B5 - Group E - Yuxiao Zhou

Nowadays, database is part of our life in anywhere. Database is a structure set of data to be stored in computer. In construction work, database can be access by architects, engineers, contractors and project managers. Database is using for cost estimating and project scheduling. People can save and load information through database easily and working with others.    

For example, architects can access to database to check previous design, engineers can check the subsurface exploration information or design conditions. Contractors can analysis the construction material’s price and compare the product list. For construction industry, cost estimating is very important. We need to reduce the cost and also meet the design standard. Database is very useful when contractor working with cost estimating. For the past time, contractor need to check every product list and compare all products one by one. But if we have a public database, contractor can compare all products by simple clicking. Product cost, product size, product property, installing period and manufacture information in single page together. The more important thing is, database will keep all the product information to the newest version which is good benefit for both contractor and manufacturer. It will save a lot of time by using database to do the cost estimating.

For project scheduling part, every team members can save their work to a team database which can let every team member to check others’ work progress. By checking those information, the schedule can be make easily and accurately.

Database is a great tool for construction industry. Before database came out, all the information work must be done by human, which will take a lot of time and money. Database can use computer’s computing power and finish the work simply, accurately and efficiency. For construction industry, database is really a part of our industry. 

Comment
Ronald Park(https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/02/ronald-park-group-d-b5-uses-of.html)
I totally agree with your opinion, database can share to anyone in the firm easily and keep it in a security condition.

Ng Andrew(https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/02/ng-andrew-assignment-b5-sql-group-b.html)
SQL is a very important computer language. It can save time by using standard command and script. It is a very efficiency language, the script is gathering information and computing to the results.

Kerianne Vogler(https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/02/uses-of-databases-in-construction-firms.html)
I have the same opinion with you. Database in construction industry can be used for cost estimating and project scheduling. Manufacturer can update the product information and contractor can access it very easily, it also can make team member share their work through database.   

B4 - Yuxiao Zhou - Group E

Topic

My topic for the project paper is robotics in construction. I will finish the project paper individual.

Why it was chosen

Almost all manufacturing industry start to use robot such like food industry, car industry or electronic industry. But why construction still using people to do the work?  People cannot work in some specific condition like chemical and radiation but robot can do the work. The fukujima nuclear plant is a big problem for japan, the molten core produce radiation and it lethal for human, the recover work can be only finish by robot. This the reason that why I chosen this topic as my project.

Relation to intelligent building

Robot is intelligent, and construction is important for any buildings. In the future, construction robot will have more efficiency than human. Modular building and construction robot have a good fit. If this technology come true that construction process will have significantly effects on save time and save money. Also, Construction robot just need one initial cost and can be used for lifetime, the maintained cost is very low and it will be a good investment for Construction Company.

Challenge

The function of construction robot is too simple, it cannot be used in multiple work. The cost is too high for small and medium company for now. The working speed of robot is lower than trained and experienced construction worker. Those problem are the current challenge for construction robot.


Comment
Sarah Maminski(https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/02/sarah-maminski-week-4-project.html)
I like your opinion, AI can save time because AI have more faster processing ability than human being. Also is very important for construction robot. It will change the current construction process and save lots of time and money.

Zhijing Zheng(https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/02/b4-post-zhijing-zheng.html)
I chose same topic with you. If construction can be used in field inspection and construction process it will significantly reduce the work time. But for current, the AI need to develop, the robot function is too simple and cannot do multiple work in single robot.

Azziz AlSaleem(https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/02/alsaleem-b4-groupc-final-project.html)
AI have lots of potential. AI can check the work automatically and find the problem, it is much easier and faster than human. AI can also finish lots of work automatically with model, it save time and money       

Yuxiao Zhou - B3 - Group E

Revit Vs AutoCAD and others drawing software

The Revit and AutoCAD both can generate construction documents for the design, but Revit can create the documents through the working process and generate it automatically. In AutoCAD that you need to generate the document by the work done and manually. Also in AutoCAD the drawings and images based on basic geometry but in Revit that the model contains real-life information and can be easy to change. Revit is good for modeling, clash detection and change management and the AutoCAD is good for drawing precise line work.

I think the biggest difference between Revit and AutoCAD is work procedure. You can create each elements independently and combine all elements automatically, each element changes can directly responses to the model which can offer the users to change their design through the whole work process and easier to make difference design. But in AutoCAD, all works are independently and cannot combine them together. If users want to change their design, they need to change all elements to suit the new model manually which cost time and operate difficult, it also may generate error during this process. There are lots of model in Revit that users can use the model as simpler and start their work based on the simpler. This modeling function can save a lot of time and make the work easier. AutoCAD do not have the modeling function which means users need to start their work form beginning even if two model is similar. In my opinion, Revit can change any parts of model during the whole process, but for AutoCAD if make change during the work, it more like to start over the design. Revit is much intelligent than AutoCAD.

Google sketchup is a simple drawing software for quick drawings, but less for details. If users want to draw some initial quick view simple, Google sketchup is best choice.

In my opinion, Revit is good for use in designing process, because change can make easily and directly link to model, and users can start their work in one single model together. When the design is done, AutoCAD can be used for draw the model, because AutoCAD provides more details.      

Reference

Revit Vs AutoCAD (http://www.autodesk.com/solutions/revit-vs-autocad)

Comments
Lin Ziyang( https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-current-advantages-of-bim.html)
I totally agree with you for your points. BIM can improve the collaboration that is a huge advantage for everyone in the design team. Architects, Engineer, Contractor can work together in single model with details schedule and cost analysis, it save a lot of time than traditional design process.

Joe Dressel(https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/01/dressel-b3-group-c.html)
The BIM can generate sheet from the model automatically, it is much easier than AutoCAD. People can access the model and make change during anytime in design process. Schedule can be set up during the design process which traditional design must be wait until design finish. BIM is more and more popular, it also will have more intelligent functions.

