Reflection

As I look back on what I learned in this course the two main topics I feel will apply to me the most are the BIM and Database topics. I am pursuing more of a career in the construction industry and it is almost a staple in and General Contracting company is to have a Revit model. The Revit model helps the general contractor to estimate, detect any problems with the plans easier, and to also show the owner a pretty picture of their building. This helps streamline the process once the model is built in Revit. Building a model in Revit can take anywhere from a few days to over a month depending on the size of the building. I have worked for a civil construction company that uses Agtek and Sketchup to model the various projects like large sites with a lot of earthwork or bridges to help with estimation. What these programs also do is allow for the contractor to see where the cut and fills are on the site, and also show the owner that “this is a big problem” or this is how you can fix it easily. I find that programs that are able to model the project are very beneficial in the construction industry as it allows both the contractor to see the finished product and to also show the owner what it will look like once completed.

The other topic that I found interesting is the database topic and the assignment that went with the topic. When I was completing the project I kept thinking of how this may or may not relate to my previous co-op positions and how they may utilize it in their everyday work. The one way in which I found this may be helpful in a contractor’s company is to have a relational database about all of their subcontractors. Being able to go into on place and find a subcontractor based on the work they do is very beneficial. The company I worked for was using an excel spreadsheet which made it somewhat difficult at times to find the contractor you were looking for. A database of all of these contractors would help with the estimation process. Another database I think would be beneficial to have is one that stores all of the information from previous jobs and how they long each activity took. This helps ensure the estimator allows for enough time for its company to finish the activity. This is important because if he does not estimate the project properly the company could lose a lot of money. The entire goal of any project is to make as much money as possible.

COMMENTS:

Jacob Wahbleh

I think that BIM is and will become a bigger impact on our industry. I believe that every company I interviewed for asked about the various programs I have used in my time here at Drexel. These companies are aware of where the industry is going and they want to invest in those students who know how to model the buildings, bridges, site, etc. so that they can see it and show it to the owner.

Andrew Maita

I like you signed up for AE 410 for the reason that it could count as a Technical Elective for one of majors. I had also heard from others that it was an interesting class and many recommended it to me. This put into perspective the various technologies that are already in place in the industry that I had not realized until taking this course. Reflecting on my co-ops I am able to see these technologies at work and the potential for them all.

Mark Odorizzi

You bring up the interesting point that having more knowledge in new technologies could and most likely will set you apart from other potential candidates. I believe employers are looking for employees that are able to learn new technologies quickly or have that knowledge already because we are currently in a transition period where our industry is catching up on all the technology out there. Companies are investing in this industry and creating specific departments within to deal with and implement these technologies such as BIM or a generic modeling division.

Dee Dee Strohl - Blog 7

Final Reflection

Like a lot of my classmates have said, AE 410 was like no other class I have taken at Drexel. It covered topics I was only briefly introduced to and allowed me to explore them further. The class was interesting and relevant to my major without being computation based. Though geared towards the digital building concentration, I still found it helpful as a mechanical concentration—especially with the discussion of sensors and BAS. Spending several weeks talking about topics allowed for a well-rounded discussion of them.  The class structure allowed you to learn a lot about the subjects, present what you’d learned, and discuss with your classmates. I liked that we had time to discuss with our groups and work with others for the final project. It’d made the class more interactive and expanded my knowledge by using my classmates as resources.

The discussion of robots and AI was something I had only briefly learned about. Though incredibly interesting, I also find it worrisome. Robots and AI are such a powerful tool and we need to be cautious with how we use it. Though I already used Revit and other BIM software in other classes and at co-op, I had no experience with databases. That portion of the class was entirely new to me and gave me a perspective as to how they work and where they would be useful. With both BIM and databases, the class gave everyone a basic understanding that could be transferred into our classroom and other future experiences.

Not only is Professor Mitchell a wealth of knowledge, bringing in guest presenters to show their experiences with the topics was also helpful. It was cool to hear how this software impacts their jobs and where they see the future of the technology going. One point that I saw as a theme in the class is that this technology is ever-changing and that we need to be prepared to learn with those changes. Keeping that idea in mind while finishing up at Drexel and moving on to a career will be critical. Though the powers of Revit and BIM in general are amazing, it’s only a quick stop in the timeline of the technology—it will continue to expand in capabilities and user understanding.

Overall, I learned a lot in the class and looked at topics I was not familiar with. I was able to connect with my classmates through discussions and use them as resources in understanding what we were learning about the technology and the application of them. I initially took the class to check off part of the professional elective requirement, but ended up seeing how relevant it is in the design and construction fields today.

COMMENTS:

Allison Abad:

I agree that this class was a nice break from the computation-based classes we usually see as engineers, it was a nice way to see a different aspect of the field and hear from people already in the industry. Like you, the database was a challenge for me but was practical for our majors. The class was geared towards digital building concentrations, but it was still interesting and insightful as a mechanical concentration.

