B6 Final Blog Post

When starting the course, I was intrigued about what would it entail to study Intelligent Building. Would the whole class be just building oriented? Are we going to learn about new technologies, new materials, new software, new approaches to building? Are we going to concentrate on only AI and robotics? It was a little bit of everything that helped to shape my understanding about the discipline.

It was interesting to experience engineering from a different prospective. As future electrical engineer I deal with a lot if circuits, power elements, computer programs etc., and honestly have no idea what a problem-solving process for architectural and structural engineers is. Just to learn a little bit more about building procedure, design process, and interaction between parties that are involved in the project made it a great learning experience. 

I was introduced to new programs, otherwise I wouldn’t get exposed to. Trying to figure out how to deal with Revit and even create a small model was very exciting. Creating data base had its ups and down, but I solely blame it on MS Access. My opinions about sensors changed. I used to think of them just as small gadgets, but they are a part of a bigger network and help not only to control temperature but maintain a whole system. 

The understanding of intelligent building changed for me. It went from being defined as smart building or green building to actually building intelligently, using the best technology and the best techniques. And also most expensive doesn’t mean the best, there are a lot of things to consider.  

Also I did not expect how much writing I would have to do in this class. I am so used to writing lab reports that use a very dry language, I am not used to writing about my own experiences.

Varsha,
I really enjoyed reading your reflection. It was interesting to read about somebody else's experience with the subject, especially somebody's with AE concentration.
I agree with you about bringing more courses that help to apply the knowledge we gained in theoretical classes and actually help us to look whats needed in the field.   

Douha,

Great use of an emoji. It caught my eye, that is why I am commenting on your post.

I agree with you that one of the advantages of the course was exposing us to new programs and new technologies. It is hard to think outside the box sometimes and this course helped to look at certain things from a different prospective.

Manon,

I enjoyed reading your post. I think we had similar experience with the course. I was also confused at the beginning to what to expect.
I wish you a good luck with your third co-op. Virtual Design Construction field sounds like a very exciting field to enter. Hopefully you will get a job in that field.

B6 - Course Reflection

As someone who is not an architectural engineer or interested in using my civil engineering degree for buildings, I took this Intelligent Buildings course for my own personal growth. “Sustainable” and “Green” and “Smart” systems, buildings, structures, etc. are really big in our industry at the moment, so I figured it would be useful to see what is going on in the architecture world in relation to these things. Also, it is super important for us to keep up with new technologies since there are advancements every single day. I actually had considered pursuing architectural engineering in college before settling on civil engineering, so that was another reason why I wanted to check out a class in the AE department. This is why I decided to add this class to my schedule for this term.

I don’t think I knew exactly what I was in for when I came into class. I never realized how much coding and computer-based programs were ingrained into building modeling, but now it all makes sense. There would be  no other way for a vast network of sensors to be able to work together and learn from each other than with proper programming. The unit on sensors was completely new to me, and I learned a lot about the various ways that we can take information in from the outside/inside environment, from the user(s), and from the building itself to manipulate things like humidity, temperature, power, mechanical systems, and much more.

I also learned a lot about the value of databases, and how I had pretty much already been using them for most of my life! A database in its simplest form is just a network of organized information, such as a file tree or folders of past plans. The construction industry relies heavily on databases, both internally--for employee information, company information, procedures, etc.--and externally--project information, bidding information, contractor and subcontractor information.

By far the most valuable thing I learned in this class was BIM. I had honestly never heard of BIM before and I am so glad I have finally gotten the opportunity to become more familiar with it. BIM is a program that can be utilized in almost every step of the design and build process of construction. It allows for everyone involved in the construction process to participate in planning, designing, and modifying at the same time, rather than needing to wait for one process to be completed to start on the next, or combining all systems together only to realize that clashes exist. This program seems like it will revolutionize the construction industry and I am glad that I had the opportunity to learn about it while at school. Not necessarily relevant to the class itself, but I had heard such great things about Professor Mitchell, and I am very happy that I got to experience him as a professor before he retired!


