Blog 7 - Course Reflection - Jianfeng Xiao

I am really enjoy taking this class because it provides me an understanding of how smart technologies can improve building performance. Unlike other calculation base class, this class requires more on reading and thinking. During the term, we need to read various topics about technologies, then we will think about their development and application. This experience is rarely in my previous class but is very common and helpful in this class.

Before taking this class, I have limited knowledge of what is intelligent and green building. As a Digital Building concentration, I am taking this class because this is a required class. But after nine weeks of study, I think this class is interesting and is very worth to take. This class covers many topics like BIM, database, AI and sensors. At the first few weeks, we just learned some basic theory for these topics. I was a little confused on how to apply them at the beginning. Later, we had used Revit to generate the BIM model, and had used Access to create the database. These practical exercise help to strength my understanding of how to apply these theory to real exercise. My favorite part of this class is the final project because we can choose the topic we want to search on. I and my partner Mario Amisial choose to compare the Intelligent building and green building. This project allows me to search on different application aspects of intelligent and green building and their future. I think this class provide me the basic understanding of BIM that will still be helpful in my future professional career. The application of BIM is becoming more and more important in the construction and design industry. BIM allows to create the 3D model as in the real site and provides the monitoring and management system for later maintenance.

Overall, I am very happy that I had take this class. This class is just a start for me to see the current and future industry. It allows me to have many new understanding of technologies used in future industry, which will be helpful in my future career.  

Thomas Sisson Comments:

Thomas,

Your reflection is interesting. I agree with you that BIM will have great impact on future industry. As the job example you present, more company will require to use BIM tools to analyze the structure elements or building system. The learning in this class provides us a basic understanding of how to apply BIM tools used, which will be helpful in future career. Great post.

Allison Abad Comments:

Allison,

Your post is very accurate and interesting. The database is also a challenge for me.  I agree with you that the guest speakers are very helpful. They provide us the real experience in their industries. These experiences give us a professional view point and allows us to think about the application of different tools used in their industries and if we want to join that industry in the future.

Brad DiGiovanni Comments:

Brad,

Your reflection is interesting. I agree with you that this class is slow path. It is more like a reading and thinking class. We had read a lot topic about the technologies and their application. Also, we had learned about the use of BIM tools and database. This class really provide us a basic understand of future technologies and their application in future industries.