B1 - Ray Powell on the Future of Intelligent HVAC Systems

The future of building design, construction, and maintenance is becoming much more intelligent by using adaptive technology to generate better responses or outcomes. Building designers are specifying additional sensors and computers with artificial intelligence to make decisions based on database entries. These design decisions are made so that the building can be continuously monitored and controlled, attempting to achieve the most ideal environment. Sensors typically monitor the conditions and databases are created to generate artificial intelligence that can determine how to properly control the building systems for the ideal environment.

Specific, intelligent functions are applied for HVAC systems, to more efficiently heat, cool, and condition the air within the space. These systems contain components that filtrate, exchange, move, humidify or dehumidify, and heat or cool the air. Each of these components can be made better by applying intelligence to the system. Certain sensors can be used together to test the cleanliness, humidity, and temperature to determine if air is acceptable for recycling or if it should be exhausted, the air exchange of an air conditioning system. Properly integrating these sensor collections into a database that can make decisions based on the input will generate an artificial intelligence for the system. If the air coming into the system does not meet acceptable, preprogramed conditions then the artificial intelligence can properly determine how to condition the air properly. If sensors detect pollutants in the air, it will be filtered to meet the necessary conditions. If the air is tested to be too humid or dry, then dehumidifiers or humidifiers will be used appropriately. If the thermostat detects that the air is too hot or cold, the artificial intelligence system can determine how much heat should be added or removed from the system as the air passes over the heating and cooling coils.

Sources: none required.

Comments:

Egla’s post discusses 3D printing and its applications to the construction industry. Traditionally, 3D printing layers specific materials to match the digital, modeled information in a digital file. Since about 1990, 3D printing has grown rapidly and become much more applicable and beneficial for areas outside of general production. As Egla mentioned, there are additional methods of 3D printing that have become popular. These new methods include extrusions, improved layering, and bonding applications. Utilizing 3D printing construction methods instead of conventional building allows for different shapes, which allows for more innovative designs with different forms. New, innovative 3D printing procedures have been successfully applied for quickly constructing shelters and infrastructure as well as addressing some environmental concerns.

                  The futures of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and 3D printing are summarized well in Maria’s post. BIM is a major design tool for many designers; so using tool to its full potential can be very beneficial to a project’s overall production. Being able to foresee issues in the design stage can reduce the amount of change orders, which makes maintaining a budget much easier. It may not be an obvious, direct benefit because the construction documents typically are very similar whether they are completed in a simple drafting software, opposed to BIM, but there are major benefits. Future designers should implement BIM into their design process to benefit from decease production times, foresee potential issues, and maintain overall organization through the project. 3D printing on a construction site is a very futuristic concept, but I agree that it is likely the direction that construction industries are heading. 3D printing makes constructing buildings much faster and cheaper, so housing shelters will be able to be easily completed and eventually manufactured to meet many different needs. I also agree with you in saying that 3D printing is not ready to be applied in the construction industry. The technology may be getting close, but the material and construction quality has not been tested yet. These models need to be tested and refined before implementing the technology into large scale construction.

Drew addresses the recent developments in artificial intelligence with his post. I assume that the researchers eight years ago did not foresee how quickly the field of artificial intelligence would progress. Eight years ago, the field was very limited and couldn’t pose any real threats to society, so there was no need for regulations. Now, artificial intelligence is commonly applied for many autonomous processes, including warfare or commercial applications like transportation or professional advise, as Drew discussed. Obviously, some of these applications have far more dangers associated with them than others, but regulations should be applied. Implementing specific training for the engineers working in this field should benefit the public and minimize design errors, but it is critically important that their products are tested rigorously to ensure that malfunctions cannot lead to disasters. Additionally, his post describes the relationships between people and artificial intelligence with human computation. I agree that this should benefit with minimizing liability because these methods require almost human dictation to the machine, where the machine is just a tool used to complete the task. Though these tools are typically very beneficial, people can use the software to complete malicious tasks, threatening security and protection for many.