Group A Week 9 Story Post - Teaching Hospital

Group A:

Mark Odorizzi, Sarina Tufano, Dung Tran, Nay Ye Oo (Sonny), Alyssia Deutsch, Kerry Milligan

The Prologue:

Discussion of the current hospital situation - and the shortcomings that will be solved by an intelligent building

This story begins at a run down teaching hospital named “The Rickety”. Every doctor, nurse, intern, patient and visitor have been slightly creeped out by the small corridors, the uneven temperature distribution and the lack of new technologies. The lights were always flickering, making anyone in their presence feel uncomfortable. Those systems that did work, made erie noises and thumped randomly at any given time, but highly prefered to do so in the dead of night. Since this building was constructed before codes had been renewed, not many rooms had significant means of egress or sufficient natural lighting which only added to the sinister aura the building gave off.

In an effort to correct all of the dilemmas faced by this building and its occupants, a team of an architect, engineers, project managers, maintenance crews and hospital personnel got together and made a list of all their individual needs:

“WE NEED MORE ROOM!” - Dr. Milligan shouted

“WE NEED SENSORS TO REGULATE THE AIR QUALITY” - Mech. Engineer

“WE NEED A DATABASE TO KEEP OUR RECORDS” - Medical Students

“WE NEED UTILITIES THAT DON’T BREAK EVERY DAY” - Maintenance Head

“WE NEED QUIETER HVAC!” - Surgeons

“WE NEED FASTER WIFI” - EVERYONE

“WE NEED MORE MOTION SENSORS” - Dr. Milligan requested

“WE NEED MORE VIDEO SURVEILLANCE” - Project Manager   

“WE NEED MORE EASE OF ACCESS” - Architect

“WE NEED MORE LIGHT!” - Owners

“WE NEED CHEAPER BILLS!” - Maintenance Head

The hospital employee stakeholders in this story are Dr Milligan (because he was living through the issues and has the most knowledge about what a better space would look like), the project manager (in order to handle all of the differing inputs from the stakeholders, Sarina is needed to represent the hospital as a whole and keep the project on track), and the maintenance officials (Dung is the one who deals with the hospital facilities on a daily basis, and has input on how to best design the new space with maintenance considerations in mind and deals with the creepy doctor who complains about everything).

The non-hospital employee stakeholders in this story include the engineers (Structural: Mark wants to make sure the hospital is structurally sound to handle the heavy equipment and unpredictable live loads), the code compliance consultants (Hospitals have intricate codes applied to them, so Sonny is here to make sure we stick to those codes and provide a safe and acceptable working environment) and the construction management team (Foreman Rizzi needs to make sure the construction does not interfere with existing hospital operations, while still being efficient and on time and budget).

The Fix:

Discussion of the steps taken towards developing an intelligent building and how the new technologies will benefit the occupants/stakeholders.

Many new technologies will be implemented in this hospital so that it can provide a better work and teaching environment. These include code analysis for design and renovation, many types of sensors for occupancy evaluations, a structural/MEP BIM model for programming and design processes, a building program database for better record keeping easier programming and occupational evaluations, as well as robotics for construction methods and acoustic analysis for renovational aids.

To better be able to ventilate and heat/cool the hospital, a new high efficiency HVAC system will be installed. Since many patients and doctors are easily lost track of within the hospital, motion sensors and camera equipment will be installed. Along with that, databases will assist in record keeping methods that are highly effective and user friendly. Additionally, rooms will be made slightly more spacious and more windows will be incorporated with additions being rendered through BIM and all of its associating counterparts within the new model’s operation and functions. This will cause the hospital to become much more efficient in its teaching methods, which will gain it more patients and result in more money which can pay for the best hospital equipment and doctors to keep teaching new interns. Overall, the stakeholders will get large payoffs over the years following this renovation, the patients will become much more comfortable, and the hospital employees will be provided with a much better environment in which to work on a daily basis. In the end, this hospital will also have a much more pleasant facade and no longer be considered the creepy hospital it was once known for.   

Milligan - Blog Post 5

B5: Relational Database Theory
Relational databases are something many of us learned about in our first database management class – INFO 210. To understand relational database theory, it is important to first understand what a database is. A database is a collection of organized information, or data, all related to a central idea or topic. Digital databases hold this information digitally, either on a hard drive or in cloud storage. 

A relational database is a type of digital database. The relational database is based on the relational model of data. The relational model of data is centered around the idea of tables. There are a set of tables, each of which has its own category, containing the data that makes up the database. The data is organized into rows (tuples) and columns (attributes). Each row is one instance of data, containing information about each attribute relative to that data line. Each row contains a unique identifier, or key, to identify it from the other rows. Relational databases are easy to reorganize and enter or delete data from due to their structured nature. The central idea in relational databases is that these separate tables are connected, or related, in specific ways via keys or constraints. The related set of tables come together to create the database. 