Samuel Kim(https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/01/b3-group-d-week-3-samuel-kim.html)
Samuel, I agree with you that BIM can decrease the final cost. In traditional design process, contractor need to wait until the design finish. But in BIM, group members can access the model during anytime. Schedule and cost analysis can be made during design process and it also reduce the collaboration errors. BIM can make group members start their work at same time that means save a lot of time. Time is money, that is way the final cost is lower than before.    

B2 - Yuxiao Zhou - Chapter 6 - BIM for Contractors

BIM give a lots benefit for contractors. First, BIM can save time and money and reduce the error and conflicts. But for current situation, Architects and contractors work separately, contractors need to wait architects finish design which will increase the project time and money. The graph list below shows typical organization of project team.

This chapter also tell us what contractors want from BIM. In traditional organization of project team, contractors need to wait architects finish their model and start cost estimates, detailed schedule and coordinated drawings which may increase money, time cost and increase error. By using BIM, contractors can offer their suggestion during design process with architects and start their work which it may reduce the project cost without quality and sustainability lost. It also makes architects and contractors share their work by using single BIM model, it is a very big benefit for architects and contractors. There is a list for what BIM can provide.

l   Detailed building information

l   Temporary components

l   Specification information associate with each building component

l   Analysis data related to performance levels and project requirements

BIM also have a benefit for contractors is clash detection. By using BIM-based clash detection, it can run an automated 3D checks simply, it also can allow contractors to selectively check clashes between specified systems. Contractors also can perform a clash detection during the entire design phase with any level of design phase. It makes architects and contractors discuss design during any time and have their own suggestions, it reduce the error and save the time.

In conclusion, I think BIM for contractors can allow contractors participate the design during any phase and make their suggestion to architects which means both team can start their work in same time. This benefits reduce the time and money cost and it also reduce the error of design and increase the accuracy of the design.    

Reference

Eastman, Charles M. BIM Handbook : A Guide To Building Information Modeling For Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers And Contractors. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2011. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 24 Jan. 2017.

http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/ehost/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzM2NDIzOV9fQU41?sid=4a222441-900f-4d47-82d3-86bb3250aa50@sessionmgr4009&vid=0&format=EB&lpid=lp_263&rid=0

Comments
Mengnan Yang (https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/01/b2-bim-for-contractors.html)
We are in the same group and I totally agree with you. The BIM can allow contractors start their work with architects at beginning of the design.

Sarah Maminski (https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/01/sarah-maminski-team-b2-blog-post.html)
I really like you talked about the simulate function. In large building design, if you choose any subjects manually, you may miss some subjects and may cause error for the building. This can really reduce the error and save the time for manual check.

Yosep Bak(https://ae-410-510-ay16-17.blogspot.com/2017/01/yosep-bak.html)
Budget estimation is really important for owners and facility managers. By using BIM, owners and facility managers can have data for budget and have time to discuss with architects and contractors instead of wait for all the work done. It can have time to change the design and model, it save time and money   

B1 - Group E- Yuxiao Zhou - Database and Networking

The database and networking of my first impression is using for commercials such like amazon in US and Taobao/Alibaba in China before reading the suggestion articles. In my opinion, database is like foundation in construction to support the entire building and networking is like concrete column and steel beam to support the structure.

Big data is part of our life in recent years. The Location service in our cellphone record where we went every day. It can help the software give us better suggestion when we search a location based on our record. The health motion record how many exercises we did and it help the software to analysis is that enough for us to keep our body healthy. I had read Thinking about big data- part one – I, Cringely. [1] In this article, it discoursed the development history of database and he believed big data is transform the world.

Evernote is also a giant database. In this article, Evernote: An Architect’s Toolbox and Quality Management System. Evernote became a database to store examples of work. It is very easy for everyone to access and searching by type few words.[2] For me, USGS website is a very helpful database. In USGS website, I can find earthquake data which I used for my seminar paper. It also have the water data including as streamflow, water levels, quality, and more. [3]. The database become more and more important in construction. In subsurface exploration phase, if we can have the data of surrounding area it can improve accuracy of soils data and help us to design the foundation.

As I mentioned before, I think network like concrete column and steel beam to support the structure. I had read How TCP/IP Protocol Works- Part 1| Hardware Secrets.[4] In this article, it explain what is TCP/IP architecture. In my understanding, TCP is gathering data from upper layer then packing them into divided packages and transformed the packages to lower layer. IP is the address information, gathering address information of sender and receiver, and make sure the packages can deliver from sender to receiver.

The future for us is not far away, we had stepped into information era. Civil and Architecture engineering as traditional engineering industry, the database and networking is part of our design and research. Study of database can help us to design more intelligent Buildings.

Reference

Thinking about big data- part one – I, Cringely. [1], http://www.cringely.com/2016/07/05/thinking-big-data-part-one/

An Architect’s Toolbox and Quality Management System[2],

http://blog.evernote.com/blog/2012/09/05/evernote-an-architects-toolbox-and-quality-management-system/

USGS[3], https://www.usgs.gov/

How TCP/IP Protocol Works- Part 1| Hardware Secrets.[4], http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/How-TCP-IP-Protocol-Works-Part-1/433

   

   

Week #2 Discussion - Group E

In the next 10 years, our group thinks the following will happen in the construction industry:

- Drones will become more integrated in the construction industry
- Cranes will use senors and AI to operate instead of crane operators
- AI implemented into BIM systems to analyze data about contracts, budgets, contractors, and designs to make smarter and more efficient decisions
- Autonomous trucks delivering materials to construction sites
-  Safety glasses with design plans integrated in them