Assignment B2 - Group A - Ronald Herazo

B1 – Ronald Herazo

BIM Design Tools and Parametric Modeling

BIM refers to Building Information Modeling, which is a process involving the generation and management of digital representations of physical and functional characteristics of places. Building Information Models are files that can be exchanged or extracted with the purpose of supporting decisions regarding building or other type of structures. Nowadays, BIM software is used by businesses and government agencies who design and construct different types of physical infrastructures, such as, bridges, buildings, tunnels, and some others. The BIM Handbook (Chapter 2) provides an overview of the primary technology that differentiates BIM design applications from earlier generation CAD systems. The concept of BIM has existed since 1970s, but it was originally created in the 80s. However, Building Information Model became popular in the twenty first century.

In Chapter 2, Charles M Eastman highlights that architectural BIM design applications let users mix 3D modeled objects with 2D drawn sections with the purpose of allowing users to determine the level of 3D detailing while still being able to produce complete drawings [1]. These particular objects that are drawn in 2D are not included in BIM enabled applications. Also, Eastman points out that current BIM design applications include services that provide a lot of functional tools. These BIM design applications have a sort of a platform in order to manage the data within a model for different issues; this model is called a BIM environment.

3D modeling has been implemented new features since 1960s. The development of new 3D representations had a lot of problems since engineers at time could not include them in movies, architectural and engineering design, and games. But, in the late 1960s, engineers developed polyhedral forms to the first computer graphics film called Tron. The main idea in this type of representation is to have these initial polyhedral forms composed into an image with a limited set of parameterized and scalable shapes. Therefore, computational functions were created in order to create any types of shapes with variable dimensions. Figure 1 represents the shapes could be created at that time; shapes such as, cylinder, cone, pyramid, sphere, and others.

Figure 1 General Shapes

By this time, engineers had the basic of engineering design: shapes. So, they started to combine the shapes using the operations of spatial union, intersection, and subtraction. These operations are called Boolean Operations. The purpose of these operations is to allow the user to interactively generate difficult shapes such as, buildings and tools (screwdriver). Figure 2 is a clear representation of the improvement in BIM Design. In this chapter, Eastman also explains that building modeling based on 3D solid modeling was first developed in the late 70s.

Figure 2 Building Service Core

The current generation of BIM architectural design tools, which includes Autodesk Revit, Bentley Architecture, and some other software, grew up of the object-based [parametric modeling capacities developed and refined first for mechanical design. For instance, in Parametric Design, a designer first defines an element class which defines some mixture of fixed and parametric geometry. This specific shape varies according to its context. In other words, Eastman clearly states that objects and their faces can be defined using relations involving distances, angles, and rules like attached to, parallel to, and offset from.

Works Cited

Eastman, Charles M. BIM handbook: a guide to building information modeling for owners, managers, designers, engineers and contractors. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2011. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.

Comments:

Mengel,

Chapter 3 seems to be very interesting. There are a lot of stuff that we do not know yet, and it is very important as an engineer to know these little things. As you mentioned in your post, interoperability is a key for any modern-day design. But, this is not it. I like when you highlighted that interoperability is not just a key for buildings but also for any project that uses multiple presences or need more than one application for design. It is very interesting how all the ideas and data gained from multiples companies and construction sectors have helped with the improvement of the interoperability. How do you think this technology can be improved? I do believe that something new with better quality will come. But, do we really need it?

https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/01/blog-post-2-group-b-brandon-mengel-our.html

Raggousis,

I read Mengel’s post and it is interesting how this chapter explains the purpose of interoperability of software. This chapter seems to be very interesting since it discusses the file formats, and the way the data is stored and translated from one software to another. Today, we all use different types of software, and I like when you mentioned in your post that “we are all familiar with these things even if we have only been exposed to PDF files of JPEG files.” This is a very good example of viewing these files in different platforms such as, iOS and Windows. This chapter also indicates different types of ways that we can use interoperability. Can you imagine BIM software in 10 years from now? I do believe that the details in each project will be better.

