B7 Blog Post - Hovey

Course Reflection

Personally, I really enjoyed this course as it allowed me to not only think about what the industry consists of, but also where it is going. I learned about the role AI has in design as well as the influence BIM has on the industry in today’s world. Prior to this course, I had zero idea about the role databases play in the design and overall functionality buildings have in today’s world. I am currently leaving the class with an interest in databases as I was previously against having anything to do with them due to not particularly enjoying MATLAB. However, being able to go into a lunch and learn being delivered by a programming company and understand what they are pitching to you can be extremely valuable. In previous coops, lunch and learns have really just been about the free meal, but progressing in my education has led me to understand that there is always an opportunity to learn or contribute in every scenario.

One of my favorite presentations this term was about NavisWorks and the processing power it contains. I have never used it on coop but I knew of it due to conversations I have had with my peers, but learning more about it in depth is extremely informative. Personally, I’m not excited for the progression robotics has in the design industry due to the amount of jobs it could possibly take from thousands of skilled workers across the country. Bill Gates recently came out to say that if robots are taking our jobs, they should also pay taxes.

I really enjoyed the final project as we were allowed to choose the topic and our group partners. This influenced us to find a partner we work well with and do a project that allowed us to focus on what we found most applicable to what we wanted to do in the future. By doing so, I’m more informed on the differences between green and intelligent buildings as well as where they cross over.

All in all, the best part of this class was completing and commenting on our peers blog posts. This allowed us to educate ourselves and classmates on a particular subject. Ultimately, this course put me in a position to look forward into what is next, instead of what’s currently happening in the industry as having this kind of mindset will take you places where dreams can come true!

Nick P - I also had a preconceived idea that this course was going to be about how to analyze case studies. This course covered a much wider spectrum than I had anticipated and I was extremely happy about that fact! I also agree that the greatest take away I can say from this course is the knowledge of databases that I'm leaving with. As I discussed in my blog post, I didn't know anything about databases and only the role they play in buildings. Now I am able to speak the lingo and know what I need when I go to a software engineer looking to design a database.

Maria R - I found the Revit part of this course necessary but not an extremely interesting part as it covered essentials in the industry and not particularly the innovated role it plays. Revit allows multiple disciplines to come together on the same model to create a building that doesn't exist in the real world yet. The power of putting a representation in a three dimensional software can be looked over in today's world as it has become common or part of 'the process' of completing the design process. However, thinking about the past and how engineers used to convey their ideas to clients is a mystery to today's young innovative individuals.

Brandon M - By being in your AE 391 design group, I have had the luxury of seeing your final project first hand and I loved it! While I think about each of my coops, I haven't used Revit in the facet that involved creating multiple elements to put into a single family as you did. Do you think Revit will stop at making families at just kitchens? What happens when the 'ideal' net zero energy residential home becomes a family and all the different engineering design firms want to get ahold of that file because of the previous success it has had in terms of providing more energy than its creating. I also agree that the BIM aspect of this course will be the best take home part of this course but you shouldn't ignore the other aspects as they are extremely important. Being able to understand the future will only be able to put you in a better position to design buildings that will change the industry going forward.

B7 - Abdullatif Alkandari

Course Reflection

When I first signed up for “Intelligent Building” I expected it to be a course that specifically deals with the smart methods construction and operation of buildings. However, the course proved to be much more diverse than that and turned out to touch on numerous aspects of technology that is implemented in the construction industry. And I truly enjoyed the opportunity that the course gave me to research different topics and share my findings with other classmates via the course blog as well as the chance to pick the topic for my term project; which makes the course experience feel more personal.

Affects on my Professional Career

Aside from the numerous applications of Artificial Intelligence that were covered in class, the assignments that we had working with Revit and MS Access have really opened my eyes to the future career possibilities. And by working with these software I now have a better idea of how they can make a construction manager’s job much easier because that is the aspect that I am interested in the most. The knowledge of databases and how much they facilitate data entry and retrieval is a skill that I expect to benefit from along the course of my career.

Conclusion

This course has made me even more eager about the future especially with the many intriguing guest speakers that shared their career stories with us and gave us an idea of how exciting life can be after graduation. I was personally really inspired by Kristen & Derek’s presentation about Whiting-Turner and that made me more serious about chasing a career in construction management. And I have recently decided to take care of the 3D modeling of my senior design group using Revit because I expect this software to be very important for my career and I am glad that this course mad me realize that as well as the potential of different software that can make my life much easier once I fully understand them.

