Database
I think data is the real asset of an organization. We will most likely interact heavily with databases during our professional career. Core database concepts and practices are extremely durable, and are likely to serve us for years to come. So, a collection of related data organized for easy storage and retrieval in electronic form will dramatically increase the efficiency of processing and understanding them. Almost any construction firm or other company in this field of appreciable complexity has information management requirements that are hard to satisfy without using a database. Since construction process always involve multiple companies working together from different aspects, the arrangement of database allows a number of different kinds of applications to work with the same set of data. Database can also ensure that the data must always meet certain conditions, such as ‘the span can’t be entered twice,’ regardless of the measurement manipulating it. We can also get the benefits of its security and concurrency. We can control who is authorized to manipulate what and govern what types of activities can take place at the same time. A database can also prevent data loss since it has the character of backup and disaster recovery. The most important thing is it can present different users with customized views of the same data. For example, each of your subcontractors will only have access to the data you want them to read. This can avoid wrangling and protect your trade secret in some degree.
I think data is the real asset of an organization. We will most likely interact heavily with databases during our professional career. Core database concepts and practices are extremely durable, and are likely to serve us for years to come. So, a collection of related data organized for easy storage and retrieval in electronic form will dramatically increase the efficiency of processing and understanding them. Almost any construction firm or other company in this field of appreciable complexity has information management requirements that are hard to satisfy without using a database. Since construction process always involve multiple companies working together from different aspects, the arrangement of database allows a number of different kinds of applications to work with the same set of data. Database can also ensure that the data must always meet certain conditions, such as ‘the span can’t be entered twice,’ regardless of the measurement manipulating it. We can also get the benefits of its security and concurrency. We can control who is authorized to manipulate what and govern what types of activities can take place at the same time. A database can also prevent data loss since it has the character of backup and disaster recovery. The most important thing is it can present different users with customized views of the same data. For example, each of your subcontractors will only have access to the data you want them to read. This can avoid wrangling and protect your trade secret in some degree.
I want to share an experience as the
support of my above opinions. I was working for a small energy company for my
first co-op cycle. Their duty is to re-design old structure's HVAC
(heating, cooling and ventilating) system. I was involved in both field work
and engineering design process. Their data managing techniques are relatively
primary. They are collecting data from site investigation manually and I have
to spend two hours per day for inputting them into computer. They do not
process raw data before modeling or designing even though it is easy to be done
on excel. I always need to convert units of the data for different design
purpose. There are thousands of folders on their server and it always
consumes a lot of time to find the proper one. These make their working
efficiency lower than it should be. If they have a database that can
perform all of the advantages as discussed in the first paragraph, their
business will grow a lot faster and their work quality will increase a lot.
Comments:
Uses of databases in design offices
Shaden
We were doing the same topic. I am more focusing on database’s
advantages while you made good efforts on illustrating the functions of database.
You made a comparison between excel and database. This is really helpful to me since
these two are having similar format and I sometimes confused about them.
SQL – What is it and why is it important?
Thomas
This is an informative and interesting post. I have only
heard of database but I never know that there is a thing playing key roles
interacting with elements in a database. I am taking a construction management
course and I am taught to use Procore. It is an online software that the architect,
engineer, GCs, owners can share and modify data. I think this platform is a
good example of SQL. You can take a look of it if you are interested.
Object Oriented Database
Sherry
Shuyuan,
ReplyDeleteYou made a very good point about the subcontractors only getting the information they need for the project. With all of the design typically coming in one package, it can be difficult to sort through all the disciplines to find what specific contractors may need. With databases, it is easy to sort the data out into different categories. This allows all plumbing aspects to go to the plumber, all electrical aspects to the electrician, etc. This saves time and effort typically for the contractor. The general contractor still needs to make sure everything is coordinated correctly, this may not be as necessary for the subs. If the information can move more easily, the project typically moves smoother and faster.