B6 - Course Reflection

Reflection on course AE 510.

From this course, I learned a lot about the most forefront technologies of the AEC industry. I learned the basic concepts and detailed information on BIM programs, AI applications, databases, sensors applications, etc. And learned the possibilities of these technologies in the future. With the help of Professor, I am able to predict a little bit of big direction of the future of the AEC industry.

As a novice of Revit, I learned how to use the basic function of Revit to build a simple house through the course practices. More important, it aroused my interest in learning BIM software again. As an architecture student before I came to Drexel, I always thought about learning Revit. But as it was not required by the studio and I did not have the wiser sight of the development of the architecture industry, I just delayed the learning again and again. But in this course, with the very detailed and interesting introduction of BIM as a whole system at the beginning of the course, I realized that I could not delay the learning anymore. And also, the instruction for Revit we used in this course is very clear and easy to follow. It removed the big pressure from learning new software by using plain explanation and simple project cases. Even though this course is just a start for me of learning Revit, it is an absolutely good start of learning new software.

I also enjoyed the database learning after the Revit section. Before, I thought Access is just similar to Excel and I have never used it. Through this course, I learned that the database is not only a form to store data but also a tool that can classify and analyze data. And thanks to the database project, I can use the basic function of Access now. I’m sure that with more practice and learning, databases including Access will help me a lot in data storage and analysis work in the future.

Besides learning new software, the biggest takeaway for me should be opening my eyes of the AEC industry and trigger my ambitions for the advanced technologies. I learned that the AEC industry is changing with technology development and all the practitioners need to keep up with the times to avoid being eliminated by their peers. With writing the blogs and reading other people’s blogs, I feel big peer pressure as most of our students are keeping up with the times and new technologies. At the same time, I also feel lucky that there are so many people whom I can learn from. In concluding, this course helps me a lot for my future learning and working.

B5 - Relational Database Theory

Relational database theory is the theory behind the relational model which is applied to design relational database. A database model is “a type of data model that determines the logical structure of a database and fundamentally determines in which manner data can be stored, organized and manipulated”. The relational database is one of the most popular examples of a database model which uses a table-based format. The theory of it is firstly proposed by E. F. Codd in 1969 when he tried to find an approach to “satisfy the widest possible ranges of users and uses”.

A database is defined by Wikipedia as “A structured collection of records or data” and can also be understood as “an organized, machine-readable collection of symbols.” When these machine-readable symbols are organized into a collection of relations, it becomes a relational database. Here, many people use the word “table” as an alternative to “relation” as this model using columns and rows of tables to organize data. Note that the SQL also uses table instead of relation. However, every relation can be considered as a table, not every table is a relation. There can be multiple tables represent one relation in many cases. In tables of relational database, there must be “a column or group of columns, called primary key, to uniquely identify each row”. That means each row in a table has its own unique key. When people want to link different tables, they can add a column for the unique key of the linked row. This column is called foreign keys. Primary keys and foreign keys give people a way to tie different tables together so the tables can communicate when people need to perform some specific commands. “The primary keys within a database are used to define the relationships among the tables. When a PK migrates to another table, it becomes a foreign key in the other table.” Usually, people call these rows as records or tuples and call these columns as attributes. In codding format, a set of attributes is also called the head and a set of tuples is called the body. So a relation is “a set consisting of two elements: a head and a body. We can represent a relation as {Head, Body}.”

There are two integrity rules for relational database. First is the row must be distinct. Otherwise, the system will not know which row is correct when it collects information from database. Second is that the column values cannot be repeating groups or arrays. When each row in a table is different, we can use a unique column which is the primary key mentioned above to represent that table.

Sources:
[1] The Java™ Tutorials, https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/jdbc/overview/database.html
[2] Hugh Darwen, "An introduction to relational database",  2010, from
https://dvikan.no/ntnu-studentserver/kompendier/an-introduction-to-relational-database-theory.pdf
[3] Relational Database Theory. Retrieved February 12, 2019, from http://archive.oreilly.com/oreillyschool/courses/phpsql2/phpsql203.html
[4] Relational Database - Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved February 12, 2019, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relational_database

Commons:
Weiyi Tang, I like the picture you use. It clearly shows where the database can be applied in a practical case. And the example you used in Linux also help me a lot to understand how can database being used.

Jenny Fretta, you clearly explained what is object oriented database and even point out its advantages. Your example used in the blog represents the most important advantage of object oriented database which is saving space and time for processing while reducing the risk of information delay.