Brad DiGiovanni:

I agree that the class schedule was nice—we were able to take a couple weeks to dive into each topic. Prof. Mitchell is very knowledgeable in these topics and did a great job of spreading that knowledge to us. I agree that the class did open our minds to the ever-changing technology of our society, though it worries me. We must embrace the changes or be left behind, but if technology goes too far, we could be in trouble.

Lauren Kujawa:

Like you, I’m unsure how often I will use the database knowledge we learned in this class, but all the topics we discussed were interesting and could become relevant to our jobs as time progresses. Andrew and I also wrote our paper on the differences between green and intelligent buildings. I also have learned about green buildings from other classes so seeing the intelligent building side was a positive change.

Quelly Wk 10-1: B7, Reflection

B7: Reflection

Reflect on course and its effect on your profession and your future

My experience in this class was mixed; and I say that acknowledging that I am taking this class concurrently with other classes that have lead me to my current head-space. I am not passionate about architectural engineering. What I am passionate can be summed up with a couple of observations,

B7 Course Reflection

Taking intelligent building has been an interesting choice for me this term; walking in into the course, I did not know what to expect because the concept of intelligent building was somehow new to me. As we started to get into the weekly subjects, the knowledge that I have gained during this term have influenced my area of interest for future career goals and studies.

For instance, with the various assignments, I was able to first learn more about blogs, and database which was at the time a concept that I was studying, and it was presented in a different view that had allowed me to understand better what I am studying in a different course. Then, the couple assignments on Microsoft Access had given me the basics that I need to further use this program because even though I have use it extensively before, the concepts behind the relationships among the tables were new and challenging at first. Also, during the research for my final project, I was able to gain more knowledge on green building and intelligent building.

Prior to this course, I had never thought of sensors and robotics as tools that would impact greatly the construction industry, and known that intelligent building is a dynamic and responsive architecture that provides every occupant with productive, cost-effective and environmentally approved conditions through a continuous interaction among its basic elements: places (fabric; structure; facilities); process (automation; control; systems); people (services; users) and management (maintenance; performance) and the interrelation between them.” (Architectural Science Review, Volume 59, 2016, Issue 5), or green building involves the creation of structures using processes that are environmental friendly and efficient throughout a building life’s cycle such as siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and deconstruction, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Overall, I would say that I have truly enjoyed this course, and the way many subjects were introduced during the lecture; This process makes the time worthwhile and has increased my curiosity about multiple subjects within the construction industry. I can wait to use some of the concepts that I have learned in this course, and I am looking forward to see how the evolution of technology would influence this course and the future of our industry.

Comments:

Malik,

I like your approach about the course reflection; first I agree with you by saying that most of us had different opinions about the course, and our expectations were totally outside of the scope of the course. Also, your opinion about the weekly blog posts is well-expressed because every student had posted something unique every week which makes it interesting to read about the many subjects covered in class.

Alyssia,

It was interesting that you have mentioned the many technological concepts  learned during this course, and your opinions about the classroom and some of the things that we could improve in this course is truly appreciated.

Johnson,

Most of us would agree about your opinions on this course; it is true that the class is a reflection of one’s work, time, and effort. I found your final project interesting, and the correlation that you have drawn between this course, the construction industry and the future is worth looking into.

B7 - Course Reflection

AE410: Intelligent buildings taught by Dr. James Mitchell looked at the building industry and how it is changing with technological advancements. Goal of the course was to enable students with an understanding of the impact technologies could have in their professional careers. More specifically class explored Information technology aspects of a buildings life cycle with includes design to demolition. Students learnt about BIM (Building information modelling), Database operations and networks. Class tasked students with reading and discussing scholarly articles with the aid of blog posts as well as taking an in depth look at a specific branch of intelligent buildings by taking on a project or writing a paper.

Personally, the class was a lot different than I imagined, I expected technical outlook on intelligent technologies and how they impact the building i.e. Electrical consumption, implementation and installation. However, I got more than I intended. Class looked at the topic from a broader aspect, by questioning what it means for a building to be intelligent, looking at intelligent technologies before construction started and the possible future of intelligent technologies in the architect, engineer, and contractor industry.

Weekly blogposts were efficient in the sense that each student was not reporting on the exact same topic or was looking at the same topic from a different approach or angle. This allowed us to learn from each other and provided avenues to learn more: We covered more content in this way.. Projects assigned during class duration were well guided by professor. Database and Bookcase projects required preliminary submissions which allowed professor to make comments and give feedback on how to better develop final submission for effective learning process. Submissions also required a writing component to them which required students to report their findings and difficulties. This allowed student reflection for a better learning process and also give course instructor feedback on how to better structure projects for future students taking the class.

