As we have discussed previously, the modern age architect will require BIM and the best BIMs will require extensive databases. Databases allow for easy access to a vast consolidation of information. Naturally, the more information you have on anything the more accurate the modeling will be. Not only will the model be more accurate in color, shape, dimensions and obvious physical properties but databases can hold information on the chemical and less obvious physical properties like the durability and vulnerableness to corrosion. So in an office place databases will allow for ease of access to all the information necessary for a project. If you want to calculate the efficiency of a building before building it, you need the installation ratings of all the doors, walls and windows, you need the information on the efficiency of the HVAC systems, and any natural factors like window direction, the surrounding climate, and so many other factors. In order for that to be possible without hundreds to thousands of hours of inputting unique data databases allow for all the data to be accessible. A consulting firm may reuse the same type of walls, windows, and doors for their projects and once the database has the necessary ratings and attributes to create accurate modeling it will be automatically applied to the BIM without that unique data having to be inputted.
Depending on the scale of the design office databases has different effects. For the smaller design offices, databases are huge for keeping up with modern technology. Since databases can be publicly shared they can receive information on the attributes of their materials without conducting the research themselves. This type of data that can be received in databases is necessary for BIM to function. For larger companies, entire departments can be dedicated to inputting ratings, on their products into databases. The more information in the database the more powerful the database. This not only benefits the company's BIM but also can be profitable if the data is shared.
Morris, Katherine C., and Mary Mitchell. DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN ENGINEERING. pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0b4d/343ae05de71e7addb704a1b7b7130f8623da.pdf.
Isabel,
Understanding SQL and implementing well organized and easy to used SQLs is essential to the future of databases. More and more data is being obtained and processed to get more accurate models and predictions but in order for all that information to be useful, it needs to be understood. I think you outline that aspect very well.
Varsha,
I really like your point about record keeping. I had mainly been thinking about creating more accurate representations of anything with more data attributed to a design, but record-keeping is also a huge benefit. Poor documentation keeping track of work for future employees or even yourself to follow is tough. During one f my projects for COOP I was asked to write a log in Microsoft word and there were so many moving parts and information available that it was hard to make sure everything was covered. With a database recording, this type of information for you and processing it to make sense will make a permanent revision history for people to look back on.
Manon,
You have a good point about filtering unwanted data out. Obviously, more data is better and creates a more accurate report/simulation/etc. but some data is irrelevant to a specific study. Being able to filter the data and have a clear focus with important data is just as important to have accurate results.
Isabel,
Understanding SQL and implementing well organized and easy to used SQLs is essential to the future of databases. More and more data is being obtained and processed to get more accurate models and predictions but in order for all that information to be useful, it needs to be understood. I think you outline that aspect very well.
Varsha,
I really like your point about record keeping. I had mainly been thinking about creating more accurate representations of anything with more data attributed to a design, but record-keeping is also a huge benefit. Poor documentation keeping track of work for future employees or even yourself to follow is tough. During one f my projects for COOP I was asked to write a log in Microsoft word and there were so many moving parts and information available that it was hard to make sure everything was covered. With a database recording, this type of information for you and processing it to make sense will make a permanent revision history for people to look back on.
Manon,
You have a good point about filtering unwanted data out. Obviously, more data is better and creates a more accurate report/simulation/etc. but some data is irrelevant to a specific study. Being able to filter the data and have a clear focus with important data is just as important to have accurate results.
3 comments:
Jake,
Interesting that you directly related databases to BIM, and I do believe that it is true that the more information about a building, the bigger the database, and the more accurate the project model would be. However, hopefully most if not all design will become cloud based very soon so that there will not need to be a server database room in every office and instead in can be put into the cloud. Finally, I believe there are more ways databases impact construction field other than just BIM.
Jake,
You brought up some really interesting and thought-provoking points. Although the beginning of any design/construction process has always been sitting down at the drawing board to generate ideas, the evolution of BIM and its database capabilities have revolutionized that process. Although we still begin at the same principle, we now have the option to make a thorough virtual model with every tiny detail input in it - thereby creating the whole building first virtually, and only then proceeding to physically build it. When weighed against the safety and efficiency guaranteed by the model, the hours spent making the virtual building are worth it.
Jake,
I found your post very interesting because I currently work for a MEP form for the mechanical department, and I design ductwork/piping on Revit. Databases will help me in the future when I get more involved in the engineering aspects. Dynamo is a perfect example on how it can extract information from the BIM server Revit to minimize time spent on digging information. For this assignment, I research SQL which is a coding program that is used on databases. The SQL allows you to organize the data in large databases like you described.
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