https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/01/assignment-b2-group-b-maria-raggousis.html

Dannemann,

After reading your post, I believe that BIM is very powerful to make important decisions. You brought up an important point in your post “with the rise of BIM, owners can make much more educated decisions when it comes to field changes as risk management and economic analysis are easily determined from the model.” I think this is the way it should be because sometimes they want something unnecessary and useless. Also, the owner can have a good conversation with the designer or whoever is designing his building. This new implementation allows the owner to visualize how the building’s components work together. Great!

https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/01/b2-group-c-peter-dannemann.html

3D printing

3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing(AM), refers to processes used to synthesize a 3D object in which successive layers of material are formed under computer control to create an object. objects can be of almost any shape or geometry and are produced using digital model data from a 3D model or another electronic data source such as an additive Manufacturing File(AMF) file. 

As we know, the 3D printing already applied to the medical purpose and the auto parts. or some relative parts for construction such as abnormal shape of joint or connections. Traditional fabrication methods involve a great deal of effort, expense, and time. Specialists often have to create individualized molds, assemble multiple components, and construct items from multiple pieces. The process can involve many different materials, a wide variety of highly trained workers, and several expensive trials before the perfect object is finally created.

Rapid prototyping and 3D printing remove some of the time and expense from the process of creating new commercial and industrial objects. Instead of utilitizing a factory to create a sample for testing, self-contained printers create items from three-dimensional CAD drawings. These items are printed one layer at a time, permitting more creativity and control over the final shape than any other construction method. Printing is also faster, cutting the creation process down from days or weeks to mere hours for most items.

However, how to apply 3D printing technique to create large building structures is a relatively new topic. As the research institutions highlighted below suggest, it is indeed possible to create single-family dwellings, commercial structures, and larger buildings, potentially with the efficiency and speed that other users of 3D printing already enjoy. Also, how to apply robotic construction technique to the 3D printing is the advance concepts. i believe there are robotic construction apply to some dangerous operation such under ground piping and horizontal directional drilling that experience high risk on the future.

http://thefutureofthings.com/4664-the-future-of-3d-printing/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing

comments:

(https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com)

in Ray Powell's post, he discussed the intelligent HVAC systems that by using adaptive technology which apply more advance sensors and computing systems to monitored and controlled. indeed, the indoor activities for human takes the majority portion of the entire activities. it is very important to provide the safer and healthier living condition for indoor. how to generate the comfort humidity and to control the air flow more effective are very important. therefore, we need more intelligent system to recognize and evaluate those unforeseen condition and throughout all factors. also, how to maintain the heating and cooling level and in the same time can save energy is very important topic for engineers.

B1 Database and Network in Future Construction Work

Before the reading of the materials, the database and network in my mind are the support tool and the foundation to develop the future automation work for not only construction work but also every industry. Database will be a storage dictionary to help the system designer analysis the information about the system. Network will be a layer to help the system to transfer the information.

My first reading about the database is Cringey's thinking about the big data. In his article, he believes that the big data transform the world. Also, he brief describes the database development history. Thousands year before, because people wanted to record their religion data, they tried to writing and drawing. Once people had knowledge and writing, it was in our nature to seek ways to hide these data from others. This led to codes and cyphers and to statistical techniques for breaking them. A 9th centuries Abu Yusuf al-Kindi, wrote A Manuscript on Deciphering Cryptographic Messages, marking the beginning of statistics — the finding of meaning in data — and of cryptanalysis or code-breaking.In 19th century, instead of only storage data, IBM created the way to process the data to help people improve their system. Later, Oracle created the relational model to use the database in the productive system.[1] From the database development history, I find that people developed the database because they really need it. For the future construction work, I believe that the database will be very helpful. In my coop experience, when we did the building energy simulation, we always need lots of data to do the analysis, like the weather historical data, soil data and the materials data. The database is helping the construction work, it will be more useful in the future.   

