Course Reflection - zhijing zheng

Course Reflection-Construction field

Intelligent building information and techniques are very beneficial to current society. During this class, I had been told the advanced technique such as 3D printing or robotics implementation. It is pretty fascinated that future construction field implement more robotics principle.  Additional, the AI technique is one of the main advanced information. My major is mainly focus on structural engineering and I prefer the building industry. Therefore, it is very helpful and meaningful support information from building perspective. Especially, nowadays, current building systems implement sensors to monitor and analyze the building and provide necessary database for LCA. There are different types of sensors such as temperature, electrical or pressure. Among these sensors, the typical types of sensor that applied for building are temperature sensor, humidity sensor and smoke sensor. For me, when the building contain these advance techniques for either construction purpose or managing g and monitoring purpose, it is sounds like artificial intelligent for me. It looks like the buildings can function and run by themselves. The human beings just gather the data from the screen. Then, organize the data into logical format. In order to sort and store the uncountable data, we need to create the database to accomplish that. Therefore, in this class, I learned the SQL terminology, which is a domain-specific language, used in programming and designed for managing data held in a relational database management system [1]. Also, I learned the surface about the MS access application to create the database to organize the sensor information for each room from each building. The implementation of database is very useful for my future career; I am working for engineering firm and specialize for construction service. From my perspectives, I feel the database is very useful for construction purpose; it will shorten the duration to recreate the relationship or formula for similar information. An advanced database system and technology will become high demand from all construction fields such as infrastructure, aviation and heavy highway.

From construction perspective, it is quite beneficial of applying database techniques. For example, the construction routine is deal with tons of paper trial and data such as submittals and shop drawing. If there is an improved database system can serve each construction category like aviation. For example, if PHL want to extend the runway 9R-27L, DOA could just pull out the similar project by defining the similar underground soil condition or similar region. It will help to avoid to irrelevant uncertainty and save the time for designer. 

Comment

Arthur Mccloskey

In Arthur’s post, he lists the overall topics from this class, which is helpful to audience to notice the big picture. Also, he provides the personal experience as construction management. And he mentioned the BIM is priority for his career. He also states that database is useful for his career and provide the reason. Overall post is well organized and clear.  And I totally agree the point of view from the construction perspective.

https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/03/course-reflection-arthur-mccloskey.html

Sarah Maminski

In Sarah’s post, she mentions as new learner for BIM and database, she express the general feelings about the new topic like little bit of everything. She has not dig into deep to explore that into professional perspective due to the limited experiences. I think she can probably just search for one topic and go deep to explore the topic as another chance of self-learning. 

https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/03/b7-course-reflection.html

Egla Qori

In Egla’s post, she incorporate her real work experiences with intelligent building course and appreciate that she took this class. I totally agree her points. In real work, it is always good to know a little bit of everything can help the team member to complete the project.

https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/03/b7-course-reflection-egla-qori.html

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SQL

what is SQL and why it is important? - zhijing zheng B5

What is SQL?

“SQL (Structured Query Language) is an tool that create to communicate with database. According to ANSI (American National Standards Institute), SQL is the standard language for relational database management systems. [1]” in database, in order to distinguish and manage the relationship among each data, the SQL plays a vital role that update and search data. There are some software that install or come with SQL such Oracle and Sybase [1].  Similar to JAVA Language and C++ Language Operating System, SQL also has command functions such as “Select” and “Insert”. These command functions pretty much cover the entire requirement for manipulating database. Below table show the example input from SQL Operating window,

Why is SQL important?

SQL is a great tool that sorting the data and organized them. Nowadays, the cloud database is cover all over the world and the quantity is uncountable. Therefore, in order to organize this uncountable database, the SQL is essential for that. In today’s digitalized world with massive amounts of data collected and stored into the database, the SQL is imperative. SQL is very important for someone need to deal with massive amount of data such as marketer or stock traders. As a marketer, since they are data-driven and they need to pull out and reference all the massive needed data from other database, the SQL is best suit option for them. Because SQL can quickly collect data that can save marketer’s time to gather all the required information [2]. No difference than stock traders, they need to analyze and incorporate massive of data. In order to store all the useful results, they need to pull out needed data as soon as possible. As we know, in stock trading world, time is money. They need a tool that has high productivity and high speed. The sorting and selecting ability are quiet essential for trading purpose. They need to pin point the critical data to show the most effective outcome. Therefore, SQL is very important.

