B7 - Gary Reiff - Course Reflection

This was a very interesting course in my personal opinion.  I have never had a class go into this kind of depth on futuristic technology.  The first thing we discussed in class was artificial intelligence.  While this does not currently have as much of a direct effect on my future profession (structural engineer), I can see it impacting the profession in a major way in the future, especially during the construction phase of structures.  Artificial intelligence could have a positive or negative impact on my profession in the future depending on whose point of view your looking from.  From an owners point of view drones and other forms of artificial intelligence can be beneficial by saving money on laborers, as well as on insurance for the workers or any other type of injuries.  At the same time, artificial intelligence can take jobs away from hard working and innocent people just because owners want to save money and reduce the chance of injury on the job.  I will be very interested to see how this plays out over the next 10-15 years.

Next, in class we went into great detail discussing BIM and databases.  These two topics I believe will have less of an impact on my profession in the future.  While BIM can be very useful for a structural engineering working on buildings, I personally am working more on the transportation side with bridges.  Therefore, I will not be working with BIM very much.  Also, BIM is used more on the architectural side of buildings rather than the structural side.  The same can be said about databases.

So overall, I would say this was a very good course to have taken during my time here at Drexel University.  Not only did I learn an incredible amount about the future of the architectural engineering field, I learned a little about how the field of structural engineering might be effected as well.  I would highly recommend others to consider taking this course in the future.  My only critique is to focus a little less on databases on the future.  I just have trouble seeing myself ever making databases in my field in the future.  While I can't say that is the same for everyone else taking this course, I can personally say that about me.

Comments
1.) Rebecca Lynch's Comment
2.) Laura Worley's Comment

Gary Reiff - B5 - Group A

A database can be described as relational when it has been design to conform, or mostly conform to a set of practices known as the rules of normalization.  In order to understand relational database, the basics of a database need to be know first.  A database is typically constructed in two different stages.  The first stage is creating a logical data model.  A logical data model allow you to lay out the design and organization of the database.  The second stage is the creation of the physical data model.  The physical data model sets up the parts of the database visible to users, such as columns and tables.  In fact, relational databases story highly structured tables in columns of specific types and many rows of the same kind of information.  This is why the organization, and really the logical data model part of a relational database is so important.

Now that you know a little about databases, it’s time to discuss some terminology specific to relational databases.  The first relational database term I am going to discuss is entity.  An entity stores information in a database regarding something of interest in the real world, such as departments within an organization.  Next, an attribute represents information regarding an object that will be tracked, such as the birth date or social security number of an employee.  One last crucial concept within relational databases is a primary key.  A primary key identifies a specific instance or object of an entity, meaning no two instances or objects can have the same primary key.  A great example of a primary key in relational databases are ID numbers, such as the IP Address of a computer.

One popular language used for querying relational databases is SQL.  SQL can be used in many different ways for querying relational databases.  For instance, one use of SQL is for read-only operations, while other times it is used for read/write operations.  This way, only certain people can make changes to the database at certain times.

Lastly, relational databases should not get confused with graph databases, although they can be very useful for graph databases.  As neo4J states, “relationships are first-class citizens of the graph data model, unlike other database management systems, which require us to infer connections between entities using special properties such as foreign keys, or out-of-band processing like map-reduce.  In other words, relational databases are like the stepping stone for graph databases.  Some people even view graph databases as an evolution of relational databases. 

References

1.)    http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/knowing-just-enough-about-relational-databases.html

2.)    http://neo4j.com/developer/graph-db-vs-rdbms/

3.)    https://www.khanacademy.org/computing/computer-programming/sql/modifying-databases-with-sql/a/using-sql-to-update-a-database

Comments

1.) Janet Tran's Comment

2.) Laura Worley's Comment

B4 - Gary Reiff - Group A

The topic for the final project is how office buildings will change in terms of the intelligence used during the design and construction of office buildings over the next 10-15 years, as this is of great interest to me since chances are I will be working in an office building over the next 10-15 years.  Also, the paper will discuss how the revolution of intelligent buildings will change the work place and the construction industry.  Below is the breakdown of how the paper is going to be formatted and written.

The introduction of the paper will define exactly what an office building is.  Next, the recent history of office buildings will be discussed.  This will include the construction history of the office buildings, the design history of office buildings, and the functionality history of office buildings in general.  From there, intelligent features will be defined.  Lastly, the 3 state of the art office buildings that will be discussed throughout the paper will be stated.