Also, I think the database is the foundation of the robot and AI. In March 2016, the Alphago won 4-1 against the Lee Sedol, the top Go player in the world over the past decade. [2] Alphago almost won all the top players in the world. One of the main reason is that Alphago has a strong database with abundant of historical go game information to help them analysis and win. 

Network is a transmission tool. I read an article is about TCP/LP. TCP is a basic communication language of the internet. IP is responsible for defining exactly where data needs to be sent and ensuring that packets of data are sent and received to the same place. The network is the tool to transfer the information and to bring the programmer's design to all the world. [3]

The social in my mind in the future is one sentence. The world is not mine, the world is yours, but the programmer will own the world. 

Resource

1. http://www.cringely.com/2016/07/05/thinking-big-data-part-one/

2. https://deepmind.com/research/alphago/

3. https://www.pcmech.com/article/what-is-tcpip-and-how-does-it-work/

Assignment B1 - Paulina Gawor - B-Team

BIM, 3D Printing, Structures & the Future of Building Design

Introduction

The development of 3D Printing, or additive manufacturing is a process by which layers of material are stacked to form a 3D object, based on electronic data points. This contrasts the more typical machining methods of grinding or cutting, and allows for more delicate and unique shapes to be formed. 3D printing is often used in product design, or to make small architectural models as a method of rapid prototyping. Currently, it is a slow method for fabrication of larger projects, but some companies are experimenting with the technology.

Construction Applications

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill have demonstrated some success in using 3D printing to develop a green 450-square-foot carbon- fiber-reinforced ABS plastic structure. A benefit of a 3D printing method is the efficient use of material--there is much less scrap than in traditional construction. The printed material was a series of identical C shaped channels, with a grain like that of wood. Post tensioning tendons were incorporated in design to account for lower strength in the grain direction. [1] Interior materials and insulation were produced in a traditional way.

Arup developed a unique shape for street lights in the Hague. Their construction consisted of 1,200 steel pieces, few of which would be identical. Additive manufacture of metals involves using metal alloys in powder form, which are heated with lasers. Unused powder can be collected and reused. The number of unique pieces is difficult and expensive for manufacture, so 3D printing was used. The resulting pieces were some 50% lighter than they might have been if they were produced with traditional machining. [2]

Chinese construction company WinSun constructed a five story 3D printed apartment building. The primary material was a recycled mix of ground construction and industrial waste, around a base of quick-drying cement. The walls were backed with appropriate insulation, and steel members. WinSun estimates this process decreases construction waste by 30-60 percent, and labor costs by 50 percent. [3]

Benefits of 3D Printing

The benefit of 3D printing is that it can produce very complex shapes with great precision. This will make it easier to realize architecturally complex projects including those with organic, curved forms. Printing will likely be most seen in custom building elements, modular elements, or those with great variation in form. Facades are a likely target for additive manufacture. Additive manufacture is also environmentally friendly in terms of material use--there is very little or no scrap material, as only what is needed is custom made. 3D Printing can be used to develop cheap disaster housing, easily replicated, and produced around the clock.

Limitations of 3D Printing

Still, the technology to print a complete building system is still some years away. Printing structural elements is what there has been most development in, both as accessory components, and larger members. We do not yet have the technology to print insulation, glazing, piping, ductwork, or electrical equipment. Even once we have the technology to print these elements, we will have to test them extensively to ensure they meet the same technical requirements our traditionally manufactured materials do. Even if all of these materials are printed successfully, there will still have to be a great deal of assembly on site.

Resources

[1] http://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/11652--d-printing

[2] http://www.asce.org/magazine/20140624-engineers-testing-3-d-printing-of-steel/

[3] https://www.cnet.com/news/worlds-first-3d-printed-apartment-building-constructed-in-china/

Assignment B1 - Sanchez - Group E

Databases/Networks:

Databases and networks play a huge role in our lives today. Companies use databases to store information about ourselves, themselves, and information we did even know they had. At the same time, networks allow us to share information with each other instantly. Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an important part of databases and networks over the past decade. AI can be used to analyze information in databases to improve that information and the database itself. [1] An example of this would be if I search for something on Amazon and then I go to Facebook and there is an ad on the side for that same item I was searching for on Amazon. In context of building and construction, AI could be implemented in BIM and building databases to find errors, improve efficiency, and build models for you.