Tables can be related in several ways. Two tables can have a one to one, one to many, or many to many relationship between them. In a one to one relationship, the primary key of each unique tuple appears in each table exactly once. An example of this would be a table with information about a student and a table with information about their university ID card. Each student has only one university ID card, and each university ID card is issued to only one student. In a one to many relationship, a primary key exists only once in one table, and potentially many times in the second table. An example of this would be a table with information about a student and a table with information about college departments. Each student is only a part of one department, but a department can potentially have many students within it. In a many to many relationship, a primary key can appear potentially many times in both tables. An example of this would be a table with information about students and a table with information about clubs. A student can be part of potentially many clubs, and a club can have potentially many students as part of it. In this case, it is best to create an intermediate table between the two to eliminate the complex many to many relationship.

The structured query language (SQL) is based on relational database theory. This language is used for all querying and maintenance of the relational database. A query is a request for information from the database. The results returned from the query show a subset of all of the data within the database that fits within the constraints applied in the query statement. 

Sources

http://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/definition/database

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relational_database

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relational_model

Comments
Sarah: I used SQL in one of my database classes, but I didn't know some of the things you discussed in your post! For example, I didn't know that SQL was unique in that it is able to access more than one data file with one command. One thing you note is that SQL is relatively easy to learn due to its few and simple commands, and I definitely agree with that. It was a really easy language to learn, it was really intuitive. This makes it accessible to many people, and improves people's understanding of databases.

Zac: Your take of storage and sharing systems as databases was an interesting one. These types of systems are not something I would have considered a database, but I suppose as compared to the definition you provide from Wikipedia that they can be considered a type of database. These systems are absolutely a necessity in the construction industry, specifically in estimating and project management as you mentioned. I think your example of a scheduling database is a really great one. Specifically thinking of it in terms of a relational database, each activity can have information related to its specific instance in the schedule, as well as information related to it as an activity in general. 

Sherry: As I was reading your first paragraph I came to the same conclusion as you - it is quite difficult to understand the difference between object oriented databases and relational databases when I'm not even sure I know what an "object" is. After reading your post, I'm still a little fuzzy about what exactly an object is, but I understand much more than before reading! I think one of the difficulties in understanding object oriented databases is that, compared to relational databases, they are a lot less intuitive. We use tables all the time, and understand how to fill data into a table in a meaningful way. Without that concrete structure, objects are a little more difficult to understand.

Milligan - Blog Post 4

B4: Term Project Topic

Chris and I are doing our term project on intelligent appliances, and how they connect to a residential building automation system to create an intelligent home. We chose this topic because we are both big fans of the Disney movie Smart House. In the movie, a home is designed utilizing intelligent appliances and an AI automation system to create an intelligent home for a lucky family to live in. Unfortunately, in the movie, the AI takes over and becomes evil, but that’s besides the point. We hope to research ways to create an intelligent building step-by-step, in a way that is accessible to many homeowners. Unlike the movie, it is not every day that a forward-thinking family wins a contest to move into a smart house. Because of this, it is important to provide ways to achieve this status on a budget and in a methodical way that doesn’t require large capital input or luck.

Purchasing, installing, and connecting intelligent appliances is a great method for achieving the status of an intelligent building on a budget, over a period of time. Intelligent buildings do not have to be built from the ground up. It is possible to renovate and retrofit existing buildings to function better and be “smarter.” Per Professor Mitchell’s definition of intelligent building, “intelligence” may exist in any system or phase of the building process. This clearly includes retrofits and renovations, as well as adding intelligent features, or appliances, after a home or other building is already complete.

There are some challenges we expect to face for this research. First, most information regarding intelligent appliances and residential building networks will most likely be sponsored by manufacturers who provide those products and services.  This might be biased information which we should be careful of. I also suspect that there is much more information about building intelligent buildings from the ground up, as opposed to making changes and additions to existing buildings. Additionally, there is a huge range of appliances in a house, and we will have to narrow down to the most important and interesting ones for purposes of the paper. We have not dove into the research that far yet, so maybe these challenges will be minimal, but they are some of the things we expect to face.

Comments:
Jordan: This topic is really interesting! We're at a point in the construction industry where we cannot fully function without some physical information, such as old documents, books, or CDs - we are not fully digital. This idea takes that reliance on physical media and updates it to be as efficient as possible while we still require those documents. Not only does this idea make the space or building it is in more intelligent, but it can be used for intelligent building design and lean design and construction practices to improve efficiency.