The first office building to be discussed is the Comcast Center in Philadelphia.  Research will be done on both the construction process and the design process that went into creating the Comcast Center.  Next, the specific intelligent features originally and currently incorporated into the Comcast Center will be investigated.  Then, the paper will describe how more recent intelligent features could be incorporated into the Comcast Center, and how these more recent intelligent features could affect the workplace at the Comcast Center.  Lastly, the paper might give some insight on how the new Comcast Center is being constructed, and how its intelligent features differ from the Comcast Center built in the last 10 years.  However, this could be challenging depending on how available the information is on the Comcast Center currently under construction.

The second office building to be discussed is the One World Trade Center in New York City.  Research will be done on both the construction process and the design process that went into creating the One World Trade Center.  Next, the specific intelligent features originally and currently incorporated into the One World Trade Center will be investigated.  Then, the paper will describe how more recent intelligent features could be incorporated into the One World Trade Center, and how these more recent intelligent features could affect the workplace at the One World Trade Center.  Lastly, the paper might give some insight on how the One World Trade Center is being constructed, and how its intelligent features differ from the original World Trade Center.  However, this may be more difficult since I’m not sure how much information is available on the original World Trade Center.

The third office building to be discussed is the Cira Center in Philadelphia.  Research will be done on both the construction process and the design process that went into creating the Cira Center.  Next, the specific intelligent features originally and currently incorporated into the Cira Center will be investigated.  Lastly, the paper will describe how more recent intelligent features could be incorporated into the Cira Center, and how these more recent intelligent features could affect the workplace at the Cira Center.

Finally, the conclusion will discuss future technologies on the rise that have not been discussed already, as well as how all of the intelligent features discussed could impact the design and construction industries of office buildings.  Lastly, a prediction will be made regarding intelligent features and how they will be incorporated into office buildings over the next 10-15 years.

References
1.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cira_Centre
2.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comcast_Center_(Philadelphia)
3.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_World_Trade_Center

Comments

1.) Sam Boyce's Comment

2.) Yuanjin Li's Comment

B3 - Gary Reiff (Group A)

One possible future problem with BIM/Revit is the size of the data it uses and stores in its database.  Data today can be transmitted wirelessly from one source to another using a database known as a cloud.  Many people believe that a cloud storing data is some nonphysical thing that is constantly transferring and storing data.  However, this is not the case.  A cloud consists of a distributed and interconnected system of serves, as well as fiber-optic cables, and network equipment.  Examples of network equipment include cellular antenna sites and wifi routers.  This is where a future problem could occur.  As time goes on, the design of buildings become more and more complex.  This complexity will usually require larger amounts of data.  Eventually, a cloud will not be able to store the large amounts of data needed to design the buildings as they become more intelligent. 

Also, if there is some kind of virus in any of the severs, or there is a problem with any of the fiber-optic cables or the network equipment, then the whole cloud could crash.  Not only would this make it impossible for the cloud to store any extra data, but also data currently being stored in the cloud could potentially be lost forever.  In my opinion, the cloud needs to change with the times so that these issues will not affect BIM/Revit in the future.  I can see this happening because the cloud has had trends of changing and increasing in size exponentially over the last 5 years, as can be seen by iPhone owners.

Another possible future problem are how different industry switch over to using BIM technologies that did not use them previously.  For example, the construction industry claims the transition to using BIM has raised more questions for decision makers and project management than it has provided answers from pre-BIM workflows.  People in the construction industry largely see the transition to BIM as a transition from using 2D CAD drawings to 3D designs.  However, as we all know, BIM is more than just a 3D model to look at.  There are plenty of drafting programs that can do that.  BIM is a database as well.  If the construction industry would like to successfully transition to using BIM, a different approach to a project design and management must be used.  These steps include whom the project manager is, workflows created by the project manager, roles of the members on the team, the design team leader, and the different modelers.  BIM can be interpreted differently depending on who is working on the project, making the decision of who the members on the project team are that much more crucial.

Another issue to look at for the industry is the cost of having workers learn how to properly interpret and utilize BIM.  If the professionals in the construction industry do not know how to utilize BIM correctly, then using BIM is useless.  It will be somewhat expensive for the industry to learn how to use BIM correctly, and I am not quite sure how willing different industries, such as the construction c

References

1.)  https://medium.com/vantage/the-urban-infrastructural-geography-of-the-cloud-1b076cf9b06e#.l9vbx7rj6

2.)  https://thebimhub.com/2015/08/25/bim-for-project-managers-workflows-roles-and-deliv/#.Vqd7jzaDDFK

Comments

1.) Rebecca Lynch's Comment

2.) Yuanjin Li's Comment

B2: Group A - Gary Reiff

Chapter 2 in the BIM handbook discusses BIM design tools and parametric modeling.  More specifically, the chapter goes into depth on the differences between the technology used for BIM design applications and earlier CAD systems.  Parametric modeling was first developed in the 1980's for manufacturing purposes, and is unique by representing objects using parameters and rules that determine the geometry of an object, rather than representing objects with fixed geometries and properties.  Not only does parametric modeling create more accurate models, but it can model more complex objects as well.  In terms of architecture, BIM software developers have predefined base building object classes, which vary based on the different parameters and relationships with other objects.  Some of the predefined base building object classes are shown in the figure below. 