Yicheng Li, I learned a brief history of SQL and its characteristics. And I agree that SQL helps people manage and store large databases more easily and more reliably. Great introduction.

B4 - Applications and Benefits of BIM in healthcare building design -Individule project

Applications and Benefits of BIM in healthcare building design

1      Introduction

Background of BIM application in building design

The importance of applying BIM in healthcare building design

BIM can help architects and contractors to improve their production efficiency and reduce the risk of human error remarkably. “In fact, all buildings benefit from BIM, however, it is believed that healthcare is the segment that can benefit the most out of BIM services (Bhushan Avsatthi).” “Usually an office building consists of four moving parts, whereas a hospital generally consists of 50 or 100 moving parts (Bhushan Avsatthi).” This makes BIM become more essential for collaborating multiple processes of design and construction.

The trend of healthcare design

“A wave of green building design and sustainability has swept across the construction industry, and it is now becoming more aware of the fact that their contribution will prove to be significant in shaping the future of energy worldwide (Bhushan Avsatthi).”

2      What is BIM

2.1     The definition of BIM

2.2     Current application of BIM in architecture industry

3      Current applications of BIM in healthcare design processes

3.1     Site analysis and Layout plan

3.2     Building conceptual design

3.3     Indoor environment quality analysis

3.4     Envelope design and analysis

3.5     Construction drawings production

4      Benefits of applying BIM in healthcare design (including a comparison between BIM supported and traditional design method)

4.1     Visualization

4.2     Efficiency improvement

4.3     Complexity organization

4.4     Multiple software collaboration

5      Challenges and prospects of BIM application in healthcare building design

5.1     Longer design cycles

5.2     Complexity of application process (especially for developing countries due to the immature technology)

5.3     Data loses during software communication

6      Conclusion

Comment:

Yicheng Li

I am sure that through this project, you can be proficient in modeling in Revit and I believe this will help you a lot in your future works. From the floor plan, I can tell it is a very typical layout of the two-level house in the U.S. The only thing I might concern is the materials of each element of the house. And maybe you can try to create new families with specific features that you need. As a novice of Revit, the model you already did looks pretty. I am sure that your final output will be great. Good luck!

Albert Hanan 

Your project sounds exciting.to me. I am looking forward to see your final model and especially the document of your progress. As I new user of Revit, I. unfortunately. can not give you more suggestions on using Revit and Dynamo. But I think your collaboration of multiple software is a smart way to build the BIM and will be very helpful after you are proficient in them. Good luck!

Weiyi Tang 

I find your topic is very interesting. With the developments of AI and robotics, houses have changed a lot and will keep changing with new technologies progress. From the lectures of AE510, we have learned that there are so many emerging technologies including AI supported design, robotic construction, smart home, etc., that have pushed the AEC industry to a new age. And through your research, I believe we can have a better understanding of the prospect of the AEC industry.

B3 - Implementation of BIM in 10 years

From the speech, “The Future of BIM Will Not Be BIM—and It's Coming Faster than You Think”, we watched on YouTube in last class and through the discussion within our group, we believe that there will be a bright future for AEC industry. However, it is hard to predict that how soon that future will come.

Bill Allen introduced many interesting application cases of BIM in today’s AEC industry. From the video, it’s easy to conclude that the BIM has and will improve the accuracy and efficiency of almost every process of construction activity. He emphasized some applications of BIM and other parametric design software such as grasshopper in architecture design. Along with my own experience in architecture design, I believe there will be more and more buildings, especially large-scale public buildings, designed in this way. Because parametric design can not only improve the design efficiency but also provide the visualization of design logic. It helps designers and architects to explain some certain design details and the logical reason behind them. It is quite common that after the completion of building design, the first party will doubt and argue about some design details of that building with architects. Thanks to the parametric tools, now architects can defend their ideas more convincedly and also can adjust design according to the owner requirement easily.

However, innovation and development are often based on the need for economic efficiency. Nowadays, almost all architects and engineers know that BIM is good. It can help people cooperate better, it can decrease the risk of human error, etc.. But from my own experience, there are still so many architects, engineers, builders do not know how to use BIM tools like Revit. Most of them are still relying on the AutoCAD or Sketchup. This fact makes it hard for firms to revolute their working mode due to the cost of training workers, upgrading working tools, etc.. And in fact, for many small projects like a house or a traditional apartment building, it is not worth for these firm to apply BIM. There are already a bunch of references for floor plans, details, standards for construction. They can complete the job even faster than using BIM tools.

