulated select query. [3] If the tables are structured and interrelated correctly, SQL allows for the acquisition and analysis of data in virtually any way the user would like.

Sources:

[1] Rouse, Margaret. “What Is Relational Database? - Definition from WhatIs.com.” SearchDataManagement, May 2018, searchdatamanagement.techtarget.com/definition/relational-database. [2] “What Is Structured Query Language (SQL)? - Definition from Techopedia.” Techopedia.com, www.techopedia.com/definition/1245/structured-query-language-sql. [3] “Designing Action Queries in Access.” 2010. PDF file.

Comments:

Tyler,

I agree that the use of databases in the AEC industry is becoming more common, and more crucial to managing building information. Revit, and BIM itself, is a large of database with a plethora of interrelated tables of family information and properties. A well formulated and utilized database can increase firm productivity and save a lot of time. Being able to pull up only the specific and relevant information for a certain construction task is an incredibly helpful ability  when trying to determine how one aspect of the design will influence another.

Alec,

Great introduction! I think when most people think about data it is more related to internet browsing and consumer purchases. While it is obvious that the construction industry also generates a lot of data, I do not think it is typically seen as a data source. Databases are good at storing and sharing information, making them a great way to help with construction coordination and time management. I agree, that if companies invest the time into developing and utilizing databases, company productivity and success will surely increase.

Jenny,
Object oriented databases seem to me like a more intuitive form of database. I think people would have an easier time to think of information stored as an object with a visual aid, than as a bunch of interrelated tables. Applying an object database to engineering drawing files seems like a great way to expedite the drawing process, while keeping all of the database elements up to date in whatever file they are used in.

B4: Term Project Description

My project is an investigation into the automation of basic HVAC design, using Dynamo and manually created mechanical Revit families. The basic principles of Dynamo and family design for mechanical system components will be researched and then applied to a sample project, and then once refined, applied to my AE 391 building project. The family creation will not focus on in-depth modeling of the system, but more so generalized blocking of components to demonstrate how quick self-created, “dummy”, families can be used in conjunction with Dynamo, to perform a quick and accurate analysis for early HVAC system design.

The design will be applied to a simple project for testing and to my AE391 project. The AE 391 project is a building design project for a new academic, commercial and retail space on Drexel’s campus in Lot F. For the project, each of the building's systems, except electrical, must be designed. I intend to use Dynamo to simplify and automate the early mechanical analysis for the building.

My initial project idea was to create a detailed and fully complete mechanical family with numerous components. However, I decided to alter my project premise because I found the likelihood of an engineer at a firm actually creating a complete family quite low. Most companies already have their own sets of standard families for consistent design across the entire company, and if for specific design cases, equipment manufacturers typically have downloadable Revit families of their equipment.

I chose this project to develop my own skills with both Revit families and Dynamo, in order to acquire a better understanding of their capabilities and applications in the AEC industry. Hopefully, by the end of the project, I will have enough of an understanding of Dynamo to be able to apply it to my next Co-op or full-time job post-graduation, whenever automation possibilities arise. I am hoping that after completing this project, I will be able to identify things that can be automated in the daily regimen for a designer in the AEC industry, whenever I come by them in my career.  I think my biggest difficulty with this project will be the Dynamo programming due to my lack of Dynamo experience and the learning curve that comes with any new software.

Comments:

1) Albert,

It seems we are both trying to combine this project with our AE 391 project! I am excited to see what Dynamo scripts you come up with and what you are able to automate. Your idea to automate the dimensioning of the walls is a good one, considering how much time that took for our architectural assignment. I think I will also look into Lynda tutorials for Dynamo. I am hoping that by completing this project, I will become better at identifying tasks which could be automated. Good luck!

2) Maalik,

Interesting research topic! I like how specific the topic is. It seems you will have a lot of information to dig into for curtain wall assemblies. I know nothing about how curtain walls are installed, so I appreciate that you are planning to detail the conventional installation for curtain walls, and then how robots will affect or change that assembly. The potential of robots in construction seems to affect every discipline. It will be interesting to see how robots affect something as specific as curtain wall assembly.

3) Christian,

Once the technology becomes more accessible, augmented reality seems like it could be really interesting and effective in conjunction with traditional floor plans. I was also surprised by Derek’s discussion of AR, and how his firm is currently using it in some building designs. He made it sound like their current use of AR was quite limited, but the use of it at all is quite remarkable. The idea that you could directly compare as-built conditions with the model in real time, exactly where the forms are to be projected in a 3D environment sounds like something out of a science fiction movie. I am very interested in learning more about the current state of AR for the AEC industry from your project.

