B6- Course reflection

This class served as a good introduction to some of the new and upcoming technologies. There were some things that I had already known about which made the classes fairly simple. This included things like sensors, computers and how they work. I still believe that they were necessary to show for those in the class with less exposure to them. I felt like the discussions we had on robotics were interesting but kind of hard to grasp at points. The reason being that there were things which I got really excited for because I could see them on the horizon but there were also robots which seemed so far in the future that they were kind of irrelevant. The things that I will take away the most from this class were the BIM and database projects. The work in Revit served as a good refresher and introduction to family creation. I could felt that the BIM lessons created a strong foundation to build off of in the future. On the other hand this was my first time working with databases and I really enjoyed the experience. There was so much to learn and although it could be frustrating at times it was a powerful tool that I know will be using in the future. Overall this class served as a good exposure to many different technologies and the amount that anyone learned was totally up to them.

B6-Reflection to course AE410/510 Intelligent Building

Reflection to course AE410/510 Intelligent Building

As an Architectural Engineering student, I was been wondering all the time what does intelligent or digital building means. As a senior at Drexel, I am anxious for the year about where I should go for graduate school or what kind of job I am looking for. This course actually gave a really great basic guidance for digital building students like me. It introduced BIM software, like Revit, and database, like MS Access. It is really helpful for students who does not have any experience about these software. It is a chance for them to get one step into the BIM field and it is also a good start for using Revit and Access with a detailed guidance. For students who have used Revit, it is not as effective as those novice students. Though we learned a bit deeper in these software, I still think these course should be recommended to take once the concentration has decided. It will be a great introduction course for those digital concentration student, rather than being an isolated course that has students from different levels.

About the course, the content is great about the future of BIM, robotics, sensors, etc. A lot of materials are not being touched in other courses for Architectural engineering students. Focusing on future gives this course a really deep impression that also encourage students working in this field. The presentations that guest speakers provided are impressive and insightful especially for senior students like me. It really helps me to understand the current situation of the field and what direction it could go. For me, as an international students, I also thought a lot about the BIM trends overseas. It is interesting when I compare the current situation of BIM technology between America and other countries, which also helps me to find the future career directions.

Comment:

Kaptue, I totally agree with you that it is important to see if the cultures in the firm is moving forward or not. Being a new vital force to this industry, it is also our responsibility to help companies move forward and catch the pace of the technology.

Jenny, you have mentioned that possibilities are endless. It is true that we are responsible to ensure the safety when we develop the technology. It is great to see that you can apply these concepts to your career in a close future.

Sean, I agree with you that intelligent building still has a long way to go that the cost, poor coordination and low desire will be the challenge for developing the technology for intelligent buildings.

B5-Object oriented database

Object oriented database is a database management system with data represented in the form of objects. This kind of database system is able to restore the data including classes of objects and is able to inherit properties of classes. It must have inheritance, polymorphism and encapsulation characteristics in order to store and retrieve complex data types. This type of database system is used as a complement of relational database, which dominant in the data center for server-side persistence.

Object-oriented database can handle more complex data types than relational database does. Relational database can only store simple database such as name, date of birth. However, Object oriented database is able to store complex data types, such as graphics, videos, CAD and even geographical satellite information. This makes the successful of object-oriented database much more costly than relational database. On the other hand, it increases the difficulties to transfer the database from relational database to object-oriented database. That is the reason why object-oriented database can only become a complement of relational database.

While retrieving data from the system, it is easier for object-oriented database. The object-oriented database stores the classes of objects and properties of classes. There is a great analogy about how object-oriented database stores complex database. It is simulated as parking a car in a garage. The garage is the database with OODB you can drive the entire car into the garage and leave it to be picked up next time when you want to go for a riding. In a relational database, you will need to dissemble the parts and put the parts in different shelves. When you want to pick up your car, you will have to reassemble the car with the exact parts. Therefore, it will be more difficult to retrieve a data without touching the rest of data in the database storage.

