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. 

B5- Databases in Construction

     In today’s world, everything is data. From the products we buy to the shoes we wear, everything we do is stored somewhere as data values. It’s no wonder that big companies turn to data to target products to consumers. But with all the potential behind data management and processing, can data be used for other industries besides the commercial realm?

     As it turns out, data and databases have hugepotential for the construction industry and firms that deal with construction processes. Quite obviously, there is a lot of data to handle in a construction firm. As a few people from the Department of Civil Engineering at a university in Istanbul put it, “knowledge management is considered to be one of the key sources of success for construction projects” (1). An effective way to ensure organization and management of data is to make use of databases. Databases “aid construction companies in capturing, storing, sharing, and using project and corporate information.” It seems almost like common sense, but it is true that implementing a database system to manage data for projects is a great way to improve work efficiency. In addition to just storing information, databases can be used for analysis to address discrepancies or follow trends. 

     So why are databases so important, especially with respect to the construction industry? As we know, the construction industry and its firms have projects that are often “held in dispersed locations, by different parties involved, [and] with variable objectives” (2). The process of capturing, organizing, and maintaining all the data is quite daunting, so there needs to be a system in place for this task. Construction firms may utilize databases to properly keep track of projects, even if projects differ in type, location, cost, etc. 

     It is often that firms tend to “do it how they’ve always done it” to minimize employee discomfort and stress. I believe that now is the time to drop that archaic frame-of-mind for the improvement of workflow and data management. Databases are powerful tools for ensuring a company’s success, and I have no doubt that the big firms in the construction industry will shift towards a database implementation if they have not already done so. 

Works Cited

(1) Eken, Gorkem, Bilgin, Gozde, Dikmen, Irem, M. Talat, Birgonul, A Lessons Learned Database Structure for Construction Companies. Procedia Engineering, Volume 123, 2015. Pages 135-144, ISSN 1877-7058

(2) Ozorhon, Beliz. Cenap G. Karatas, Sevilay Demirkesen, A Web-based Database System for Managing Construction Project Knowledge.Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, Volume 119, 2014, Pages 377-386, ISSN 1877-0428

Comments on others’ posts

Albert, your background on this topic was appreciated, at least by me, as it gave me a good basis of knowledge about this topic. Having not worked with databases at length before, I definitely needed that introduction. It’s interesting that the idea and origin of databases date back to the 20^thcentury even though high-level data management and technology has come about only relatively recently. Your example of modern use was also really good, thanks for that great information!

Nick, similar to Albert’s post that I read earlier, I liked your good introduction to relational databases. As we have yet to cover them in class and I have little exposure to them, it’s nice to get a good understanding from peers. You did a great job describing SQL and furthered my knowledge more than I could have expected. You put its importance into perspective and provided good context.

Maalik, I really like how concise and well-explained your post is. You include key information like the role of databases in popular programs and the possible interfaces users may experience. I really liked that you hone in one specific software tool that is popular in this industry and put things into perspective for readers like myself. Great work!

B4- Project Outline

Topic selected: How Robotics Will Shape the Future of Intelligent Building Design/Construction

Type of project selected: Paper

1.        Introduction

1.        Background

2.        Motivation

2.        Robotics

1.        Benefits and Drawbacks

2.        Current Trends/Uses

3.        Potential for the Future

3.   Intelligent Building Design

1. Purpose 

2. Possible Improvements

      4.   Conclusion

            1. Summary

            2. Personal Feelings Towards the Subject

            3. Proposed Question

      5.   Appendix

            1. Relevant Figures

            2. Works Cited

            3. Miscellaneous Notes

            For this term project, I have elected to write a paper about robotics’ effect on the construction industry with a focus on the current trends and potential for the future of the industry. As we know, the development and integration of robotics into all aspects of fabrication such as stage design for shows, car manufacturing, and more has been on a consistent rise. We have come now to the question of robotics’ relevance to intelligent building design and production. 

In the paper, I will discuss the background relevant to understand the purpose of the paper as well as my own personal motivation to discuss this topic. I will then highlight the benefits of robotic integration as well as any drawbacks, while putting these into the context of modern trends in construction. I will build off of these ideas to describe my view of the future of this industry with regards to robotic integration. I will also describe the nature of intelligent building design to clarify its purpose and areas for improvement. At the end, I will be reiterating my beliefs as well as outlining a couple questions I have for the reader. I also intend to use relevant figures and make note of any findings I make along the way. 