Comments:

To Bhandal,

I agree with your points. I also doubt that the wide application of BIM in every field will come later than 10 years. Just as you said, to use BIM, every stakeholder have to be on board. But from the current situation that many firms are still relying on the 2-D tools, it is hard to say that the bright future can come in 10 years.

To Nana,

I agree that 10 years is too short to let the ambition come true. And I also agree that complementation relies on our generation who already learned those techniques and will or already on work in this field. In 20 years, I would say, after these young architects and engineers becoming senior workers, the wide application of BIM will come true.

To Weiyi,

I like the analogy you used between the parametric modeling assistant and food delivery apps. Exactly, techniques today are saving a bunch of time for people and make it very convenient from daily life to work. But there are still problems such as cost and time consideration. And the techniques like parametric design or 3D printing are still under developing. People need more time to refine and improve these techniques. Just as what you said,  "Haste makes waste, so nothing should go in a rush."

Blog 2 - Chapter 2 - Kunlun Ren

Chapter 2 starts with the history of the evolution of the parametric modeling from 2D to 3D. The author introduces a brief history of two initial forms of early 3D models which are the boundary representation approach (B-rep) and the alternative approach, the constructive solid geometry (CSG), and how the two forms finally were combined together. Then this chapter delves into explaining the characteristics of or the “technologies” applied in the parametric modeling system. There are three degrees of parametric modeling. At the simplest level is parametric solid modeling which is defined as “complex shapes or assemblies defined by a few parameters”. The second degree is parametric assemblies which represent that the assembly models can updates to the shapes when parameters are changed. The most important technology for parametric modeling is full parametric modeling which “allows the parameters defining one shape to be linked through rules to the parameters of another shape”.

The author also introduces some applications of building information modeling as tools of parametric modeling systems in both building design and construction. Many companies and associations are making efforts to develop more objects behavior rules and layouts to expand the families of BIM objects. The user-defined parametric object is also mentioned in this chapter as an expanding set in BIM design applications. It allows the BIM tools to be applied in the real world when there are more limitations. Some other advantages and developing directions of parametric modeling and BIM tools are discussed such as the relational structures, drawing generation, object management, etc..

The last part of this chapter introduces BIM as organizations which include tools, platforms, and environments. BIM tools can be considered as the smallest unit in BIM organizations. It allows users to complete one specific task such as drawings production, energy analysis, error detection, etc.. BIM platform can be treated as a stage on where tools can be organized together to achieve the data generation and analysis. BIM environment has the largest scale in the BIM organization. It combines multiple platforms and tools and is usually used as a communication tool between the people who use different platforms and tools. Several products of BIM tools, platforms and environments are also introduced in this chapter. And Revit, as the leader of the BIM market, is emphasized.

Citation:

Eastman, Teicholz, et al. BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers, and Contractors. Second Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2011.

Comments:

To Sean,
Your point of the importance of interoperability on the BIM is very interesting and I totally agree that the interoperability will play a critic role in BIM's future. From your blog, I know that it achieves the possibility of communication between different BIM tools. And it can save lots of time to unify the models' information and decrease the risk of human errors. Just like what you said in the last part, I believe with more groups efforts on building the model resources, BIM will help people save more time.

To Weiyi,
I can't agree more with you that the IPD is a very efficient way for cooperation between architects and engineers. From your blog, I learned that the evolution of cooperation process from the very traditional way, Design-Bid-Build, to Design-Build Delivery, and finally to the Integrated Project Delivery. People are making the building activities more and more efficient from both actual and potential aspects.

To Jenny,
Your point about the necessity of using BIM for the owners and facility managers is very interesting. I agree that BIM should be applied a wholelife of a building to achieve the maximum cost and time-saving. With the help of BIM, the owners and facility managers can rapidly react to feild situations or make smarter choices without facing problems in the field. And BIM also helps the owners forecast their profits and decrease the finacial risk.

Blog 1 - AI, Computer, Software, Future_Kunlun Ren

In recent years, interest in artificial intelligence (AI) has surged. Since 2011, more and more technology companies, such as IBM, Facebook, Google, Tencent, Alibaba, etc., have made many efforts to ensure their competitive position in the field of AI. Back to 1956, when the term "artificial intelligence" was first coined at a conference at Dartmouth College, in Hanover, New Hampshire, it was hard for people to imagine how AI has changed the present lives of people, just as it is hard for us to imagine the future. Nowadays, people are using the self-service check-in system since face recognition technology was rolled out in Chinese railway system. More people are driving autonomous vehicles in some big cities in China. There is no doubt that the lives in future will be changed dramatically by AI.