Reference:

[1] http://www.sqlcourse.com/intro.html

[2] https://excelwithbusiness.com/blog/post/marketing-analytics/why-sql-is-important-for-marketers

Comments:

(1) In Alex’s post, he introduced Relational Database Theory along with little background. It helps reader get to know some history about that. Also, he provided a figure to explain the theory, which is good because example is more directly explanation to readers. In his post, he used some references to enhance the profession knowledge and introduced to reader with correct information.

https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/02/alexander-koo-b5.html

(2) In Ronald’s post, he also introduced the Relational Database. He is not only explained what is Relational Database, he also combine with the application of the Relational Database. In addition, he used some figures to show the relationship between client and server via RDBMS. It is straightforward and helps reader understand the relationship between them.

https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/02/assignment-b5-group-ronald-herazo.html

(3) In Singh’s post, he explained why database is important in construction management perspective. And it is very good explanations and very in details. However, I think it is better to explore more perspective or different application about database. It can be marketing and stock trading purpose. I think those two are really using database.

https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/02/b5-singh-prahlad.html

B4 Post- zhijing zheng

Robotics Automating Construction Site Surveying

Why choose this topic?

In current construction field, the survey is mandatory required for pre-construction. And almost all the survey information is done by the surveyor via investigate the real construction site physically. In other word, the surveyors have to overcome the weather condition whether it is too hot or too cold. It will increase the health risk for surveyors. Therefore, if we can implement the robotic technique into construction surveying purpose, it will be huge benefit for surveyors. The surveyors can just stay in the office or some safer places to control the robots to gather the survey information for the underground soil condition and the dimension of the entire site. Or, surveyor can just set up the control points inside the site, and apply robotic automating technique to gather the needed information. Also, the robotic survey will produce more accurate and concise outcome comparing to human operation basically. In conclusion, the reasons choose this topic is because my work experience and field interesting. Also,  I want to investigate whether the implement of this technique is worth compare to profit wise from the construction side.

How this topic related to IB?

This topic is somehow closely related to IB because the construction site surveying not just apply to underground soil investigation, also it is apply to building industry. For example, if the surveyor need to measure the inside and outside dimension of the high-rise building, they can pretty much use remote to control the small robots with sensors and climb 20 or 30 feet instead of using ladder to climb. After the surveyor set up all the sensor, surveyor just set up the reference points to get the dimension use total station tool or other information collector. The definition of intelligent building is  “one which has an information communication network through which two or more of its services systems are automatically controlled, guided by predictions based upon a knowledge of the building and usage, maintained in an integrated data base” (Leifer, 1988). Therefore, since the robotic automating surveying technique is automating system that involves robotic controlling, it should improve the accuracy and efficiency of the surveying quality.

What are the challenges?

In order to implement this technique into the surveying purpose, we need to couple the sensor with lasers to the receiver. It might require the new codes that specify the outcome of the information. Also, it might be challenge that converts the 3D configuration into the 2D plan. We need some new operation system to manipulate the inside code information into more readable visualization output. Therefore, for this new robotic automating surveying technique, it is not just inventing the robotic tool, but also create the corresponding operating system. 

Sources:

Leifer, D. 1988. “Intelligent Buildings: A Definition.” Architecture Australia 77: 200–202.

Comments:

Joe Dressel:

In Joe’s post, he pretty much answers the three questions. However, in each answer, it is kind of too short. It is better explain each question in more details. For example, in challenge section, besides the operating challenge for each group member, are there some challenges relative to Revit itself and what are they?

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

Prahlad Singh:

In Singh’s post, he also covers all the components. It is nice that AI technology that also implement into drone. It is great that engineers can control drone to serve the construction site. It is either to take the entire project picture with high definition or other purposed that related to project. However, in challenge section, beside those challenges, are there any challenges related to economic restriction?

https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/02/b4-singh-prahlad.html

Mridul Pareek:

In Mridul’s post, he mentions his topic is the SHM using wireless sensors. It is a very interesting topic that involves structures.  It is also part of application in my project, because for robotic automating surveying, we will need to use some wireless sensor to support our projects. In his challenges section, he mentions that it is still low application rate for building industry. Furthermore, what is the possible solution to minimize or get rid of those challenges?

https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/02/week-4-project-mridul-pareek.html