In the past few years, I have really enjoyed the field of robotics and its potential for development in all areas of engineering. Personally, I really enjoy automotive engineering and robotics has taken that field by storm. It was a no-brainer to select robotics as my field of focus for this project, as we have touched on it quite often in class. I want to know how its development will affect the industry as well as the future of technology integration in human tasks and human careers.

            As for sources, I plan to make good use of the provided database of sources in Evernote. “Can Technology Solve Architects' Productivity Challenge?”, “Robots Will Take Jobs From Men”, and “The Construction Robots are Coming” are all good articles that will help develop my ideas for this project. In past terms, I have found that using sources is quite a demanding task, as most professors don’t provide the best resources. Thankfully, the large Evernote database of sources will make the integration of my ideas and others’ work seamless.

Sources Referenced: Baker, Kermit. Can Technology Solve Architects’ Productivity Challenge?AIA Architect. 3 January 2019.

Moley Robotics, Viki Knows, et al. The Construction Robots Are Coming. The B1M. 30 May 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKGGHdl3NyQ

Simonite, Tom. Robots Will Take Jobs from Men, The Young, and Minorities. Wired Business. 24 January 2019. https://www.wired.com/story/robots-will-take-jobs-from-men-young-minorities/

Adam Raifsnider, I really like that you have a strong interest in the field that you will be discussing in your project. It's important to have a vested interest in order to create a successful project. Your introduction is solid and your outline looks promising. I hope you enjoy doing your paper as much as I look forward to hopefully reading it.

Albert Hanan, I'm excited to see what you and Nick can produce. It's extremely helpful you already have a good idea of what you will be making as you have a good starting point going into this project.  Also, your mentioning of exceeding minimum requirements shows your drive and passion toward this field. I find it inspiring that you're going to actively keep progressive notes and work hard on this project. You show a great degree of dedication and passion and I hope your final project reflects that. The topic is great and your proposal is even better. Best of luck!

Ren, the idea of discussing BIM with respect to healthcare building design is quite a great one! Your outline is comprehensive and leaves me with a good idea of how the paper will be structured. Your early incorporation of citations shows you have a good grasp on writing scholarly papers. Your section choices for the outline look solid and it should be great!

B3- Will Implementation of BIM for Engineers be Possible in 10 Years?

           After discussing in class, watching the 2016 Autodesk University video with Bill Allen, and reading other groups’ views on this topic, I find myself believing that the future of the AEC industry will follow the described projection in roughly the next ten years. 

            To quickly recap, the video we viewed in class from Autodesk University exposed viewers to extremely efficient and useful tools that, as described, are in the works of becoming fully integrated in current construction practices. The software highlights new abilities that speed up a design process by rapid iteration development. From my understanding, iterative design is huge in architectural design, as there is a need to have choices on a final product. As a mechanical engineering student, I’m still learning more about this but it doestranslate well as mechanical engineering always has iterative design. That being said, I would agree that the same process described in architectural design and software manipulation could be easily bridged into common engineering processes. The biggest takeaway I had from the discussion is that a future of AI development will take away a lot of the “busy work” that comes with choosing a design and generating options. I believe that design intent and engineering principles can be streamlined into one singular process in the near future. I could be wrong, but the way Bill Allen presented the programs in the presentation made it appear as though this idea is not a dream and that it is quite literally happening right now. I am quite hopeful to see this technology come to fruition, and I hold that it will be possible within a decade. 

            While I stated that this transition will be possible in the next ten years, I do need to mention that this will not come with ease. With any change in an industry comes a slew of hindrances, limitations, and difficulties. Quite possibly the largest difficulty is overcoming the idea that not all software works the same. This was discussed quite a bit before in class in general discussion and was mentioned in the group last class. We talk about this idea of “interoperability” which, in theory, is fantastic. Quite frankly, though, the industry is limited right now as companies compete for business and software products are not compatible. A lack of compatibility hinders progress, and as much as I’d like to see it change, I’m not sure whether we will overcome the hurdle of business competition for the improvement of design and construction. Another aspect blocking the progress of this idea is the steep learning curve that exists between industries. Revit and BIM users are great at using those tools for design, but when you put, say, a mechanical engineer in front of these programs they’re sure to be at a loss for where to start. Solidworks and PTC Creo users also are great with those tools for 3D design and engineering calculations, but when put an architect in that environment those software products are extremely foreign. There will be a great need for education and assimilation of all people involved to streamline this technological development. With education and time comes great cost, and this development is surely going to be a costly one.