Abdullatif Alkandari - B4 - Week4

Project description

For my term project, I will be looking into the world of robotics in more detail. By knowing how far Artificial intelligence has come and given the many fields in which robotics managed to revolutionize the industry. I will try to find the underlying reasons causing this technology to be behind in some fields that we wish robotics were more involved with. Thus, identifying the factors that cause AI to be so far ahead of its time in some fields as opposed to others.

why it was chosen

The reason why I am intrigued in this topic is that I believe that once we have a better understanding of what is impeding the progress of A.I. and robotics; we can find the right approach to deal with the issue. I expect this research to improve my problem-solving skills which I believe to be a crucial skill for any engineer to have. This mentality will help me reverse engineer the problems associated with robotics involvement in the construction industry in an effort to arrive at the aspects that need to be considered before any breakthroughs can be achieved.

Relation to Intelligent Buildings

In writing this paper, I will be addressing how these breakthroughs in A.I. as well as robotics can aid in intelligent buildings. This is due to the fact that I expect for my research findings to pinpoint the areas where these technologies can make the most impact in adding to the current construction industry. Even after these areas are defined, I will research how they can be enhanced to further maximize the efficiency of A.I. and robotics in construction sites as well as their roles in manufacturing building materials. As I proceed with this paper, I will be more specific in which fields of the industry will be the focus of my research and that decision will be based on the aspect that will result in the most positive influence to the construction industry.

Challenges

I expect many challenges to arise in proceeding with this research, especially given how behind A.I. and robotics are in the construction industry relative to the car manufacture and nanotechnology industry for example. This is why I expect that in order for noticeable changes to occur in this field, serious time, effort and capital would need to be invested for this cause. And the investors interested in funding such research will only be onboard if they can guarantee their money back through this investment which is a major financial challenge.

Comments:

Ng Andrew: I expect incorporating Virtual reality to be a major breakthrough for AI in the construction industry. It will not only make inspecting buildings more convenient and enjoyable, but also reduce the chance of error in the construction progress as one can physically see where the parts need to go. I am truly excited for your team’s project and I expect it to be a fun and educational experience for everyone involved.

Mridul Pareek: I found your topic really interesting, and I do agree that Wireless sensor technology is under-utilized once we take in to account its true potential. I expect the implementation of this technology to be a huge leap forward in intelligent buildings as it will facilitate building monitoring and maintenance and save a lot of time and effort. I’m truly glad to know that a team is covering this topic.

Andy Dinh: I think that comparing the two leading programs in digital design (Revit vs Bentley Architecture) to be educational. In designing the same building in both programs it will became clearer to you which tasks are wiser to be attempted in one program instead of the other. I hope that towards the end of your project, you will have a clear understanding of (Revit and Bentley Architecture) and the advantages that each of them has over the other. Also, it is a big plus to have both of them on your resumes!

Sarah Maminski: Week 4 - Project

I will be completing this project on my own. My paper will discuss the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) for inspection. This research shall be applied to buildings and bridges. Many buildings and bridges, especially in our area, are very historical. Historical buildings are beautiful and interesting in their design, but with so many old structures, there will be more and more inspection needed to keep the city safe. I would think there is more inspection needed than inspectors who have the experience to correctly inspect the structure. 

I choose this project to look into the future of my field. At my first coop I spent about a couple days per week out in the field inspecting buildings. From my current knowledge of A.I., the amount of time and money would be greatly saved if A.I. was used for inspection. Sometimes inspecting a building facade took multiple days; even small buildings took the entire day to inspect, document, and photograph. A.I. would be able to do all of that in way less time, which would save money. A.I. also would be able to identify the areas of concern. 

With the use of A.I., inspections will be very easy and quick, not to mention more accurate. In my experience, visual inspection is based off of the inspectors visual of the structure. This can lead to many mistakes in identifying the areas of concern or missing other areas. With A.I. there would be more accurate inspections and it would save the companies time and money. 

The only difficulty I can see occurring would be finding the necessary sources. I spent quite some time looking into sources this past week and there are some, but most sources about A.I. talk about it in a general sense, not in the specific content I will need. This will just take some extra time. Below are some useful sources I have found so far. 