Mark: Attempting to follow the process of design followed in industry is a great idea for this project! I think you'll probably learn a lot, and the process of doing this for just one project will stay with you as you begin your career. I think it is also really interesting that there is a heavy focus on sustainable design with your project, which I'm sure will impact your intelligent building design process in an interesting way. I'm in no way a Revit expert, so I am excited to hear about what things you learn through this process.

Tom: This is a super cool project topic. It is very interesting to think about how we would create an ideal civilization from scratch on a new planet - it is essentially saying how we would re-do our life on Earth if we could. It gives you the chance to correct all of the things you don't like about the way life functions on Earth. Your idea to have the foundation and structure put in place completely automatically is truly the definition of intelligent building construction - a building that can build itself! You make a great point that not only can you use what you learn from construction on earth to improve construction on Mars, but the opposite is true too. Things learned through this process of attempting to build on Mars will provide ample insight for construction on earth. Your challenges seem well thought through, and it's great that you already have some possible solutions to those challenges.

Milligan - Blog Post 3

Future Problems with Revit / BIM

There are several foreseeable problems that could arise as the use of BIM and Revit increases in our industry. The first one, which is probably the most obvious, is the increased resources needed to keep up with the trends in BIM use. Firms may not have the appropriate hardware needed in order to use BIM in an efficient way, or they may not have the appropriate resources to use BIM for some or all of their projects. Obtaining the appropriate hardware is an added cost to the firm for them to stay relevant. This cost will eventually be relayed into project costs, driving up the price of design or construction. This leads to another potential problem, which is the temporary spike in design and construction costs while the industry adapts to this learning curve. However, lack of resources is not only relevant to hardware, there is a need for additional people resources, too. There needs to be some at each firm that specializes in this process and is able to bring the firm up to speed.

The other major problem that will be faced with the increased use of BIM and Revit is the development of overdependency on the software. Our entire education process is based on the idea of learning the “how” and “why” behind a process, learning to do it the long way, and then learning to take short cuts. Those short cuts are only valuable when you understand the process they are cutting out. As BIM becomes more popular in building design, and is able to take on more responsibility in the design process, it will be less necessary to have professionals able to do the process the long way. There could even reach a point where no professionals are able to do the process the long way. This creates a situation of overdependence on the results BIM is spitting out. If you are unable to do the process yourself, you are unable to understand if the model is giving you reasonable information. This is dangerous due to the possibility of receiving faulty information from a BIM model and not being able to tell that it is faulty until something fails. 

Comments:
Josh: It was interesting to read your post about the future advantages of BIM, compared to our group's assignment to consider the future problems with BIM. There is the question with future growth if the benefits will outweigh the potential problems. One benefit you discussed which helps to balance out future problems is the use of BIM for clash detection. While one of the potential problems is resources needed, as you point out, clash detection makes the design process easier and more efficient. This reduces the overall time needed for coordination processes.

Dung: You explained great details regarding the potential for modeling software to surpass the advances in computer hardware. It is a great point that not only will the amount of data become greater, but the power needed to graphically model the data will become much greater as well. Your story about a firm taking a hit in purchasing hardware that can support this modeling software I'm sure is prevalent in many firms. The fact that the firm was only able to purchase one station demonstrates another problem. Even if a firm as the capabilities to participate in BIM processes, it may be only on a limited scale, and there may be only one or two people in the firm that are able to participate in those processes.

Mark: You make great points about the different evolution rates between hardware and software and the problems that poses for BIM development in our industry. One thing that we didn't discuss as a group, which your post sparked me to think about, is the idea that it won't just be a one-time investment to be a part of the "BIM world." As the software continues to advance and grow, firms will be forced to continually invest in their hardware. It is not even just hardware that will need to be updated, but knowledge on the software as well. Each time a new release comes out, it will be up to someone in the firm to get trained and familiarized with the new updates for ease of use on projects.

Milligan - Blog Post 2

B2: BIM

BIM Handbook Chapter 2: BIM Tools and Parametric Modeling

It is not very easy to define what “BIM” is, but this chapter helped put the idea into a bit clearer of a perspective. It describes BIM design applications in three ways – as a tool, a platform, or an environment. These are three distinct views of BIM and help create a complete picture of what it is. At the level of considering BIM as a tool, it is able to carry out specific tasks to reach a specified outcome. Not all BIM tools are created equal, however. There are different predefined object databases, methods for creating new and updating objects, surface types available, drawing generation capabilities, and the limit to the number of objects it can handle. Considering BIM as a platform, it generates and manages data within a model for several uses, as opposed to one specified outcome. Each BIM platform has a different capability to handle certain levels of project detail, ability to interface with other platforms, and the data they store for management. Considering BIM as an environment takes it to a new level that incorporates data management across tools and platforms.

