B6: Course Reflection

Before taking this class, I was only slightly familiar with the various technologies and programs that can be used in the engineering, design, and construction fields. My awareness of these tools stemmed from the exposure I’ve had with BIM interfaces like Revit, as well as the common knowledge I had in regards to robotics, AI, and sensors. I really feel as though this class benefited my general understanding of the abilities we as an industry have at our fingertips and showed how these increasingly incredible advancements impact the work we do daily. I think the most beneficial aspect of the course for me was the exposure to more BIM programs and how they can be integrated into the work of any trades in the field. The main goal I have as I near my entrance into working in as an engineer is to design sustainable and green buildings, which can be greatly benefited by the use of various BIM interfaces. This topic ended up being a common point of discussion for my project group, which ultimately led to our discussion of BIM advancements on sustainable design. At first, I wasn’t too sure how these programs could influence me as a structural engineer, as it is very easy to see the impact programs like eQUEST have on MEP engineers and their work. However, after further exposure to innovative ideas in this class, I think these programs can be beneficial for structural engineers for a multitude of reasons. The first idea, which I discussed in the database reflection, is how the use of relational databases and Dynamo can help with the organization of structural components of design for various buildings or projects. This can potentially eliminate change orders that result in the redesign, manufacturing, and production of structural elements. This concept ties into the second major impact on structural design, which is the use of these BIM programs to efficiently design the structural systems. Interfaces like Athena Impact Estimator allow for the measuring of the energy usage of structural materials from production to demolition, ultimately providing an analysis on the environmental impact each stage of the structural design of a project has. This class has exposed me to certain technologies and allowed for me to explore different ones, like Athena, that pertain to my future in the field, and I hope it isn’t the last time I experience them and I can continue to use the knowledge I gained through this class to grow as an engineer and make a difference, specifically in terms of making energy efficiency and sustainability concepts that are evaluated more thoroughly throughout structural design.

Comments:

Mika,

I completely agree with everything you said. I was unsure about what the course would cover at first, but knew we’d be learning a lot with Professor Mitchell. I wasn’t sure how our futures would be linked to some of the information taught, but this class really made it easy to understand the importance of integrating technology into what we do, especially as the industry grows.

Isabel,

I really enjoyed reading your reflection, especially given your perspective of someone outside of the major. Like you mentioned, the different types of assignments allowed us to be exposed to all sorts of applications that go beyond one specific major. Ultimately, I think this course is a great way to tie everything together and expose people with different backgrounds and experiences to things we’ll all use in some capacity in the future.

Ina,

I completely agree with your post, especially in regards to how AE 410 allows us to stay up to date on the technology used in our field. I particularly enjoyed learning about the use of robots and drones throughout the construction process, and it’s definitely something we should become familiar with given that they’ll become more prevalent as the industry continues to advance.