Some of the important concerns about the future of AI is on computer technology and software development. Many of the tech companies already begun to develop the computer to the next generation to make it more like a human's brain, which means that the computer should collect surrounding information from the world and make choices to react on the information. The scientists and engineers are rethinking "the very nature of computers and are building machines that look more like the human brain, where a central brain stem oversees the nervous system and offloads particular tasks — like hearing and seeing — to the surrounding cortex[2]."

Just as how the AI will change the computers, AI will also become a primary factor of software development. "AI is already starting to impact all aspects of the software development lifecycle, from the upfront conceptualization of the software to development, testing, deployment and ongoing maintenance[3]."  AI will help the software engineers and testers to work more efficiently and more accurately. Meanwhile, engineers and testers can make better-functioned software with AI. There is a predictable future where software can even write new software by itself with the help of AI.

References:
[1] Tanya Lewis, Staff Writer, A Brief History of Artificial Intelligence, Dec 4, 2014,
https://www.livescience.com/49007-history-of-artificial-intelligence.html
[2] Cade Metz, Chips Off the Old Block: Computers Are Taking Design Cues From Human Brains, Sept. 16, 2017
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/16/technology/chips-off-the-old-block-computers-are-taking-design-cues-from-human-brains.html
[3] Alex Robbio, How Will AI Impact Software Development? Aug 31, 2017,
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2017/08/31/how-will-ai-impact-software-development/#4423c746264d

Comments:

To Richard Kimball
I agree that the security problems and privacy issues will be big challenge in the AI development. As you mentioned, AI relies on analysing collected data and both the collecting and analysing process can easily be weak points for hackers. Some people would argue that is it possible that people can also develop security AI which is specially designed to deal with hackers. I have to admit that this will be very hard to achieve. Imagine the AI can even be finally developed as smart as a human brain, but how many times we are fooled and cheated with our smart brains?

To Blas Andres Rodriguez Vieira
It is quite exciting to see how much the technologies have changed the building activities. And it is exciting to imagine the benefits will be brought with BIM technology along with AI and robots. Just as the BIM helped each process in a building lifecycle, in the future, the AI maybe can also be applied in each process to ensure the quality of human's work and the quality of the building.

To Harvin Bhandal
It is an important concern that the AI will not only bring people benefits but also challenges. Nowadays, more and more people are starting to worry about themselves being replaced by AI and robots. I still remembered that when Alibaba, a technology company in China, opened the first AI operated self-service store, there are much more people complained and criticized than those who supported and felt excited. Most people worried about the safety and pravicy problems and worried about with more this kind of store opened, they would lose their jobs. I totally agree that the governments all over the world should do something to ensure the technology will be developed appropriately.

First Post: Introduction

     My name is Kunlun Ren. I am from China and I am a Ph.D. student in architectural engineering, second year here. I graduated from IIT, Chicago, with MArch degree. My advisor now is Dr. Simi Hoque. My interests include evidence-based design, green building technology, vernacular architecture design, etc.. Currently, I am doing a project on the impact of indoor environment conditions on patients health in CHOP. The main reason I take this course is to learn how to use Revit which will also be used as a tool for data storage and visual display in my project.

     The most interesting note I found in Evernote is a piece of news about Foster + Partners added a skybridge for the design of headquarters for DJI. The most exciting point is not about the building itself, but the ambitions of DJI and a conceivable future where building built by drones are also operated and connected by drones. Not only the building can be intelligent, but the whole city can also be intelligent with the help of AI, robots, drones, etc..

Figure 1. A future city vision. 

(Baig, Z. A., Szewczyk, P., Valli, C., Rabadia, P., Hannay, P., Chernyshev, M., . . . Peacock, M. (2017). Future challenges for smart cities: Cyber-security and digital forensics. Digital Investigation,22, 3-13. doi:10.1016/j.diin.2017.06.015)

     From my point of view, the intelligent building should be defined by the whole life of a building from the proposal stage to demolishment. The site of the intelligent building can be chosen based on AI processed data; The design decisions can be made by architects with the help of AI; The building operation can be controlled by robots adaptively, etc.. In brief, the intelligent building is the building that is optimized in a system to face the best needs of occupants and any other people related.

Dummy Post2 - Other Names

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