It was interesting to learn that BIM is just one subset of parametric modeling, which shares these aspects as a tool, platform, or environment. Evolving from basic 3-dimensional modeling of shapes and figures, parametric modeling first creates a family of objects that becomes its own element. This element contains information about its shape, but also rules, properties, and behaviors as well. There are several technologies that encompass a parametric modeling system. The first layer of parametric modeling is the ability to define complex shapes in a few parameters. The next layer is defining assemblies which automatically update when the parameters of any shape are changed. The final layer is the ability to link parameters across multiple shapes, with the program automatically updating when needed.

Like all programs and tools, parametric modeling has strengths and limitations. One of the major strengths of this modeling system is the “intelligent design behavior” of objects. This refers to the ability of the program to automatically update and edit when needed, and is aware of the type of object it is editing and the rules and parameters that go along with it. This increases the complexity of the BIM program, which demonstrates one of its limitations. It can take quite a while for a user to become proficient and efficient at using the program. BIM also holds an advantage over basic 3D modeling software (such as SketchUp) in that it can link objects together in intelligent and meaningful ways, easing the design process.

Source: BIM Handbook Chapter 2: BIM Tools and Parametric Modeling

Comments

Jordan: I found your blog post to be particularly interesting, especially since through my co-ops and part time work I have been working on the owner's/facility manager's side of work. You said that the executive summary indicated that BIM can be used for analyzing and complying with codes which I find really interesting. Where I work part time at the moment, we are constantly working to figure out if our renovation ideas are code compliant. I am curious as to how BIM could be used to assist in this process, as I am sure it is more efficient and accurate than our current methods.

Mark: Having read the same chapter as you, it was nice to get a different perspective on the reading! One thing you mentioned that I did find somewhat interesting in our chapter was the idea of different BIM programs for different applications, even within the building and construction industry. I wish that the chapter had gone a little more in depth about the differences, but found the idea itself to be interesting. I wonder if there will ever be a master BIM program to rule them all, which is able to provide for the needs of all aspects of our industry.

Cody: You bring up a great point that BIM becomes increasingly important as IPD and similar projects gain momentum. It is critical to use collaboration technologies, such as BIM, to efficiently utilize IPD and other integrated methods. Also, I knew that some BIM programs were preferred over other by certain firms or people, but I didn't know that there was a difference in preference between architects and engineers. It is interesting that you describe a similar process taken by both architects and engineers when using BIM, yet there are still programs that are more tailored for certain parts of design. 

AI + Robotics - Safety (Milligan)

AI and Robotics have, I think, opposite implications on safety. Robotics eliminate the need for humans to partake in dangerous activities or job responsibilities. This results in a higher level of safety for the general worldwide workforce. There is slight risks that robotics can cause dangerous situations if they are not properly prepared for their roles. For a simple example, in the video we just watched, one of the robots was always tied off so that if it lost its balance it could be held in position manually. In actual application of robots, there won't always be a tie off, and they could fall and land on people, injuring them.

On the other hand, the safety implications for AI are more negative than positive. However, it is not physical safety that is in danger. It is more about cyber safety, or psychological safety. If AI is developed far enough, it has the potential to hack and disrupt sensitive systems on its own. It also has the potential to replace human thinking, which is very dangerous for human psychology.

My Definition of "Intelligent Building"

The first definition I found for intelligent building demonstrates what I don't believe intelligent building is. It states:

What is Intelligent Building

1.

A building controlled by an advanced, smart Building Management System (often referred as Smart Building).

[https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/intelligent-building/15019]

I think there is a difference between a smart building and an intelligent one. Smart buildings have advanced technologies incorporated into their design, but are static or passive. They may not be connected, or learn along the way.

I agree with Prof. Mitchell's definition that an intelligent building is one that is active, and is constantly learning and becoming more efficient, as the below definition illustrates.

intelligent building

NOUN

• An office or other building containing a set of integrated services such as heating, lighting, electronic office equipment, etc., controlled by a central computer system which is capable of ensuring the most efficient and sound use of resources.