            In conclusion, while I do hold that this idea presented in the video about the AEC industry will be feasible in ten years, I admit it will come with a lot of hard work. Associated costs, time needed for education, a need to overcome business competition to integrate interoperability, and a lack of interest from older generation workers will all create a great deal of friction. While the claim I make is quite a preposterous one, there is a certain inspiring feeling that comes from believing in a better future of development in the industry. 

Comments on Others’ Posts

            Nick Maloney, I could not agree more with all the points you mention in your post. The video in class really did present some outstanding tools that help with the iterative design process and their progression in the industry. I like your idea with how, ideally, the transition would go (that is, taking input parameters of interest that guide AI) and I believe my vision of this aligns perfectly with yours. I certainly do hope that this “methodology” (great word, by the way) is “close to implementation on an industry-wide scale” as you mentioned. It would be fascinating to observe this development from an outsider’s point of view (as I am studying mechanical engineering and this field is very new to me). I also could not agree more with the obstacles you address for the implementation within ten years. All are valid points and I’m curious to see how the industry addresses them. Great post!

           Albert Hanan, after reading your post I think I’ve changed my mind on the matter. I agree with you that this is the future of the industry but it is a bit unrealistic and ludicrous to think that the industry will fit this change into a ten-year time frame. I also agree with your statement that the “technologies described in Allen’s talk aren’t that far off from existing now” because, as demonstrated in the video, the desired end-products are quite achievable right now via the simpler means provided by this software. Your point made that people like to stick to the “do it because that’s how we’ve always done it” notion is extremely valid. Our tendency is to stay in the safe zone with what we do and it indeed limits our ability to progress.

           Hailey Ihlow, I like how you have experience with Revit so you are familiar with its popularity and its use. As a mechanical engineering student, I have no prior experience with the software so I look to students like you to give me some insight into its usefulness and relevance to the industry. I like your idea that more ambitious and competitive companies will be more likely to push to fit the ten-year timeframe. We’ll see where these companies go soon!

B2- BIM for Contractors

            When talking about BIM, it is extremely important to drive home the main point of the utilization of such great technology: it “[saves] time and money” (Eastman, 263). Personally, after reading and understanding BIM’s purpose with respect to contractor work, that was the most significant note to make about the technology. From there, all else is explanation. 

This chapter in the BIM Handbook discusses how contractors can get involved in the construction process via BIM. With a degree of common sense, a point is made that contractors musthave early participation in the design process of a project. The reason I hold that this is slightly a point of common sense is that in the execution of a project, it makes sense that the individuals who will be responsible for building said project should have a say in its design. Contractors possess an inherent knowledge of the feasibility of a project’s execution through years of experience in the construction process. Even as a student in mechanical engineering, I can appreciate that the “traditional design-bid-build approach limits the contractor’s ability to contribute” (263) in the design stage of a project. In this scenario, BIM may act as the bridge that unites key contributors such as the designers, the architects, the engineers, and of course the contractors. A united work force yields a better result that is efficient and goes back to the core purpose of BIM- saving time and money. With a contractor’s input, impossible building tasks can be avoided and costly errors may be avoided and predicted through BIM.

There is significant value in having exposure to a project prior to the build phase. I have personally experienced a situation at the Philadelphia International Airport in which the contractors had no prior exposure to a project’s design and therefore took much longer (and consequently much more money) to complete. The BIM Handbook recognizes this idea and discusses that there is benefit in “close contractor coordination” (264) when all individuals involved utilize the BIM model for understanding portions of work. 

            A topic that goes along with the idea of understanding a project’s design before the build stage is referred to as “clash detection” (272). Typically, contractors would “overlay CAD layers to visually and manually identify potential conflicts” (272). Now, without even thinking, this process sounds time-consuming in addition to its costliness and potential for error. A BIM-based method for clash detection not only saves money but eliminates the time necessary for manual detection and significantly drops the chance of error. In a field where error has no place, this solution seems like a no-brainer. 

            While BIM implementation with contractors has its costs, it certainly will save money in a project’s future. A lack of error, a more efficient build process, fewer workers needed (as contractors can better gauge the necessary amount in the field), and improved collaboration (303) all lead to the obvious need for BIM in the field of contractor work. 

