B7 - Connolly - Course Reflection

When signing up for Intelligent Buildings, my first thought was that I would learn more about BIM and sensors and how they interact. I thought we would talk about databases and how they can vastly improve how a business stores their data. As a Digital Building major I had hoped that this course was one in which I would learn a lot more about how to use each of them effectively in the real world. At that point in time, I had taken 2 database courses and hardly worked with actual database software, I had taken a few courses that touch on BIM but they were mostly the other courses in the AE department that just have one assignment in Revit. I had learned how to use BIM and setup databases mostly in my co-ops and not in classes.

After taking the course, I feel a bit let down by the lack of meaningful use of BIM and databases. I learned a lot about how they are used and the potential uses of them in the future. I learned a lot from the guest speakers who taught about the real world and how systems are used today. I also learned a good amount of the futurology of the construction industry and it could become much more efficient if basic AI or robotics were incorporated. However, I feel like the blog posts were somewhat tedious and the term project was essentially a longer blog post. I did like the two assignments that dealt with BIM and databases, if the term were split between learning more about those two subjects I feel that it would have been more effective. Professor Mitchell often wondered why the class seemed less than interested in the subject that he was teaching. An honest answer to that would probably be that it was due to a mix of the class being 3 hours at dinner time and also that a lot of the subjects were not directly relevant to what we will be working on in our careers. In my opinion, this course would be best taken either earlier in an AE major’s curriculum so that databases and BIM can be introduced from the start, or if the course curriculum focuses more on BIM and databases in the workplace.

B5 - Object Oriented Databases - Brennan Connolly

Object Oriented Databases

              Many people who study databases understand the initial concept of them pretty quickly as they are easy to relate with something in everyday life. (Like a folder, binder, etc.) However, the difficult part is learning the differences between the various types of databases. Relational databases are the most well-known types of databases, and usually the first ones taught in database courses. Relational databases organize basic information into tables that can “relate” to one another via common categories. Relational databases are often diagrammed by using entity-relationship (ER) diagrams. The main difference between relational databases and object oriented databases (OODB) is in the names, OODBs store objects while relational databases store information and relationships between the information. The best example of OODBs comes from a strange, yet informative Youtube video. The example goes: if databases were ways in which you would store a car, OODBs would be parking that car in a parking lot for easy pick up later. However, relational databases represent breaking the car down to every individual piece and storing them and then you hire a mechanic who knows the “language” to put the pieces back together. (holloworld5, 2011)
 

              It’s clear that OODBs are based around objects that are made up of large amounts of information. Using an engineering design example, an airplane can be viewed as a higher level object that is constructed from lower level objects, such as the airplane body, the wings, the tail, and the engine. Each of these objects can, in turn, be complex objects that are constructed from other simple or complex objects. (Dietrich & Urban, 2011) How can these databases change engineering design? Well in Revit and other BIM programs, you can use standard objects to give you a realistic sense of space. An OODB could help in storage of those objects so that they are easily accessible for when you need to import them. A report published by the NREL explains the benefits of an OODB program called MongoDB over a typical relational database. MongoDB is a document oriented database that is optimized for speed and scalability (Plugge et al. 2010). It is a schemaless database, is not made of tables with rows of data, and does not use the SQL language for querying. Instead, data are stored in structured “documents” that can contain all the information related to an entity. All data are stored in one location, and no relationships are necessary between documents so MongoDB can easily scale to many servers. Scalability is essential in Web 2.0 applications, where users not only access information, but also generate content. (Long, Fleming, & Brackney, 2011)

References

Dietrich, S. W., & Urban, S. D. (2011). Fundamentals of Object Databases: Object-Oriented and Object-Relational Design. Morgan & Claypool Publishers.

holloworld5. (2011, April 26). Object Oriented Databases. Retrieved from Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v_5vfTKDVs

Long, N., Fleming, K., & Brackney, L. (2011). An Object-Oriented Database for Managing Building Modeling Components and Metadata. Sydney: National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Responses
Egla - Your analysis of the SQL language was very well done. I have worked with the basics of the language in another course and still learned a few things from your research. You mention that it is a declarative language and I would have to agree as it the statements you use are very straightforward compared to some of the other programming languages. 

