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.

Abdul - B1 (Robotic - AI - 3D Printing - Future)

The future of robotics in construction

Innovation is a step by step process assuming control over development; and so, it changes the manner in which a project is completed. It is normal that the requirement for physical work will be fundamentally diminished sooner rather than later, as a lot of work will be directed naturally by technology. Robots can offer incredible assistance in projects that require accuracy and speed. On top of that, they can easily overcome issues on the site that are linked to human strength limitations or physical weariness.

Starting from the advantages of using robots in construction and development, it's no misrepresentation to state that they can transform the industry into a great extent: fewer errors on projects, lower cost for the construction procedure, protection of the workforce, improvement of the industry’s profile, construction of better quality and meeting deadlines.

Site: https://youtu.be/nKGGHdl3NyQ

Source:  "Construction Robots Will Change The Industry Forever". Robotics Online, 2020, https://www.robotics.org/blog-article.cfm/

The Future of AI and Smart Buildings.

Artificial intelligence can help reduce construction costs in many ways. For instance, the utilization of computer-generated reality goggles and robots for structures under construction can track the work as it progresses. AI is also being utilized today to design the routing of electrical and plumbing systems in modern buildings. Additionally, artificial intelligence is beneficial for the development of safety systems at work sites, which reduces the risks of hazards and accidents.

Artificial intelligence is expected to reduce the human workforce, reduce expensively errors, reduce worksite injuries and make building operations more productive. The technology is also being used by many firms to pursue the real-time interactions of machinery, workers, and objects on the site and alert the supervisors of potential safety issues, productivity issues, and construction errors. 

Source: https://www.se.com/ww/en/work/insights/future-energy-efficient-buildings.jsp.

The Growth of 3D Printing in Construction

It’s a well-known fact that technology is changing our lives consistently. Over the last century, air travel, the combustion engine, electric enlistment engines, PCs, iPhones, and more have radically changed our way of life.

As a few of us simply start to embrace these technologies (some slower than others), specialists, engineers, and designers are continually anticipating the following the best thing.

At the present time, we are on the way to another extreme technological inventive period that is now affecting medicinal services, transportation, food, and customer merchandise. What I’m referring to is 3D Printing.

3D printing has been a major buzz term over the previous decade. In spite of the fact that it was first created for item prototyping purposes, 3D printing innovation has progressed to being a key player in a variety of industries.

While unmistakably, 3D printing innovation has been useful in the medicinal, aviation and instrument-making fields since its beginning, there's one other field that is ready for its use: the construction sector. With 3D printers now equipped for printing and building walls, as well as preparing concrete, this innovation could help reshape construction forever.

Source:  "3D Printing Construction Market Analysis | Recent Market Developments 2020, https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/3d-printing-construction-market-html.

Future

Not since the start of the Industrial Revolution have the possibilities for building and innovation been so splendid. To a great extent, we live in a man-made world. Mostly everything we use and create for our society is largely results of the design industry. And, the rest of the world is affected by this now and in the future.

Globalization of world economies, by advancement of exchange and business, is making an international division of work among countries. At last, everything in trade will either be crude materials (developed or mined through designed innovations), made items, or administrations connected to global frameworks. Indeed, even those parts of human industry that are nearest to a natural state, horticulture and creature cultivation, are progressively technologized. Their rising efficiency relies on designed frameworks.

As our built world moves to a multifaceted nature, to a great extent unforeseen in the early and mid periods of the modern time, building itself is getting progressively more detailed. In turn, future designers and engineers are going to see themselves connected to a very complex world.

The future of robots and man-made consciousness (AI) are being utilized to analyze job progress with continuous and significant information to improve profitability. Independent automatons are outfitted with top quality cameras to photograph and sweep the building site every day with pinpoint precision. Artificial intelligence at that point utilizes those sweeps to look at BIM models, 3D printing, development schedules, and gauges to review the nature of the work performed and to decide how a lot of progress has been made every day. This is the future of engineering.

Source: Jones, Kendall. "How Technology Is Reshaping The Construction Industry". Constructconnect.Com, 2020, https://www.constructconnect.com/blog/technology-reshaping-construction-industry.

Comments:

Ina Sison (link): I find it interesting what you wrote about AI. AI is something to watch out for, especially in light of engineering and job loss. However, the potential for engineers to collaborate with AI to construct and create could open many doors to the future for development.

Manon Flamini (link): From my own experience as an architectural engineer, I think the concept of a company like roOomy is really valuable for the future of design and construction. It makes me excited to enter this field knowing that I will be able to collaborate with technology like this.

Isabel Brooks (link): Your last paragraph is really powerful. I think efficiency and practicality are often overlooked, especially the latter in regard to this kind of technology. Moreover, you note the importance of form and function in your blog, which I also think can be overlooked in this industry. The form must follow function and I think sometimes we get so caught up in a design that we forget about this.

Reece Masucci - First Post

My name is Reece Masucci, I am a Junior and I study Architectural Engineering. My background relevant to the course is I am familiar with the way the professor works, but he can always throw a curve-ball at us. When thinking about the term 'Intelligent Building' I have little to no experience with the phrase.

My expectations for the course: I am expecting to learn more about computer technologies, such as BIM tools as well as getting an exposure to tools like Blogger and Evernote. I have yet to use either of these websites, so I am excited to jump into them. I have been exposed to a blog structured class before, but we did not use Blogger.

The Evernote I found most interesting fell under the Sociology tag, titled 'What will the future of work look like?' It talked about the amount of people that would need to worry about finding a new job by 2030 due to Artificial Intelligence. Low skilled and low paying jobs are the ones expected to be hit the hardest. Up to 375 million people may need to change their career. This idea now includes the fact that machines could be programmed to make more machines that replace jobs.

My initial definition of an Intelligent Building is a structure that takes efficiency and functionality into consideration while automatically operating some of the buildings functions.

Alqudaihi's Post

background relevant to Intelligent Building

Hi,

My name is Douha Alqudaihi. I'm an AE/digital buildings senior student.

Background:

I'm an AutoCAD person. I had a slight experience with Revit. 

Expectation:

This course is relating us to real nowadays life. Now we need to know how to reach people. Newspapers are old. Social media and websites are what people need, so making blogs could help me in my future business. In addition, I'm expecting to learn more about technology in the construction field. Need to learn more about Revit.

The evernote note that I found more interesting was about AI. The note illustrated how AI is important in our education systems. A teacher was commenting that her students loved her class because she uses modern eduction methods like online classes. I was doing some researches about the education systems and how important theses old systems need to be changed and developed. When reading this note I can relate that to my point which is changing the school's system.

Initial definition:

Intelligent building: These buildings which are modern not especially in the design, but modern in the technology that is used in the building to serve the occupants like HVAC, lighting, network systems.  Buildings which are environmentally friendly.  In addition to taking (Sustainability) into account.