Blog 3: The Future of BIM

In class last week we watched part of the youtube video, "The Future of BIM Will Not Be BIM—and It's Coming Faster than You Think”, in which Bill Allen discusses the current state of BIM, and where he believes the industry is heading in terms of automation and accessibility. One of the main questions he presents to the audience is, “ Can algorithms design a building?” He believes more and more work will be performed by computers and machines, and instead of building information modeling, we are going to see Building Information Optimization.

Mr. Allen explains the use of Building Information Optimization to expedite the design process by “feeding” the computer rules or constraints in design that have to be met, and the computer will construct the building’s optimal footprint, structural load capacity, and thermal performance.

I find the concept of algorithms that determine the optimal footprint of buildings extremely interesting, practical, and applicable to the entire industry, but it seems to me that it could remove an element of the human creativity process that is present in building design. While obviously these features will speed up the iterative design process, will the algorithms have too much control over the design that buildings begin to be repetitive to achieve streamlined efficient buildings? On the flipside of this argument, the algorithms could potentially create designs that an individual would have never had thought of. I believe the use of algorithms will be best used as a starting point where numerous potential designs are output by the algorithm, and then the design can be manually edited.

Allen believes that for the less niche designs, algorithmic building can be used effectively since the algorithms can mimic human behavior enough that the design options created will seemingly have no difference to designs manually created by humans. Additionally, with algorithmic design the number of design options output will be much greater than the number of outputs from humans while taking considerably less time.

In a more intermediate and current example, Allen brings up an example of how he has used graphical algorithmic modeling with Grasshopper to develop a family with complicated planar panels, in a very intuitive and graphically accessible way that does not require complicated coding or equation inputs. He refers to this creation as the “transition period”, before the computer algorithms will develop all of the design iterations on their own. I think graphical algorithmic modeling has more of a place in the coming years, than complete algorithmic modeling, where the computer creates the options for you, especially in the 3 to 10 year time frame which Allen proposes (this video is already more than 2 years old).

Source:
Allen, Bill . YouTube, The Future of BIM Will Not Be BIM—and It's Coming Faster than You Think, 23 Nov. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq6yKyauu-o.


Comments:

1) Nick,

I agree that the algorithmic tools presented in the lecture have great potential in the speed and quantity of iterative design. It also seems to be applicable to any discipline so it will have a universal use in the AEC industry. To me, AI BIM seems to most functional and appropriate when the designs work cooperatively between the AI and human input. I think the biggest hurdle in the adoption of these programs is their cost, learning curve and accessibility for a slow adopting industry like the AEC.

2) Albert,

I agree Allen’s prediction for the state of AEC tech after BIM is unrealistic. In the video he says 3 to 10 years, and it is already 2 years since he gave that presentation. Interoperability and accessibility are huge hurdles for the industry, and it seems that unless both of these are very refined for these algorithm modeling programs, they will not be implemented in a practical way anytime any time soon. I appreciate your personal insight into the speed at which firms adopt new technology. The firms I worked at all primarily focused on Revit, but the idea that some companies are dragging their feet on Revit makes Allen’s prediction seem almost impossible for the majority of the industry in 10 years.

3) Weiyi,

Good points on the speed of implementation for software and technology, as well as reasons why technology sometimes seems to fade into and out of relevance. I agree that AI assistance can be a great boon for the AEC industry in terms of design optimization, as long as humans are making the final choice in the design. I think it will be a little hard to market completely computer design buildings to the general public for a while. The potential of this technology is remarkable. AI BIM can lead to increased efficiency and design speeds, and with that more time will be available for individuals to learn new skills or do other things for projects. It could completely change the way and quality of life for individuals in the AEC industry.

Blog 2: BIM and Interoperability

In the future of the AEC industry, program interoperability is a crucial property that has a large impact in the speed and ease of coordination and thus, construction. Interoperability is “... the ability to exchange data between applications…and for multiple applications to contribute to the work at hand.” With all of the different teams and disciplines working together to construct a building, numerous programs get used for different building tasks beyond the modeling of the structure in BIM. Interoperability is significant in order to exchange data between multiple programs, regardless of the developer.

Interoperability is also useful in automating the data exchange process. Without the interoperability, individuals have to manually copy data generated in one program, and transfer it to another. Manually transferring information leads to error and inconsistency and discourages iteration because of the time-consuming process of manually reproducing data in a new program. Furthermore, if iteration is discouraged, the design quality declines. Overall, the lack of interoperability results in a waste of time. For example without interoperability, if a lighting designer exchanged their model with the architect, with the placements of each of the fixtures and their properties, the architect would then have to manually input each of those fixtures.