Sociology:

Technology is a huge part of our lives today and has impacted society tremendously over the past 20 years. Moving forward, AI is going to integrate into almost every aspect of our lives. Prominent scientist and tech leaders such as Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking have warned society about the dangers of having technology that can learn and improve itself faster than humans. [2] In addition, movies such as the Terminator have dramatized the effects that AI could have on the world if it is implemented in weapons. In recent years there have been discussions about AI and technology taking over people's jobs and leaving them homeless and without a way to make an income.  

Future:

In the future only time will tell how technology will progress. For databases and network, I believe that that AI will continue to progress. In the article, Power tools: sorting through the crowded specialized database toolbox, they discuss how one of the biggest issues with databases and networks is relational and nonrelational data. AI could be used to combine the two different data types into one and put them into the same database. [3] For sociology, humans will become more comfortable with AI being implemented into our daily lives and the notion of AI being scary will fade.  

[1]https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2016/07/29/whats-difference-artificial-intelligence-machine-learning-deep-learning-ai/

[2]https://www.wired.com/2015/01/ai-arrived-really-worries-worlds-brightest-minds/

[3]http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/04/power-tools-sorting-through-the-crowded-specialized-database-toolbox/

Yosep Bak - Week 1 - B1

Robotics
  
   Development of robotics and mechanical engineering has brought civil engineers one step closer to unsupervised, mechanical construction. Video shown in the link attached explains in details how a newer form of construction heavily equipped by mechanical arms and 3D printed pieces will eventually become the industry standard. The founder of Coop Himmelb(l)au, Wolf D Prix has quoted "Normally this part of the buliding witll take eight months with 160 workers on the site, butnow we need eight works on site, and it takes 12 weeks". According to this Australian Architect, the construction process we know as of now may be drastically altered in coming 10 to 20 years. This will allow constructions to be more accurate, cheaper, and safer if developed and supervised properly.

Source : https://www.dezeen.com/2015/10/23/robotic-construction-3d-printing-future-wolf-d-prix-interview/


AI

   Artificial Intelligent was simply defined as "ability for a machine to think" in the presentation by Arup director Tim Chapman. He explains what an AI is, and he convinces that the artificial intelligence will improve communications and reduce friction in development. He quotes "ability to crunch large data is crucial and AI is needed". "Artificial intelligence", according to Tim, "will increase productivity, increase efficiency, and increase big data crunching speed.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Atz4S5FceQ


 3D Printing
 
   3D printing has spread its branches far and beyond one particular industry; it now can be seen anywhere from fashion industry to biomedical engineering. Civil engineering too was impacted heavily with developing 3D printing industry. Harvard scientists have created a 3D printing pen that allows architects and engineers to give a 3D sketch. This is significant because a 3D printing pen will be able to produce sketch versions of the buildings right in front of the clients eyes. 

Source: http://readwrite.com/2016/05/27/the-next-big-thing-in-3d-printers-it4/?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=webfeeds


Future

   Fastbrick Robotics has created a machine that is capable of constructing a typical residential house in 48 hours. Hadrian X is completely digital machine that can continue constructions with minimum supervision. This can put field engineers out of business if they don't develop themselves to integrate  with the technology.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6UPGk8EFWE


Comment

Andrew Ng: I completely agree that BIM is adapted as the industry standard at this point; You've referenced that 71% already use BIM in 2012, I can only imagine that the percentage has only gone up.

Mridul Pareek: Along with BIM, 3D printing, and AI integration, sensor technology has a large room for improvement. It was great to learn that older models required less power, but wasn't as accurate. Maybe this is a part of digital building's expertise.

Alex Koo: As you mentioned, Cybernetics is capable of essentially ultimately combining the human and the machine. That information is pertinent because it already showed promising results such as treating Parkinson's disease. I hope with integration of AI into cybernetics will essentially ultimately reap promising results in not only the medical industry, but in wider array of fields.   