References:

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.<http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzM2NDIzOV9fQU41?sid=4df32a3e-004b-43f0-a14c-f6fb56fe0cea@pdc-v-sessmgr01&vid=0&format=EB&rid=1>

Comments on Other Students’ Posts

Albert Hanan, I had no idea that the idea of 3D modeling has been around since the 1960s! It’s interesting that two similar approaches to the same “problem” had such different backend operations. This whole field is quite new to me, as I am studying mechanical engineering. I had actually never heard of B-rep or CSG before reading your post. Personally, I find that CSG would be much more desirable as algebraic expressions tend to be much easier to manipulate. Whoever thought to combine the two could be considered a genius. We take for granted how powerful modern modeling tools are. While you said you’d have a deeper appreciation for Revit going forward, I find that I would agree with that sentiment as well. I regularly use Dassault Systèmes’ Solidworks for 3D-modeling purposes and I now have a deeper appreciation for its existence and development. 

            Gabriel Grajewski, I really enjoyed the idea you present that states there is no “best option” for modeling solutions, but rather there are programs that are better fit to certain scenarios in the field. Personally, in mechanical engineering, we have used programs such as Creo Parametric, Solidworks, Fusion 360, and more. They all accomplish similar tasks and can be used to do the same work, however certain programs are better fit for different scenarios. The idea of “lightweight” modeling is quite incredible- it allows for intricate modeling that isn’t taxing on a computer’s memory. I’m glad to see other students sharing the same realization I had when I dove into Solidworks more- the programs do so much and there is a whole world of functions us beginners don’t quite understand yet. As time goes on, we’ll slowly unlock the potential of computer modeling in the professional world. 

            Christian Tait, your post brings up quote possibly the biggest issue with any advancement in development of this country. It doesn’t even have to be in construction or architecture or any engineering; business always hinders development. Your post does a great job highlighting this issue. What could be a seamless, easy transition between programs is blocked by businesses looking for more money. This makes sense, though, as a company is only in business to make money. Nobody at Autodesk is saying “let’s construct the most powerful modeling software for fun!” Of course they’re in it for the money. It’s a shame there are so many great programs out there that cannot communicate with each other. Sometimes it’s weird to stop and imagine what the world may be like without that sort of competition. 

Blog Post 1- The Future of Sociology, Databases, and Networking

As time has gone on, data has been the defining backbone for all of society. Everything has a perceived data value. Think about a couple of random questions one could ask for a second: How much do you walk on a typical Monday? How many people purchased batteries last week? Everything can be answered and represented by data. How do data and databases fit into the future perspective? After all, databases have been around for quite a while, especially when thinking about government tax collection and census creation. The difference now and for the future, though, is that “data about our habits and movements flow in a continuous stream” [1] and there is no break. There are no more gaps in any data collection practices. Databases can be quite literally filled with data at every second of every day as people worldwide are plugged into their devices. Personally, I see no problem with databases having knowledge of my spending habits, travel habits, or any other “personal” data. For the future, though, the ethical question of “do people want companies with which they are not affiliated to have databases full of stored data about them,” will be a huge debate. 

A discussion of “big data” and databases transitions quite nicely into a discussion about the future in a sociological perspective. As was mentioned before, data has shaped society and will continue to do so in the future. Will human society continue to be “on board” with this idea, or will people call for redevelopment, restructure, and a change in functionality? It seems as though we’ve made a decision already. Think about society for a second- is there really anyone left that does not have a personal computer or smart device? By having such items, we’ve signed away any personal data to the makers of the sites we visit, the devices we use, and any future companies that desire our data. Society has been shaped by technology, and it is something we must accept. In fact, “more than 40 years ago, Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft with a vision for putting a personal computer on every desk” [3]. While obviously not everyone has a Microsoft product, the idea that everyone will have somesort of technological product has come to fruition. Everyone is “plugged in” to society’s technology-based future. Additionally, “no one is really doing much to stop it” [3] because we believe that there might not be an issue with it. There are so many benefits to technology and data-led society that there is no need to try to fight it. 

Finally, now that data and databases have been discussed in relation to sociology, the future with respect to networking can be brought up. It is quite obvious that there is a network that connects us all- the internet. Unless one physically turns off all of one’s devices and relocates to the middle of the woods somewhere remote, it is nearly impossible to go about the day without being connected to the internet. The future is sure to continue to rely on the internet, as people consume news, weather reports, and other relevant data on this international network. While the internet is quite young relatively speaking, there is no doubt that online “networking is the new norm” [2]. Coming into contact with other people in a virtual way will be the way of the future. Even now, we see that most job applications happen online. There is no more “walk into the company’s office and hand in your résumé,” as this has been replaced with online practices. The digital network is the way of the future. 

References:

[1] Bogle, Ariel. Big data is Going to Shape Our Future Cities. Will it Treat Us All Equally?ABC Science. January 2019. 