The problem with interoperability in practice is the different exchange formats used by different developers. As part of their business model, BIM software developer companies limit interoperability with external programs to incentivize customers to use only the AEC software created by a specific developer. Different data modeling software model elements with different properties. Two applications can use different information and storage methods to describe the same object, leading to difficulties in transferring data between software. In an effort to standardize software and combat exchange format differences, under the ISO-STEP international standards effort and the National BIM Standard, “... data models were developed to support product and object model exchanges within different industries...” (pg. 100). The standardization aims to make specific data required for exchanges.

Developers typically offer packaged solutions to interoperability for their programs, while other software is not fully supported. For this third-party software not supported by the main vendors, 3D object exchange formats like IFC are used. The complications and complexities of data exchange for BIM software lie in the more complex nature of the data created with BIM. Instead of just a geometric shape, BIM data also contains attributes and properties for each of the elements. One exchange method being pushed is the Industry Foundation Class (IFC), a data organization type “...developed to define an extensible set of consistent data representations of building information for exchange between AEC software applications” (pg 114).

Eastman believes that “The BIM platform developers will continue to offer packaged solutions, while reliance on IFC will grow to provide workflows not well supported by the software vendors” (pg. 148). It should be noted that this handbook is already about 8 years old and, with each version, more and more data is interoperable via exchange methods like IFC and building model repositories, making complete interoperability more of a reality. In the future, companies committed to interoperability will make the complicated task of building projects more time and cost efficient.

Sources:

Eastman, Charles M. BIM Handbook : A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers and Contractors. Vol. 2nd ed, Wiley, 2011. EBSCOhost, ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=364239&site=ehost-live.

Comments:

Nick,

Good point about some of the information in the Handbook being outdated; it is definitely important to recognize what has been developed in the time between this handbook was published and now. It is honestly quite amazing how much progress has been made into specific facets of BIM like interoperability in what is a rather short amount of time. From my personal experience from co-ops, it does seem that the state of interoperability has been improved in REVIT with the implementation of REVIT add-ins to help with the exchange of data. BIM repositories are an interesting alternative to the program to program exchanges. Your point on how the objects in the repository will be updated and the unknown effect the update of one object could have on another is a valid concern. I think in the future, after the objects in the repositories have been properly developed, quality tested, and troubleshot, BIM repositories will be an extremely effective method of interoperability.

Christian,

It seems that the most immediate and significant benefits of interoperability is the automation of the data exchange process between multiple programs. The amount of time and money that could be saved without having to do a manual transfer of data between two programs would greatly impact the workforce and organization of a design team since some roles could potentially be removed. I also appreciate your addressment of the proprietary and business practice issues that definitely do not help the goal of a standard for interoperability. I think the bias that developers display in their own products are slowing down the transition into full interoperability.

Tyler,

Your point that a majority of contractors do not participate in the design process and thus have little use for BIM is very interesting, and is something I have not considered. Contractors could utilize BIM to improve the design with all of the coordination, estimating and scheduling features possible with BIM software. However, with the learning curve, the program may not be used to its maximum potential, and a lot of its beneficial tools may be wasted. This would make the use of BIM for smaller contractors a potential waste of time.

Blog 1: BIM and 3D Printing

The future of the construction industry is BIM in some form. Continuously improving, and becoming more and more dominant as the go to tool in the construction industry, BIM has revolutionized the construction industry by improving visualization, productivity, and coordination, while reducing costs.

The use of BIM in designing high cost, large scale and complex projects has proven its effectiveness. On the opposite side of the cost spectrum, studies have been conducted to analyze the usefulness of BIM in designing low-cost buildings, like temporary housing [1].  According to Lachmi Khemlani, “...we could facilitate the process by exploring how advanced technologies such as BIM can be applied, not only towards improving buildings and processes that are already quite good to begin with, but also in tackling the challenges of housing for the lower half of society” [1].

A key property for effective temporary housing is modularity of the components (leading into prefabrication of elements) and quick construction times. One example of BIM application in low-cost, temporary housing is the Loblolly House, designed by KieranTimberlake Associates [1]. Kieran Timberlake Associates extensively used BIM for the design and development of the building, but also for the fabrication and assembly of the building. Using BIM, the components of the building were modeled in high levels of detail with assigned parameters and then fabricated offsite, to then be assembled physically after being virtually assembled with BIM.

However, the use of BIM in the low-cost housing professional practice is seldom. While it has great potential in its effectiveness to create efficient housing at a lower cost, the industry has a long way to go in actually implementing BIM for the purpose of low-cost temporary housing [1].