Hi Varsha,
You bring up a really good point, that it is really important to be prepared for change. I completely agree. Technology is advancing at a faster rate than ever, and if we do not make all of our classes geared similarly to this one, in that we are learning the current and future programs and systems used within the industry, we will get left behind. I think as a college we need to find the balance between being an R1 research institution and relying on theoretical science and being more adaptable for emerging technologies.
https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/03/b6-reflection.html

Hi Spencer,
I share your sentiments about the guest lecturers that we had the opportunity to hear from and interact with during class. They provided a unique perspective as those currently using these programs and systems and have been for years. They often talked about the future and how they plan to adapt to the use of one thing or another. Each one had a different take on the industry, and that was very valuable to hear about.
https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/03/b6-final-reflections.html

Michael,
I completely agree that the class structure of Intelligent Buildings provided a lot of freedom. Though I did not think the course would apply to my field of interest, Professor Mitchell did a great job of making the class relevant to many majors and topics and allowed students to explore best practices in the industry or interest of their choosing. Many of my blog posts that involved research ended up relating to the impact of ____ on sociology or people or jobs, because those things interest me the most. I wish more professors took the time to get real-time feedback from their students like Professor Mitchell has.
https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/03/course-reflection.html

B6

This course was very informative and worthwhile. I learned a lot about building technology and how the AEC industry is changing with technological advances. Moving forward, the insight and knowledge I gained from this class will be vastly useful in my professional life and development. Though I am a structural concentration, and structural engineers are usually hesitant to change (due to large liability), change is still inevitable. It is encouraging to see all the ways the job could improve, like better interoperability between AutoCAD and Revit.

I learned a lot that I definitely wouldn't have otherwise learned. I had no clue artificial intelligence applied to the AEC industry. I didn't realize that robots were already becoming players in the industry and weren't just science-fiction/goals for the future. I barely knew anything about databases, but now I can see they're incredibly important to the field and industry.

One thing I will almost certainly use in my professional life is Dynamo. I had no idea it existed, but it is incredibly useful. It's simple to use too, which further encourages me to learn more about it. I'll probably also use Access, too. I've always been a huge fan of Excel, and Access gives me more flexibility in terms of databases, which I have used Excel for before.

I really enjoyed the structure of this course. The assignments were helpful but not overwhelming. I found the blog posts incredibly beneficial. The term project was also really neat as it gave me a chance to dive into something I was interested in but wouldn't have otherwise studied. In my case, that was cobots. I now have more than a surface level knowledge of the benefits they can bring to the AEC industry.

I took this course as an elective, and I am so, so glad I did. I did not learn anything in this class that was "fluff" or irrelevant to me. Databases, sensors, interoperability, AI, robotics, it all applies to me as a young engineer to be. I absolutely recommend this class to anyone in the CAEE department, and possibly others.

Hi Varsha,

I'm glad we were able to learn more about cobots together. It was great learning about a new technology with you and Ina. I hope to see cobots more readily used in the industry sooner rather than later. I completely agree that we have to be prepared for change. It's uncomfortable yet completely unavoidable. I think your idea of making this type of class more common is a great one.

Hi Andre,

I think it's really neat that you as an electrical engineering major took this architectural engineering class. That to me shows how important it is for all branches of engineering to work together in the workplace. I like how you looped this class back to Drexel's one focus of career development. You're absolutely right that this class prepared us for industry. Of course our other more theoretical classes are important, but this class helped me think about AFTER graduation more, and not as just a stepping stone to get to graduation.

Hi Spencer,

I really enjoyed your project and presentation. Dynamo is a vastly useful tool, and it was neat that you took a good portion of the term to dive into it more for not only your own edification, but the rest of the class as well since you presented. I completely agree that this class gave us knowledge that will help us stay ahead of the technological curve. You're completely right that this course gave us resources to, as you put it, keep a finger on the pulse of the industry. This is a very insightful perspective that I hadn't really considered, so thank you.

B6 - Final Blog Post

Reflecting on this course I learned a lot about the technology side of the AEC industry and how I might be able to combine my degree in electrical engineering and my knowledge of coding with my passion for the industry. The handful of presentations from industry professionals demonstrating real life applications of how what we learn in class can be used professionally helped tremendously. I got to different avenues in the industry I could explore outside of the ones I'd bee exposed to on my various co-ops. One of the key aspects of Drexel University as an institution is career development and preparedness and not only did this class help prepare me for a job in the industry but it also highlighted new interests and specialties in the industry.

I enjoyed the assignments given over the course of the class and how modular they were. This allowed students of different levels and experience with these technologies to walk away learning something. It made it so that no assignment was unnecessarily easy and none of them were too difficult to complete. I got to use my Revit knowledge to explore Dynamo deeper which is a tool used my one of my coworkers that I've always wanted to explore further but never had the time to until this course. I also thought the database assignment was incredibly helpful because it was a tool I've never had any kind of exposure to previously but quickly realized the power in it. Microsoft access could be used in a host of applications for management and organization.