Cite: http://www.odbms.org/introduction-to-odbms/odbms-for-rdbms-users/

Comments:
Jenny,
I totally agree with you that object oriented database will help with BIM software since it stores complex data types. I really like your example showing how convenience it is as OODB in opening file and retrieving data.
Matt,
It is true that it used to be very costly to make the change from RDBMS to OODBMS since the difference of data types they store. But i believe it will be more and more popular with low-cost solutions in the future.
Lin,
I can't agree more that OODB can easily and quickly finish the task of data exchanging and determination of computing. It is also the challenge for OODB to accomplish this tasks with a lower-cost and a higher popularity.

B5 - Object Oriented Databases

Objected oriented databases are a type of management system which links information to an object. These objects contain identities, attributes, references, relationships and associations. This type of data base combines features of object-oriented systems with database systems [2]. Revit is an example of a software which uses this type of database. Information can be tied to devices which are modeled within a building [1]. With object oriented databases you are able to create hierarchies with types. An example of this would be Revit Families. Revit families are first categorized by what type of model component they are. Within a family you can also create types of that family. Although all 2x2 light fixtures would use the same family in a project, you would create different types under that family for the various manufactures and lumen packages. The data for each of the types of the fixtures varies greatly, so although they look a like on a plan view the data within each of the family types is different. This will influence the lighting levels produced for lighting calcs, lighting fixture schedules outputs, as well as the circuiting if the wattage is different.

Object oriented databases, are more complex. They not only include information, but graphics and visuals. Continuing with the example of Revit. As you draft and populate objects in the model. The database builds and information is gathered. This is because the objects themselves are tied to the properties and data pertaining to the object. From this you are able to collect the data and create schedules as a way to organize the data.

Sources:

[1] “A Brief History of BIM.” ArchDaily, VELUX, 7 Dec. 2012, www.archdaily.com/302490/a-brief-history-of-bim/.

[2] “Object-Oriented Databases (Version 2010).” ODBMS Industry Watch, www.odbms.org/2010/01/object-oriented-databases-version-2010/.

Responses:

Julie, great description. The diagram you used to explain what a relational database is was extremely helpful. Your example helped me better understand how the information is linked and relationships are formed between the data.

Blog Post 5: Object-Oriented Databases

Object-oriented databases differ from relational databases in which information is shown in the form of objects. The benefit of using object-oriented database management systems (OODBMS) is that they allow you to create an object, store it, and then replicate or modify existing objects to make new ones. The object is represented the same way between the programming language and the OOBMS so that there is consistency. This is different from relational database management systems (RDBMS) where the database model is separated from the application of the database. 

  

OODBMS store data and relationships between data directly, instead of sorting through rows and columns like a RDBMS. RDBMS require intermediate tables to maintain relationships between data. Both intermediate tables and relational mapping code are not required while using OODBMS unless you are incorporating new features. This obviously saves a lot of time while developing the database. 

  

RDBMS are far more popular and more widely used compared to OODBMS which have been implemented into RDBMS via object-oriented features. It also used to be very costly to make the change from RDBMS to OODBMS even if companies saw the benefits. However, open source implementation has become popular in recent years and has now allowed for low-cost solutions to become available and more common.

Sources

1. https://database.guide/what-is-an-oodbms/ 

2. http://www.odbms.org/introduction-to-odbms/definition/ 

Comments

1. Aaron Goldberg

This is a very interesting theory that I am not familiar with. Do you know when HP integrated this theory into their products or when they expect to complete it? If the performance increases are as dramatic as they say, I look forward to the new ways that the much more powerful computers will be utilized.

2. Alkiviadis Tsitsios

I like that those of us who strictly researched databases are able to understand the benefits that they have in the construction industry. I am not familiar with the Database Manager Program and it sounds like a useful software that construction firms can integrate into their projects. It is impressive to hear that you are able to use as many attributes as you need within your database.

3. Nana Lin Rasmussen

This is a good summary of SQL and databases. I like that you list off common RDBMS that utilize SQL because it shows how common the language is. The advantages of SQL are interesting, specifically, that coding is not required in SQL. 