[2] Henry-Stocker, Sandra. The Future of Networking: Open Source Networking is the ‘New Norm’. 5 October 2018.
[3] Manjoo, Farhad. A Future Where Everything Becomes a Computer Is as Creepy as You FearedState of the Art. 10 October 2018.

Comments on Other Posts:

Albert Hanan, your first paragraph was extremely intriguing. It is humorous that people quite often claim to not be interested in the buzzwords that you outlined, yet ironically every aspect of their lives incorporate those ideas. I have found myself rolling my eyes at articles that talk about AI being “huge” thinking that I would just be reading about more irrelevant “wordage” yet AI is in every part of my technology-based lifestyle. It’s interesting that you mention the data leaks from Facebook and the general sense of discomfort and fear that most people felt during that period. I mentioned in my own blog post that the idea of companies having data about me has never really bothered me that much. If I get targeted ads or recommendations from one website because another service gave them my data, I feel like that’s not too big of an issue personally. It has only ever improved my experience online. Sure, there can be drawbacks, especially if reallyprivate information such as credit card information were to be exposed. Your post gives me a really different sense of just how hugeof an impact data sharing has on day-to-day life. I was not aware of Facebook Pixel’s existence and the concept of it is quite impressive. Data sharing and AI is so deeply woven into everyone’s lives today and will continue to be there in the future. 

            Gabriel Grajewski, I found the third part of your post to be quite interesting. It is true that job loss is occurring on such a large scale due to automation. The point you make that society will not take the steps to lessen the negative impact that comes with automation connects quite nicely with a point I made in my post. AI, automation, technology, and all other new developments have come into our lives, and we’ve accepted them with open arms. As we’ve slowly realized that some things cause problems, we’ve been quick to shrug them off as the technology is so deeply woven into our society. We recognize the issues but we’ve done nothing to remedy them. 

            Christian Tait, I share your interest and fascination with 3D printing! To think that something can be printed in 3D space from a virtual model is still an awesome feat in technological development. It is incredible to me that items can be printed in materials as complex as glass and metal. This begs the question: how far can we take 3D-printing? Additionally, as a mechanical engineering student, the concept of BIM is new to me. I was not aware of its existence yet at the same time it makes complete sense. The ability to go straight from design to manufacturing is fantastic and I’m excited to learn more about it. 

About Alec Silverstone

Greetings! My name is Alec Silverstone and I am a fourth-year student at Drexel studying Mechanical Engineering. I am from Cherry Hill, NJ which is only 20 minutes from Philadelphia. The town is quite nice and represents a typical suburb of an even better city. A fun fact I always like to give about Cherry Hill is that its mall was the first indoor, climate-controlled shopping center east of the Mississippi River in the United States, and opened on October 11, 1961.

Proximity of Cherry Hill to Philadelphia

 
As you can see, because of its proximity to the city, Philadelphia was a large part of my childhood. From sporting events parades to school trips and tourist activities, I was in town every month growing up. I think that's part of the reason I chose to come to school in this city. I do have quite a few hobbies that span different areas of interest. In high school, I gained an appreciation for automotive design and engineering which drove (ha, pun intended) me to become a mechanical engineering student. I also picked up an affinity for electronic music of all types. From here, I experimented with electronic music production (and created a club at my high school for it) in addition to learning to DJ. Fun fact, I actually played a DJ set at a club in Philadelphia! 

Me playing at ION Nightclub Philadelphia

I also love alcohol. Not in a weird he-needs-help sort of way, but in a give-me-all-your-craft-beer sort of way. When I turned 21, I took a trip to Nashville, TN and visited a distillery. From there I really kickstarted my love for bourbon whiskey. I like to tell my friends that my collection is at 9 bottles right now, and it is ever-growing. I also learned to love beer (not Budweiser, I'm talking about craft breweries like Evil Genius, Alpine Brewing, Lord Hobo Brewing, etc) and I have actually started brewing my own beer at home!

This is me

Enough about me. That all pretty much sums me up. I'm pretty enthusiastic, and I'm a great schmoozer.

What do I consider makes a "smart building?" Simply put, I believe that a building that "feels" like it's in 2019 would constitute a smart building. I'm talking about one thats adaptive and up-to-date on technology. Interactive media screens that display relevant information, smart-thermostats, WiFi-controlled lighting, sun-reactive window shading, all the works. If the building can act to make the best accommodations for its tenants with modern tech and a clean look, I'd say it's a smart building.
Who knows, though? AE410 may change my view on that!