These skills are incredibly important considering the future of the industry and the likely increase in Intelligent Building in the industry and I'm glad I got an introduction to them prior to graduating college.


Stephen Preitt
Hi Stephen,

I think it was a great idea to highlight the way that this course can apply to anyone in this industry and not just those that want to focus on BIM or the technology heavy side of the industry. These skills and ideas are important for everyone in the industry. They get a better understanding of the technology that provides the backbone for the industry in the modern world.

Michael Sciarra
Hi Michael,

I very much agreed that the discussions and flow of the class were very helpful in learning the content. Discussions and even blog possts help provide  multiple perspectives and ideas on the same topic. It also helps to see everybody elses backgrounds and interests.

Liam Ossenfort
Liam,

I liked that you touched on the summarization aspect of the final project and the ability to focus more intently on our interests. I think this aspect of the project allowed us to do some self-teaching and self-exploration in a field that we find to be most beneficial to our professional careers.

B6 - Stephen Pettit - Final Blog

This course was very useful for anyone that is focused on pursuing a career in the building industry. This class introduced topics on BIM, AI, Robotics, Sensors, Databases, Interoperability, Networking, and other technological advances. I am currently an Architectural Engineering student pursing building concentration, primarily HVAC. I thought the most interesting aspects of the class was BIM, the introduction to virtual reality, and the use of databases. The dynamo project and database project were very interesting to me, and I enjoyed completing those projects. I often work on Revit a lot at co-op, so it was very helpful to get more experience with it. Learning dynamo was easily my favorite part of the class. When I get the time, I want to learn more in depth how to use dynamo with my Revit projects. Throughout my career, my company and I can both benefit tremendously if I could work more efficiently with Revit projects due to the experience with dynamo.

The database assignment was very helpful for two reasons. The first reason is because it introduced me to variety of different sensors. I enjoyed the fact that I was able to gain more knowledge in engineering instead of generic examples that would be used in the database. The second reason is because I got to learn Microsoft Access. When I become an engineer, I may be able to utilize Access to organize different projects or different aspects of projects.

I think that Intelligent Buildings is going to increase throughout the world, and the building industry is going to thrive from it. It is important to get a sense of this now, because the world is quickly advancing their technology. These elements mentioned above are very important in improving efficiency, sustainability, and cost which essentially is our definition of an intelligent building. I recommend this class to any student that wants to learn more about how technology will affect their careers. This class had multiple different concentrations which shows the variety of careers that Intelligent buildings affect. Like mentioned earlier, this class also gives an introduction to softwares that will be useful to be familiar with in the future careers.

Spencer,

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/03/b6-final-reflections.html

I like your point on how Professor Mitchell gave us small picture solutions to solve big picture solutions. I undervalued that aspect, and realize that smaller solutions really are crucial to solving problems. For example, if there is a large commercial project, there are smaller breakdowns that connect to each other that solves the big picture. I also enjoyed the guest lectures. Each guest lecture gave us true experiences with the intelligent buildings. This gave me a sense of realism on how fast technology is affecting our industry.

Brian,

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/03/reflecting-on-wisdom-gained-from-this.html

I also enjoyed learning more about Revit, and some of its capabilities that I have not experienced before. Revit is a major component in the building industry, and we are definitely going to be using Revit more frequently in the future. The articles were time consuming but they allowed us learn more about useful aspects of the building industry. It keeps us updated on the current problems of the industry and the future of the industry.

Varsha,

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/03/b6-reflection.html

I found your point on the state of the industry is just as important as theoretical science very important. I think that it is very important to be aware of what is going to happen with your industry. Being aware leads to seeking more knowledge, instead of learning something with the uncertainty of how it is going to be applied. This class showed how aspects of the industry will be utilized in my career.

B6 - Course Reflection - Michael Sciarra

Below I will reflect on the events of the course and give my overall reaction. I will also discuss how this course could possibly affect my future in Architectural Engineering and/or architecture. 

I appreciated the flow of the course and being able to give feedback and discuss topics in class. The teamwork option of the final was also very helpful as in my case, it forced me to be more attentive in completing my portions of the project as opposed to procrastinating to the last minute. Because my teammate was depending on me, I was more likely to get my work done ahead of time in order to accommodate eachother’s schedules and availability. I thought the task of commenting on other people’s blog posts was very enlightening. This portion of each blog forced me to view each of these articles from different people’s perspectives. I was able to gather a lot of insight I would have never considered otherwise. 