B1 - Group E - Singh, Prahlad

The Future of Databases, Networks and Sociology

These topics go hand in hand, with databases storing information and networks with the ability to access them. Databases are like libraries the bottomless well of information.

Databases: Data science machine: “Engineers from MIT have developed a new system that replaces human intuition with algorithms. The “Data Science Machine” outperformed 615 of 906 human teams in three recent data science competitions.” As one can see data machine are slowly outperforming humans and in the future this is going to have significant importance as slowly AI is going to be taking over the basic functions and slowly the further complex functions from the humans. As of now humans are still needed to help in the functioning of these machines in the capacity of inputting the given factors. The researchers are trying to take the human element out of the equation.

http://scitechdaily.com/data-science-machine-replaces-human-intuition-with-algorithms/

Network: The internet and the ever growing utilization of it has increased the necessity for a more secure and safe network. Multitudes of information is inputted and uploaded to the internet every second, from peoples private to their public lives; all of this is at risk out there in the open for predators. Breaches of current modern network security can been seen and heard from in the news day today. A study done by FireEye showed exactly how vulnerable most companies actually are when it came to network protection and malware efficiency. The study had shown that no matter what it is nearly impossible to prevent malicious software from threatening a network. It also unfortunately showed the steps in order to minimize the damage are being neglected by many companies. It is common for companies to take a "set-it-and-forget-it" approach on security and will often not keep important information on a separate, isolated system.

https://www.cnet.com/news/modern-security-tactics-fail-to-protect-against-malware-new-study-finds/

Sociology: Sociology involves the affect something has on society. The future of technology plays an ever changing and crucial role in this topic. This article talks about the things that will be common ten years from now that don’t exist today. The subheading that stood out to me was the Driverless Cars/Transportation. This is such a topic that is intertwined sociology and its impact on society. Imagine living in a world where you’re never late to work as everything is run by the AI and thus precise to the millisecond, where the mortality rate on the roads is reduced to a now startling number of 0. This improves efficiency to perfection in every sense of the word. From “Crash proof cars” to “Queueing stations”

http://www.futuristspeaker.com/business-trends/72-stunning-things-in-the-future-that-will-be-common-ten-years-from-now-that-dont-exist-today/?nocache=1

Comments on other:

Ksara: Very interested in whole drones carrying the materials form Site A and then assisting in the construction. I agree with you with the fact that there is a lot to take into consideration, but in time this will help improve efficiency and reduce the time of construction significantly. Like you mentioned 10 times cheaper and 5 times faster I feel is just an estimate, it could definitely be more than that in the future. I am looking forward to the advances of AI in the construction field.

Pareek: I found the topic choice very interesting. Wireless systems are becoming prevalent in today's day and age. With the use of wireless sensors to monitor the structural health of a building will be beneficial as it will be able to scale much larger areas and while transmitting back to the parent system. Slowly, with advancements of technology it might even be possible to test the structure without even being present at the building.

Alsaleem B1 - AI, Robotics & 3D Printing

Artificial Intelligence is a system that combines sophisticated software and hardware with complicated databases in order to demonstrate features of effective human decision making. The main criteria for an AI system is for it to be capable to perform specific functions correctly for what it has been designed to do. Also, an AI system should be well designed, able to be manufactured efficiently and at low or reasonable costs that allow it to be marketable and usable.

More specifically in the AI field, robotics has been used around to perform some or several human tasks in many different fields. Most robotics require human control for them to perform, or reprogrammed systems that allow them to self-perform the desired task allowing it to calculate and perform smartly on its own. Robots are now found in many fields, in class we saw robots building and placing bricks, and most common use of robots as everyone knows is their work in factories. Moreover, I will try to show couple more examples where robots are relied on as well to perform tasks.