I found this article interesting, and I appreciate the research into alternative BIM use, it seems to me that the effectiveness of BIM in producing better designs at lower costs seems universally relevant to the entire construction industry. I felt the answer to the author’s question of “Can BIM enable making low-cost housing easier to build, with more efficiency, lower cost, and improved quality?”, is an obvious yes.

Along with the further development and implementation of BIM in the industry, 3D printing is improving and finding notable purpose in the future of construction.

One innovative use, similar in purpose to BIM used for low-cost housing, is the use of 3D printing to build small, yet cheap and affordable housing, with extremely fast construction times. The construction firm, Icon, and New Story, a nonprofit for housing construction in the developing world, are collaborating to achieve, cheap and quick housing construction utilizing 3D printing. The current created dwelling is a single story, 380 square feet, structure made of concrete that was created in only 48 hours [2]. Similar to small scale 3D printing, the system functions by placing a mortar material, similar to concrete, layer by layer. To form the structure, the 3D printed mortar is held in place by a metal frame till it sets. The frame and construction is modular, and if desired, multiple homes can be placed back to back to create a larger home [2]. The 3D printer uses BIM created floor plans.

The concept is being taken to El Salvador to quickly produce simple, yet highly functional, homes for poor families. The cost for a family to build one works out about $30 a month. In association with the nonprofit, the cost is put towards a pay it forward system, to pay for more homes as well as maintenance for the entire community [2].

As described above, the humanitarian potential of BIM and 3D printed structures is remarkable. While cheap, effective, and quick, the use of 3D printing in the construction field will have a notable impact on the jobs market for construction workers. In the future when the use of 3D printing in construction becomes more widely adopted, I imagine a lot of construction jobs will be rendered obsolete, and the jobs created by the new system will not match the number of jobs lost. I think the transition will be similar to the transition into CAD that rendered a lot of drafters jobs obsolete since Engineers could now draft their own drawings.

Sources:

[1] Khemlani, Lachmi. “BIM in Low Cost and Temporary HousingAECbytes Feature (March 16, 2016).” Technology Toolkit for Sustainable Design at Orcutt Winslow Partnership: AECbytes Feature, www.aecbytes.com/feature/2016/BIM-LowCostHousing.html.

[2] Lee, Dave. “3D-Printed Homes Turn Sludge into Shelter.” BBC News, BBC, 15 Mar. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/technology-43411581.

Comments:

1) Richard,

I agree that while AI provides great convenience and its connectivity has clear benefits, the security threat AI presents needs to be thoroughly investigated and protected against exploitation. AI presents a very dangerous relationship between convenience and safety, and it is clear, especially with the notes on hackers fooling the AI used in self-driving cars to drive at higher speeds, that we must be careful that systems do not become so overly automated that safety is compromised. The idea that hacking and security breaches are becoming more popular due to the lucrative information that is stored online is alarming when considering all of the future tech that has interconnected communication systems. Edge computing is an interesting solution, but again, it becomes an issue of loss of privacy for security. The privacy is up to the developer to be benevolent and I imagine a lot of people will have a hard time trusting developers, especially with all of the Facebook privacy developments recently.

2) Nana,

The potential of 3D printing in construction is remarkable, especially considering all of the 3D printers being developed. In the future, it seems like the cost and duration of construction with almost any material will be greatly decreased. I agree that 3D printing structures in the future is a positive thing, but I think the jobs generated 3D printed construction will not match the jobs lost by it. However, I think the humanitarian potential possible for quick and cheap construction for third world countries is reason enough alone to pursue the implementation and use of 3D printing. Imagine the potential 3D printing could have for a refugee camp. If majority of building materials and components could be 3D printed, the overall construction length and footprint of impact for projects could be drastically reduced. These articles have definitely made me excited for the future of construction.

Introduction - Sean Reifer

My name is Sean Reifer. I am an AE junior, concentrating in mechanical systems. I am from Frederick, Maryland, which is about 40 miles west of Baltimore. I grew up in a very rural area. My high school was surrounded by cornfields.

My first co-op was with Bruce E. Brooks and Associates and an electrical intern. This co-op sparked my interest in MEP; for my second co-op I transitioned into mechanical systems at Jacobs. I used Revit at both of my co-ops so I have a basic understanding of BIM. I spend a lot of my free time drawing.

Intelligent Buildings:

In my opinion, intelligent buildings utilize sensors and controls to control the HVAC and lighting systems of the building automatically, without specific input from the user. Intelligent buildings expend less energy and cost less money than typical buildings by using sensors to control the degree of heating, cooling and lighting provided to a building zone depending on the occupancy and activity in the zone at a specific time.

Dummy Post2 - Other Names

This too is necessary to get your last names in as labels.