Sources:

• McCarthy, J. (2007, November 12). What is Artificial Intelligence? Retrieved February 07, 2017, from http://www-formal.stanford.edu/jmc/whatisai/
• Benefits & Risks of Artificial Intelligence. (n.d.). Retrieved February 07, 2017, from https://futureoflife.org/background/benefits-risks-of-artificial-intelligence/
• AI-powered Drone Inspections Unveiled by Aerialtronics, Neurala and NVIDIA. (2016, September 29). Retrieved February 07, 2017, from https://www.suasnews.com/2016/09/ai-powered-drone-inspections-unveiled-aerialtronics-neurala-nvidia/
• Clark, G., & Mehta, P. (1997). Artificial Intelligence and Networking in Building Management Systems. Retrieved February 7, 2017, from http://www.sysecol2.ethz.ch/OptiControl/LiteratureOC/Clar_97_AIC_6_481.pdf
• OptaSoft - 2015 CBI-Pro. (2016). Retrieved February 07, 2017, from https://www.optasoft.com/15cbi-pro.html
• Flying Inspectors. (n.d.). Retrieved February 07, 2017, from https://www.siemens.com/innovation/en/home/pictures-of-the-future/digitalization-and-software/artificial-intelligence-flying-inspectors.html
• Chen, Z., Wu, Y., Li, L., & Sun, L. (2015, October 27). Application of Artificial Intelligence for Bridge Deterioration Model. Retrieved February 07, 2017, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4633570/
• Drone Inspections Using Artificial Intelligence Unveiled . (2016, October 4). Retrieved February 07, 2017, from http://www.aglmediagroup.com/ai-powered-drone-inspections-unveiled-at-conference/

Response to David Sanchez: Your project sounds super interesting! I think that after seeing the brick laying robot in class we were all interested in how A.I. can be used in the construction industry. Your project is very similar to mine, except you are using A.I. in the design phase. I really like your George Zarkadakis quote, I think it really brings your whole purpose for your project together! Good luck!

https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/02/b4-sanchez-group-e.html

Response to Arthur McCloskey: I think your project idea sounds amazing! What a great idea to connect you senior design project to this class project. The placement of the reinforcing having already been taken care of will be a huge help when producing your design drawings for your senior design project! Best of luck!

https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/02/b4-term-project-arthur-mccloskey.html

Response to Maissoun Ksara: Your project sounds really interesting! I think it would be great to see what the commonalities and differences are between green and intelligent buildings. Your idea to go through case studies of the many examples of green, intelligent, and green and intelligent buildings is a great way to show your audience what the similarities and differences are between the there options. Best of luck to you both!

https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/02/maissoun-ksara-b4-weekly-post.html

B4 - Brennan Connolly - Robotics in Building Operation

Robotics in Building Operation

              Advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence have led to a number of opportunities for buildings to operate without the need for human interaction. Currently, HVAC, lighting, and security systems all can be controlled through a central system by a human. With time, newer and more effective systems will allow building owners to control other aspects around their facility in order to increase daily efficiency. In this paper, I will discuss current and potential robotic systems, list the ways in which they could change how buildings operate, and lastly talk about the limitations of each robotic system.

               Some of the robotic systems I plan to discuss in my paper include kinetic façades, automated lighting/HVAC systems, and partner robots that help with simple tasks. Kinetic façades are being combined with photovoltaic panels on some buildings in order to maximize the amount of energy saved on the project. In the RMIT Design Hub, architects designed a façade that not only responds to the amount of natural light hitting it, but can also use that light to power some of its systems. (Sean Godsell Architects, n.d.) In terms of lighting, Philips’ Hue is a product line which allows you to customize you’re the look of your space and be in complete control of it from any device you want, including your smartphone. (Philips, n.d.) This allows the owner of the space to set the mood, and be more in control of how clients/customers/visitors/etc. react to the space. Smart HVAC systems work in similar ways in that they will allow the owner to define how they want the space to feel.

              What I am calling “interactive robots” are just robots that are physical, moving robots that utilize AI to interact with humans in some form. Today there are several various examples of them but none of them are  very common to see. One of the ones that is most frequently discussed is the hospital robot that is called, “Tug”. Tug helps nurses and doctors out by carrying things in a hospital from one place to another using a simple computer system. (AETHON, n.d.) A similar robotics company used that idea to create a robot that acts as room service in a hotel, delivering anything you order right to your room. “Botlr” can act both as a tourist attraction, and as an employee for hotels with its ability to efficiently travel from the front desk to any room while carrying anything a hotel guest could need. (TechCrunch, 2014) My last example of an interactive robot is made by the company, Vespa. It acts as your personal companion, carrying things like groceries or luggage. This robot is more personal to one person and not necessarily to a building but it’s easy to see how the technology could help in buildings like nursing homes, engineering offices, and medical facilities. (McFarland, 2017)