Object oriented database

Object oriented database

Object oriented database is a database management system which supports the modelling and creation of data as objects. And there are two necessary criteria which should be a DBMS, and it should be consistent with programming languages. In other words, object-oriented programming + relational database features = object-oriented database model. And there are many features of object-oriented database which are: 1. Objects and classes (as known as object identity), because object has state and behavior, therefore, each object is unique object. For example, a student has his own name, own student Id. 2. Encapsulation, this process is helping with hiding some important information. For example, if you bought a coke, and you know what’s in that, but you don’t know how to make a coke. 3. Inheritance, it shows the relationships between different and similar objects. Like, the vehicle includes bikes and cars, and then the bike involves motor bike and normal bike; and the car involves the Hybrid car, electrical car, and gas-use car. And all of these are belonged to vehicle. 4. Relationships, it can show the relationship between various objects. Like, the student can be related with leader, and other roles.

From the definition and features of object-oriented database, there are also some advantages of it. Firstly, object-oriented database can easily share the data, software components, information and computing things. For example, comparing with other database type, the object-oriented database can easily and quickly finish the task of data exchanging, and determination of computing Secondly, object-oriented database allows various controlling systems. like, AI, and operating systems. Therefore, engineers can use different application to do object-oriented database.

Cite pages:

http://www.odbms.org/introduction-to-odbms/definition/

https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-an-object-oriented-database.html

Comments:
Nana Lin, Your post is very clear showing the SQL database system's definition, systems adaption, and benefits of SQL.But i think you should put some information to show how does SQL work, and the limitation of SQL systems.

Jenny, I like your post. You made a very great definition, and the process of systems working for the object-oriented database. And the example you post made very great explanation of advantages of this database system.

Yichen, the SQL can help with organizing the large database with good protection. And you said SQL is like human brains. it's interesting, and I like your post with imagining the future of SQL system.

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Blog 4 - Project Outline

Senior Design - Dynamo

Abstract

-       Our team will be creating Revit Families needed for senior design, primarily electrical devices and fixtures. We will also be using dynamo to create sheets, schedules and manage data that is input into the model and families. The design process used to accomplish these tasks will be discussed in the paper.

Division of Labor

-       Samantha’s Tasks:

-       Place electrical devices

-       Circuit devices?

-       Schedules (creating and exporting)

-       Report - document the steps used to create code

-       Presentation

-       Jennifer’s Tasks:

-       Renumber Rooms by Level

-       Project Setup (ex. Sheets and templates)

-       Schedules

-       Report - document the steps used to create code

-       Presentation

Challenges and Limitations

-       Dynamo uses visual nodes to help connect inputs and outputs to make accessing and repeating tasks easier.

-       Challenges stem from never having used the program. We will have to learn how to build scripts within dynamo to eliminate typically repetitive and time consuming tasks in Revit.

Conclusions

-       Summary

-       Use Dynamo to complete tasks within Revit more efficiently. In the first few weeks we intent to become familiar with dynamo by watching tutorials and following along. After we will attempt to write our own code to complete the outlined tasks in our senior design revit model.

Resources

-       Lynda

-       Coworkers who use Dynamo

Schedule

-       W4 - Define tasks and watch tutorials

-       W5 - Watch tutorials, follow along and work with practice models provided

-       W6 - Begin to develop own script/ Rough Draft of Report

-       W7 - Draft due/ Work on script

-       W8 - Finish script/ Final Report

-       W9 - Final Report due/ Work on presentation

-       W10 - Presentation

For this project Jenny and I will work together using Dynamo to eliminate repetitive tasks in Revit. We will be using our Revit model for senior design to complete this project. Using visual programming we will create code to accomplish tasks such as creating sheets, schedules and placing devices throughout the building. We will also attempt to use Dynamo to circuit devices once they have been placed. We will first have to familiarize ourselves with Dynamo before attempting to write our own code. This will be accomplished using the knowledge of coworkers and workflow tutorials on Lynda. Dynamo uses input and output functions to control devices and parameters within the project. Our report will be a summary of the steps we took and tasks we performed/attempted. 

Responses:

Qiaodan, I enjoyed reading about your topic. I think the benefits of using BIM for residential design are often overlooked. As BIM becomes more popular and the programs become more affordable we will see it used more for residential.

Kyle, great topic but an outline would have helped understand your project a little better. I think choosing one material to focus on was a great choice. This will allow you to be more specific about  how 3-D printing will effect engineering and the construction industry.