Final project required in depth technical research typical of a 400 level engineering class. This charged students with picking a desired topic and seeing it through. A great deal was learnt in this manner and presentation allows students to bounce ideas of each other. In general AE 410 is a really efficient and effective class. Being a Civil engineering the tools picked up from class will definitely come into play in my professional career.

Comments:
Shaden - I like that you enjoyed the futuristic outlook on the AEC industry. i was more fixated on the pre design and pre construction applications. I do liked that we also looked at Artificial intelligence and how it could play in the future, i would previously not have agreed it had any impact on the AEC industry. I to do not think i would have found myself looking at Microsoft access if not for this class.

Cody Johnson - I like that this class has had an impact on your career goals and objectives. I myself briefly considered gearing my career goals to be in line with Building information modeling if i decided to take the general contractor route. Access was also new and eye opening, if not for this class i am not sure i would have explored databases.

Jacob Wahbeh - I like that you pointed out the connotation of the AEC industry to be old without technological advancements. I who i am a member of the industry also in some sense thought this way. This class has more than shown me that that is not the case. It in facts uses technological advancements from pre design to construction.

Reflection Blog, Shuyuan Zhang

My feeling to this class is it is different from other classes I am taking or took after junior level. Most of the classes for seniors and juniors are introducing solid techniques. They are more focusing on understanding, memorizing and practicing. But AE-410 is designed as a class of thinking. I feel that your role for this class is more about leading our thoughts instead of telling us what or how to do. With this approach, I feel more comfortable with these topics and find my interests on some of the topics. I am also gaining a general idea view of the structure of intelligent building. I believe if we approach these topic in the other way, we will start with knowing some specific parts of intelligent building well and then compose these parts together to have an overall view of the field. But the problem is we have to dig deep enough of those parts before we get there. So personally speaking, the design of this class is more beneficial to me at least in the current stage. Other than the general thing discussed above, I learned new knowledge from different perspective from different assignments of this class. I will talk about them in the sequence and as the section we did during the last ten weeks.

1.       BIM

Before I took this class, I think BIM is a nice tool and becoming popular in this field. But I didn’t know that it is already the basic skill for new generation of civil engineers. After taking the guest lecturer’s presentation, I reconsidered its value and importance and decided to dig further about it.

For your assignment, I started with following your video tutorial to create a model in Revit as a no-experienced user of this software. Everything for this assignment is new to me. I have to watch a lot of videos on YouTube and I explored some of the tools that does not shown on the assignment requirements. Although this assignment was hard for me, I gained valuable experience and knowledge from it and I regard this as a good start.

2.       Database

Kind of similar to BIM, I knew it is useful but I didn’t realize how useful it is. We can expect in the near future; every part of the whole civilization will have their own database and these databases are dependent on and joint to each other. This also means knowing these knowledges will benefit to my career.

For the database assignment, as I mentioned in database experience essay, it helped me understand theory I am learning from INFO 210 and I found some of the tools are so helpful that can achieve some functions are impossible or extremely hard to be done in Oracle SQL developer. I can learn more by knowing both of the procedural (SQL) and non-procedural (Access) database development tools.

Comments

1.       Jianfeng Xiao

I agree with you that this class is a good experience that we rarely have from previous class. I also believe that the combination of introducing theory and practicing makes us understand the topic easily. We have the same feeling about the increasing of the importance of BIM as well.

2.       Marino

I am taking INFO 210 as you as well. I agree when you say that the database assignment deeper our understanding in database relationship between 1 to many better. This is exactly how I felt in my reflection paper.

3.       Thomas

Your attitude to database is interesting. I kind of having the same feeling for BIM. I hope I could steer away from it for the rest of my life. But I don’t think it is possible for me to do it as a civil engineer.

B7 - Course Reflection

This class has been really enjoyable and has been one of my favorite classes that I've taken this year! Being a Digital Building concentration, I feel like this class was a great way to see the different things I could do or be able to do in the future. This class was a really great break from the typical engineering classes that I've taken that are calculation based, and looked to where engineering is going with the advancements in technology. My particular favorite aspect of the class was all the different speakers that came in from the industry. I find that bringing in speakers is a great way to relate what we're learning in the classroom to the real world, and it's also a great way to network with engineering professionals. I also really liked how each lecture introduced new and emerging software that is slowly being adopted by the industry, and how they can affect how the industry

The database aspect of the class was an interesting challenge for me. Since I've taken INFO 210 before this class, there were a few aspects that I had a good handle on. However, since that class was more of an introduction to databases, this class allowed me to use it a way that is relevant to buildings and engineering.