Elements of this course could be very influential on my career and helpful in adapting to the future of the construction world. The progress made with my experience in Revit has helped me become relatively proficient in navigating through the basic tools and user interface. Making standard blocks and that can be easily edited is extremely useful as they are comparable to variable blocks in autocad which proved to be very useful in the structural firm I served my second year coop with. Also this course made me aware of the vast wealth of BIM softwares which can improve the overall construction and design process. The introduction of so many technology articles was very inspiring and eye opening to the current environment we are working in and the projects from leading professionals. Databases could potentially be useful with highly detailed organization, but I doubt this would be used often. It is still helpful to have databases in one’s toolbox given it is applicable to so many facets. 

I would certainly recommend this class for future students as a professionally elective as I think there is a wide variety of topics discussed in the class with the opportunity to pursue one’s own professional interests in the final without being binded by the restriction of typical finals. 

Varsha:

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/03/b6-reflection.html

You touch on something I feel I did not go into as much detail on and I think it is very important now that you mention it. The comment you make is on the fact that the knowledge of the industry itself is as important as learning the science required to function within it. I agree completely, this is similar to the necessity in high school for curriculums to cover more real life skills for students. Industry knowledge is something that will give us the upper hand. 

Reece:

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/03/reflection-post.html

You’re discussion of the takeaways from this course and how you were able to take away some environmentally cautious practices in the construction sounds super interesting. This takeaway is a testament to the flexibility of this course that allows students of different interests to not be constrained to one specific topic.

Madeleine:

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/03/b6-course-reflection_37.html

I agree with you that I wish this course could have been taken earlier in my career at drexel. This course would have been greatly appreciated in my freshmen or software year in solidifying my specific area of interest within the architectural engineering major.

B6 - Final Reflections

When I signed up for this course I had already had a significant amount of experience with BIM and the use of data in construction. I had done research and had co-op experience utilizing technology to enhance the quality of work and make workflows more efficient. However, this class challenged me to look beyond what I was hoping to interact with for my career in BIM and Virtual Design and Construction. I have been exposed to relational database structures and how the tools that I use everyday rely on their usage. I also learned quite a bit about the use of sensors in a building; a subject that I was vaguely aware of but had never had any real experience with.

The best experience of the class, in my opinion, was the term-long project. I had the time and resources to explore Dynamo and how it could improve the work that I plan to be doing for a career in the near future. I hope to meet with my mentors and supervisors to discuss CRB’s technology and innovation agenda for the next few years. Referencing this class’ project, lecture content, and Evernote files, I see myself being able to make a real, tangible difference at a firm, even at the co-op level.

This class gave me pointers and techniques to look for to improve workflows and stay ahead of the technology curve. I now have more resources to keep a finger on the pulse of the industry and the vocabulary to have meaningful conversations about intelligent buildings. I also enjoyed the industry professional guest lectures. I felt that they all had different perspectives on the use of technology and where the architectural, engineering, and construction industry is heading in terms of innovation. It was helpful to have the opportunity to ask questions about potential careers related to intelligent building and what we can expect to see at the entry-level when we start full time.

I was excited to take this class with Professor Mitchell specifically before he retired. I enjoyed hearing his perspective on Intelligent Buildings based on his previous experience as a professional and then later as a professor. I appreciated his approach to the course where he gave us small picture solutions to big picture applications. The nature of technological innovation is that it is constantly changing and we may not know what to expect, but Mitchell does a great job with giving suggestions on how to keep up or, better yet, to advance the progress.

Comments:
Amanda,
I agree with you. Sometimes the most difficult part of staying ahead of the technology curve is just learning what all is out there. I thought that this class helped me to broaden my scope to a world outside of just Revit and BIM. Hopefully we can find ways to professionally be exposed to new technologies so that we can be the ones advocating for a strong technological agenda.
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Brian,
I loved your comment about how this course is looking beyond the present industry. I thought that was very insightful and I completely agree. So much of our education at Drexel is based around present applications of theories, it was refreshing to be in a course that extrapolated current trends and explored the possibilities of what the future of construction holds.
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Varsha,
If you're interested in more applications of BIM and technology and construction, I highly recommend taking CMGT 375 next winter term (the prereq is CMGT course, but I convinced my advisor to take my INFO 203 course as an equivalent course to get in). Ben Ferrer from Turner Construction is the adjunct professor that teaches it and he goes more in depth about the applications and uses of BIM rather than the functions. It was my first introduction academically to BIM and I haven't looked back since. Great to hear that you've enjoyed the class as well!
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