References

AETHON. (n.d.). Tug Healthcare. Retrieved from AETHON: http://www.aethon.com/tug/tughealthcare/

McFarland, M. (2017, January 31). Vespa's new robot will carry your groceries. Retrieved from CNN: http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/31/technology/vespa-robot-gita/

Philips. (n.d.). Meet Hue. Retrieved from Philips: http://www2.meethue.com/en-us/

Sean Godsell Architects. (n.d.). RMIT Design Hub. Retrieved from Sean Godsell Architects: http://www.seangodsell.com/rmit-design-hub

TechCrunch. (2014, August 22). Botlr The First Hotel Robot. Retrieved from Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIK-_VDPbps

Responses 

Prahlad - I find your project to be interesting since you seem to be focusing on how drones can be used during construction. In my opinion, the use of drones in the near future will be for surveying and capturing what sites look like from any angle. Although I do see other potential benefits when drones are able to lift smaller objects, maybe they can deliver tools/materials to workers on high levels. 

Andrew - This project is one that I would be the most excited to read and learn about. VR is really starting to take off right now and it seems once it can be fully integrated into the construction industry that it can provide the user with an incredible experience. You mention that finding enough research may become an issue. One tip I have is to be also look at Augmented Reality (AR), this may provide more results useful for your project.

Rachel -  I think our projects have similar challenges since there are so many different types of robotics being developed today. I think robotics, if used appropriately, will change the way buildings are designed. If we know that a building is going to be designed near perfectly, architects can show more "exciting" designs.

Alsaleem B4 - GroupC Final Project

AI and the Future of Construction

For our term project, David and I will be writing about AI and its present and future integration into the construction industry. We will be doing this by looking at different facets of within the industry such a BIM, physical manpower, and other areas in the field.

Why was it chosen

In the construction industry, AI has the potential to help reimagine how processes are done such as BIM. AI will identify true collisions versus false ones in BIM, for new building design as an example, AI will identify missing elements like waterproofing for specs for stadiums and help improve the design to a more comprehensive one.

AI knowledge can update itself whenever new data is introduced, creating a full daily report, schedule, project progresses and more to help engineers and designers. As many predict that this AI knowledge will be proactive and will be able to interact with both voice and visuals. Furthermore, a bigger step will enable robots using this knowledge to fetch tools and know where they are and how assemble them in the task given.

Relation to Intelligent Buildings

Artificial Intelligence will create the next industrial revolution as many experts are predicting. As AI architect and author George Zarkadakis once said "It's really important that we take AI seriously. It will lead to the fourth industrial revolution and will change the world in ways we cannot predict now". His mention of the "fourth industrial revolution" refers to the computerization of the manufacturing industry. The fourth industrial revolution is the vision of smart factories, where cyber-physical systems monitor physical processes, thus creating a virtual copy of the physical world and make decentralized decisions.

Challenges

Our greatest challenge will be finding factual information from reliable sources. Artificial intelligence in relatively new to the construction industry and because of this there isn’t a great wealth of information out there on everything we want to write about. A lot of information and websites I saw about information we need were written by independent bloggers so verifying this information credibility will be tough.

Additionally, a big challenge in the AI knowledge will be creating and obtaining the data of every detail in small or even mid-sized firms, it will cost tons of money and effort, I can easily be done by very big and recognizable companies now until the technology becomes easier to use by smaller companies in the industry.

Sources:

1-    http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2408538/artificial-intelligence-will-create-the-next-industrial-revolution-experts-claim

2-    https://www.aem.org/news/october-2016/how-artificial-intelligence-could-revolutionize-construction/

Responses:

Egla Qori: It is very nice to use what you are learning in this class and have it in your senior design project. I also agree with the importance of Revit in our industry especially in big firms now. I too saw how important Revit is while applying to jobs in Co-op and also now after graduating. I enjoyed your post and plans for the final project, best of luck!

Vogler: The analysis of the life cycle of a building sounds very interesting, I look forward to learn how it will reduce cost for learning every detail throughout the cycle. I agree it will be challenging going through every detail especially with the lack of accurate information online, however it will be a major key to go through the details of the topics you specified. 

Joseph Chaudhari: Your final project topic is pretty interesting. I liked how you described the example of the 3D model and how a party of many can update the model. At first I did not understand your project well, until I read into it with your examples in became clearer. I am looking forward for your ideas and final project to learn more too.