[https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/intelligent_building]

Milligan - Blog Post 1

AI

https://www.americanbanker.com/news/one-virtual-assistant-to-rule-them-all-bankers-already-getting-prepped

My high school chemistry teacher instilled in all of his students the idea that everything is connected – and this article continues this idea on a technology-based level. Integrating technologies together will make them more efficient and ideally more useful to users. The advancements made in AI are already impressive as they stand, but the idea that the same artificial intelligence could span across multiple physical technologies takes the concept to a new level. The article discusses other methods of utilizing this technology that are far beyond just being able to talk to “Alexa” on multiple devices; it discusses reaching a level of a complete smart house. Seemingly ahead of its time, Disney released a movie in 1999, Smart House, in which the AI of a connected house continues to develop its own personality and takes over the family. This demonstrates that although utilizing AI will make our lives more efficient and streamlined, there are inherent dangers in creating something “smarter” than ourselves.

Computer

https://www.wired.com/2015/03/plan-build-skyscraper-doesnt-cast-shadow/

I found an interesting article under the Computer tag about the plan to build a skyscraper that doesn’t cast a shadow. Computers are integral to the field of architectural engineering in this era. Almost all firms utilize computer technologies for their design and construction processes, and those that don’t are often left in the shadows (no pun intended). This article is a great example of how computers can be used not just as a tool to streamline design, but to improve it in ways not previously possible. A firm in London used computer design software to design a pair of buildings that would reflect light off of each other in a way that minimizes darkness at their bases. This improves on traditional skyscraper design that results in large shadows and darkness near the lower floors and ground level.

Software

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uTUaK9k7_8

This video, which was found by searching under the Software tag, is very interesting as it discusses how to use software in the construction industry. Many people would attest to the fact that the software used on a construction project can make or break it. An efficient, powerful software can greatly improve the work flow of a construction project. However, on the other hand, a tedious and clunky software can create tensions, frustrations, and delays over the construction process. This video specifically talked about apps that can be used in different parts of construction. There are apps, which ideally can work together, to efficiently manage safety, daily reports, photos, and more.

Future

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV6zXmIR3Cg

This video discusses some technologies that could change the construction in the future. The six technologies discussed are: wearable tech, robotics, internet of things, virtual reality, UAVs, and 3D printing. Wearable tech could be used to monitor the location of personnel on site, or gathering other data from the wearer, such as temperature or heart rate. Taking this idea to a new level with the inclusion of virtual reality, it could even be used for augmented reality to understand from a design perspective what is happening on the construction site. Robotics aim to increase efficiency and safety of construction sites. The internet of things involves a high level of connectivity and data collection that can provide feedback to construction managers about the work flows and efficiency of their teams, and much more. All of the ways IoT can benefit construction are still being worked out. UAVs are often used for inspections and progress reporting, but their contribution to construction continues to grow. 3D printing has the potential to change construction completely. It allows for the design of new structures and shapes, and the construction ability of things that were never able to be build before.

Comments
Brad: The first article you posted about seems really interesting. It is really interesting to approach engineering problems from a non-engineering point of view. This reminds me of some of the articles I read regarding the connectivity of things. In this case, it is important for different schools of thought to be connected as well.

Chris: Your post does a great job of incorporating all of the topics you researched into one idea. Bringing sociology into the conversation of technological advancements really enhances your discussion of these ideas. You make a great point about security regarding the use of some of these technologies. While in banking these securities are absolutely valid and must be considered, we are at an advantage that security may not be as critical to utilizing these technologies in construction and design fields.

Jordan: The information you posted about regarding 3D printing and the future was extremely interesting. You make a great point about thinking outside of the norm that 3D printing is all about what it can make. As you point out, it is really important to consider what it can do. It is important, I think, to consider this point of view with all of the technologies we have been discussion. It is not just a matter of "what it does," but it is a matter of "what it can do."

Kerry Milligan's Introduction

Hi everyone! My name is Kerry Milligan, and I am a senior BS/MS student in Architectural Engineering. My BS concentration is in Digital Building, which is why I am taking this class. Additionally, my MS concentration is in Building Energy, which I think makes this class a great fit for my studies here at Drexel. After taking the database class required for DB students, I feel pretty comfortable with databases and database systems, but unfortunately do not have too much experience with building modeling software, such as Revit.

From this class, I do hope to grow some of my experience with Revit, but most importantly learn about the wide varieties of technologies that can be used in our field, and how they are relevant to what we will be doing in our careers. In particular, I hope to understand how technologies can help design and build smarter, more energy efficient buildings.

The Evernote article that I found most interesting was Intel Labs Using Multiple Sensors at the City Scale, which I found by using the "urban" tag. This article talks about how Intel is using sensors and technologies to expand beyond the boundaries of a building and bringing it to the scale of a city.

My initial definition for an Intelligent Building is one that is active, as opposed to passive, and does more than just "exist."

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