Robots in the Medical Field

Courtesy Swisslog

Robots are seeking their way into the medical field where they will help doctors to clear clogged arteries, measure blood viscosity and deliver drugs to precise locations in the body. The goal is for the robots to assist nurses who provide routine care, easing the need for nurse’s aides, home health care asides and other position that have been hard to fill. The robots will also be able to lift and repositioning patients, deliver medications to patients’ rooms and be able to deliver lab samples and reports.

Robots on Farms

Courtesy Blue River Technology

Engineers at Blue River Technology are developing a robot that is able to roll through rows of plants using a radio and GPS system that allows a driverless tractor to follow the lead of a manned one as they make their way around the fields. The main goal of this technology is that it doubles the outcome and works much faster than the work still done by hand.

3D Buildings

Nowadays various technologies use 3D printing as an essential method to construct buildings or components of buildings. Current machines are being combined into automated and semi-automated production lines that will feature elements of additive, subtractive and formative manufacturing processes to handle material deposition at one scale and finishing at another.

The major advantages of this technology are mainly its faster construction, lower labor costs, increased complexity and accuracy. The better accuracy from this technology leads to less materials wasted during construction.

3D printing is divided into 3 different methods used at construction scale;

-        extrusion (concrete, wax, foam, polymers)

-        powder bonding (polymer bond, reactive bond, sintering)

-        additive welding

In May 2016, Dubai officially inaugurated the world’s first fully functional 3D printed building by his Highness Sheikh Mohammed AlMaktoum, Vice president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed AlMaktoum later described that Dubai’s plan is to have more than 25% of the buildings in Dubai by 2030 to be constructed using this technology. He has also pointed out that the advantages of 3D printing in terms of lower costs and faster delivery will make the UAE one of the most important sustainable economic hubs, enabling the effective use of this technology to establish future cities in all sectors.

Photo Credit: WAM

From my point of view, I see that robots are seeing their way into many different fields and more companies are relying on them in the near future, specially the medical and farming fields. Robots may have simple delivery and assistant roles helping nurses in hospitals, until maybe they might take on jobs as explained earlier. However, the Robot technology for farms will also help farmers rest their hands and get the job done more efficiently and more effectively.  As for the 3D printing technology, I see that 3D printing revolutionized the construction industry. Most importantly the output of the 3D printers are less expensive due to its less expensive process, lower materials usage and also lower labor cost. The use of 3D printers might not be as effective the coming years, but definitely it will take over in the future.

References:

-        Fields where robots are taking charge

http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/business/T057-S005-robots-taking-charge/index.html

-        Robotics Technology – Artificial Intelligence

http://www.electronicsteacher.com/robotics/robotics-technology/artificial-intelligence.php

-        How Artificial Intelligence could merge with 3D printing

http://www.getlittlebird.com/blog/3d_printing_plus_artificial_intelligence

-        World’s first 3D printed building in Dubai

http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/government/world-s-first-3d-printed-building-in-dubai-1.1833450

-        Video: 3D Concrete Printing – The Future of Construction

http://www.forconstructionpros.com/video/12059502/video-3d-concrete-printing-the-future-of-construction

Responses:

Tarry Francischetti: I agree with you and enjoyed your examples for supporting your point of view. I did not know about the new MI system that could learn by time as humans, do you think it will be as effective as we might imagine as it collects data and learns more tasks all over? I also agree with you that the only disadvantages is the loss of jobs robotics create. I see that the first years robotics will enter the field as supporting members to help constructors for example, until people start seeing them as the replacement to do the job. 

Christopher Sager: Your response was really interesting! I did not know the drones could do that much of work on site. I really enjoyed the Tedx discussion you posted which lead me to watch several videos regarding technologies in the field. I also agree with you about the usage of cranes on site and your way of replacing them to save money and effort. 

Egla Qori: I was really interested in your blog and your way of explaining the topics. As you mentioned that 3D printer were created in the 80's, do you think now that it has been tested and used some places in the world, will we see it more often in the industry in the near future? Do you think it has been tested enough and will take over? I can't agree more that using 3D printer could really help the poor, and for sure be chance for rich people to create something unthinkable.