This class has greatly affected my profession and my future as a graduating engineering student. The speakers that were brought in were very insightful and gave me so many different ideas for what I can do after I graduate. I was always very interested in BIM since I started here at Drexel, so I was looking forward to when the speaker on the topic would come in. Derek spoke about how Revit is currently being used to bring the construction industry into the modern era by using the software for clash detection and visual design and construction of buildings. His academic background was similar to mine, so I was really interested to learn that this was one of the options I could have once I graduated.

I am very happy that this was one of my required classes. I've gotten to learn about so many different technologies that are being used to revolutionize the engineering and construction industry. As a Digital Building concentration, I felt that this class was the first to be relevant to what I want to do, and I'm sure I'll be able to use this knowledge in the future.

Comments
Joshua L,
I agree with you that this class has been very focused for those of us who are digital building concentrations. I think that many people don't really know what that entails, myself included. In fact, even my advisor didn't know what it was when I asked. I feel that this class was a great way to define what digital building means and how it can impact the industry. I definitely think that this class helped mold what I thought I would be able to do in the future.

Thomas S,
It's really interesting to hear another perspective on databases from people who aren't in the digital building concentration track. Understandably, learning and using databases is probably not something you would end up using in the future. I did really like how you mentioned how BIM would affect what you do in the future. I had almost forgotten about Dynamo, I agree with you and think that this software is only going to get more important throughout the design and construction process of a building.

Brad G,
I agree with you that a lot of our early engineering classes mentioned technologies that were so futuristic and irrelevant in our industry today. I think this class was especially beneficial for introducing the different technologies that are being used right now and how we can learn to use them to be better prepared when we graduate. The practical way that Prof. Mitchell has set up the course was the best way to broaden our knowledge of these topics.

Thomas Sisson - Final Reflection

Final Reflection:

This class has been among one of my favorites in terms of how it has gone about addressing and discussing the various topics revolving around intelligent buildings. Although I am a structural concentration AE, and this class was more of a professional elective than a requirement, I still found myself really reflecting on some of the construction aspects of course. Specifically, I found the automated construction and artificial intelligence to be incredibly interesting because it has always been my assumption that robots will take over the entire building industry. Every part of the building process, excluding the actual artistic design, can easily be replaced by procedural design using what an AI program has learned from past designs and building codes. Even construction could theoretically be done by robots, although for a while it seems these robots will still need to be heavily aided by human controls.

The database portion of the class was less my speed, but this is mostly related to the fact that I have barely touched databases in my professional and academic life and don't plan on using them in any major capacity in the future. Whether this changes in the future is uncertain, but I will do everything in my power to steer away from it.

As far as what I feel will impact my profession and my future, I definitely feel that BIM will continue to have a profound impact on everything that I do. My current job description is pretty much all Revit modeling, with a specific focus on the structural elements of the building. As BIM progresses and structural analysis becomes more widely adopted in the same program I feel that will start to creep its way into my workload. Even Dynamo, which we had discussed briefly, could also find its way into my job by starting to auto-size beams, check for errors, and perhaps even lay out the structural framing grid automatically.

In summary, I greatly enjoyed this class and feel that it could be an important class for all concentrations of AE simply because it breaks away from the bare calculations and engineering of the building, and starts to progress into thinking about the future of the industry. Getting a head start on the industry could even lead to much better job prospects and a more successful future. As for me, I believe that it will do just that.

Comments:

Joshua L: 
I enjoyed how you discussed the group in class discussions. I had almost forgotten them, but they did increase the value of some of the lessons we learned in class. I really liked hearing the opinions of those in my group and really brainstorming what the future holds for some of the technologies discussed in class. One of my favorite discussions was after the video of the building going up in 3 (?) days. I believe we were discussing how all of our jobs were probably going to be taken over by robots, but we still had optimistic outlooks for what that actually means. I agree that this class was very broad in spectrum, but in a way it guided us to explore any one specific topic further if we so choose, which is something I will be doing as far as AI and automation goes.

Allison A:
I had almost forgotten about the speakers, but this was by far one of the best aspects of this class. Being able to see the viewpoint of different people within the industry, whether or not they agreed with Professor Mitchell, was eye opening. It is always great to break away from pure academia for a moment and get a more practical, professional point of view. I can see how this class would be incredibly beneficial to digital building concentrations, but I hope that the class transcends this to be a suggested, if not required, class for all architectural engineers.

Brad D:
Generally you are right, the class did not feel rushed at all. Some projects did come up fast, but all in all the material itself was always fresh and new, but never under-covered. I think this was possible for the class because rather than teach each topic, Professor Mitchell gave just enough to drive discussion and further research. I think this really allowed us to almost choose what we wanted to get out of the class and pursue further in our studies. I totally agree that this was the best way to take this class, and Professor Mitchell was the best person to teach it. The ability to have a better idea of how technology progresses by being there for its progression has given another level to the content of the course. I really hope his predictions are correct as far as BIM and AI taking over the industry, because they are topics that I would love to get more into and become more of an expert on.