Ronald - I enjoyed your post describing the relational database and how it works. You did a good job at explaining exactly what a relational database is and some of the background knowledge needed to understand it. I think you could have explained the differences between the types of relationships mentioned in the last paragraph a bit clearer by using an example that used each one, but other then that I think you had a very informative post.

Andrew - I like that you mentioned some of the programs that use SQL as I have only worked with Oracle. You gave some examples of the types of commands given in SQL but I think it would help your post if you compared them to commands from other popular languages or at least mentioned that they are declarative because that is a key part to understanding SQL. I think the example you gave at the end of your post was excellent and a good way to show the benefits of using it. 

Week 5 Group C Discussion

BIM Challenges for the Future

Some of the challenges BIM will face in the future include unsustainable file size, lack of backwards compatibility, accessibility for new users, difficulty in learning more complex software, more complicated building design that the software may not be able to handle, usage of different software and inability to compile their plans, the software may become too expensive for the average user, and it may put people out of work due to not needing technical knowledge to use the software.

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.

B3 - Group C - Brennan Connolly

The Potential Future Advantages of BIM and Revit

              From the time I first heard about BIM in my senior year of high school 5 years ago, it has grown and improved by leaps and bounds. It still has growing left to do but right now it has changed the industry for the better. One of the main benefits of BIM is that it’s finished product is typically a 3D model of the design. A model that is well done will show the different materials and provide enough detail that will give the viewer an accurate look at what the structure will look like after construction is complete. The model is an attractive way for the owner to view the building, and how it looks in its surroundings, before construction starts. In the future, models will likely become more detailed and easier to design.

              One of the other benefits of BIM right now is that in multi-disciplinary projects, BIM programs can detect where clashes occur and point them out to the user. In the future and with more advancements in AI, I foresee the program itself being able to fix these clashes in reasonable methods. For example, if a duct is running through a pipe maybe the BIM program can fix the issue by rerouting the duct around the pipe while also avoiding walls and other obstacles. This will increase productivity amongdesigners as they will not need to spend time performing menial tasks.

              Jeff Yoders from the Building Design and Construction network anticipates that designers will be able to model energy performance quickly and easily. (Yoders, 2014) He discusses how Autodesk is coming out with plugins for their software that allow you to analyze the energy performance of your building. Energy performance analysis could allow designers to create the most efficient building given a certain budget. This could improve the push towards environmentally friendly and LEED certified buildings. There is also potential for AI to recognize what components are hurting the building’s energy efficiency and report those components to the designer similar to how clash detection works.

Works Cited

Yoders, J. (2014, December 23). 5 tech trends transforming BIM/VDC. Retrieved from Building Design and Construction Network: https://www.bdcnetwork.com/5-tech-trends-transforming-bimvdc

Responses

Maria - I liked your perspective on the file size of BIM models. Autodesk and other software companies will definitely have to tackle that issue if they want BIM to overtake AutoCAD and other drafting programs. I have used BIM programs that take a while to open file sizes and it's tough to say whether file sizes need to shrink or computer processors need to increase in capability.

Alexander - Your post sums up the challenges to fully implementing BIM in the construction industry well. However, companies are implementing BIM just as they would any other new process in their businesses, slowly and carefully. Design firms are teaching small groups of employees BIM and hoping that they will then be able to teach others and so on. So when you say that there is no consensus on how to implement BIM, I think you should reflect on how each individual firm will implement it.

Nick - I think your spot on with your analysis of the BIM program software updates being a major issue with its implementation today. The fact that smaller companies need to keep updating to a new software every year practically makes any file over 3 years old ancient. One solution to this problem would be if software companies released old versions of their program (maybe like 5 years old) to the public for free that way at least the older files can be opened with minimal hassle.