BIM designers can modify the parameters of these predefined base building object classes, but more interestingly the objects can modify their own parameters based upon the context the object is being used in.  This makes me wonder if any of the AI discussed in last weeks posts used parametric modeling in a similar fashion.

As previously stated, parametric modeling was first developed in the 1980’s.  Architectural BIM design applications utilize parametric modeling by allowing users to mix 2D drawn sections with 3D modeled objects.  Not only does this allow users to produce complete drawings, but it also allows users to determine the level of 3D detailing.  The level of 3D detailing in fabrication-level BIM design applications is crucial, as every object is fully fabricated and represented in 3D.

Parametric modeling is also used in other current BIM design applications as tools to carry out specific jobs, while also providing a platform to manage and experiment with data in multiple different models. When used as tools, the BIM applications vary depending on how the base building objects were originally defined.  However, as platforms BIM applications vary in their ability of managing large and detailed projects. 

It’s crazy to me how the base building objects can be so accurately predefined by just using parametric modeling.  Parametric modeling certainly revolutionized BIM applications.  While I don’t have any previous experience with BIM applications, I have plenty of experience with different CAD applications.  The chapter discusses 3D modeling in CAD applications back in the 1960’s.  I cannot imagine how much more difficult 3D modeling was before being integrated with parametric modeling.  I can only imagine using BIM applications back in the day were equally as difficult before parametric modeling was around.

Reference

Eastman, Charles M. 2011. BIM Handbook : A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers and Contractors. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2011. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost (accessed January 18, 2016).

 Comments

1.) Laura Worley's Comment 

2.) Rebecca Lynch's Comment

B1: Gary Reiff (Group A)

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with computer and smart phone applications has shown some promising insights for the future of society.  For example, Leslie Spring and Mimi Chen (co-founders of Cognitive Code) developed an AI platform known as SILVIA (Symbolically Isolated Linguistically Variable Intelligence Algorithms).  SILVIA has been compared to chatbots from the 1960’s.  However, SILVIA has a mind of its own, while the chatbots have no brain of their own.  SILVIA uses algorithms to process any language spoken and translate the language into mathematical symbols, forming a new language.  Then, SILVIA forms relationships between concepts using the new language, while also running in realtime instead of utilizing expensive servers.  This allows SILVIA to be run on mobile devices.  More about SILVIA is explained in the following video:

Baidu, a major Chinese technology company, has developed a prototype of a small device, known as DuLight, which wraps around your ear while connecting to your smartphone using a cable.  The device uses a tiny camera to send pictures taken to an app on your smartphone.  Next, the app analyzes the images and speaks to you through the earpiece, describing the analyzed image to you.  DuLight is set up similarly to the way a human brain functions, by running massive neural networks through its computer data centers (also known as Deep Learning).  For example, the article states if you sent DuLight enough images of cats it will easily be able to recognize what a cat is in the future, similar to how we learn what a cat looks like from a young age.  While DuLight is still in the very early stages of development, it shows how AI can be utilized to perceive and analyze the world around simply through computer and smart phone applications.  Who knows, in the future everyone might be relying on AI similarly to how most of society relies on smartphones today.

Turning Point (a magazine) published an article explaining how AI will change the job market in the future.   While the author of the article makes a good point that we are depending more and more on AI each year in the medical field and social media, I don’t quite agree on the way the author perceives how everyday workers think about AI.  The author believes white collar workers worry one day AI will be able to do their jobs all by themselves, leaving the workers unemployed.  While I do agree that AI will be able to do many of the jobs that they can’t today, I think there will always be jobs for people, just the field they are working in will change.  For example, workers will need to make sure the AI is functioning properly for a while under supervision.  Either way, it is crazy to see the advances of AI in todays society on computer software and smartphone applications.

References

[1] http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2497182,00.asp

[2] http://www.wired.com/2016/01/2015-was-the-year-ai-finally-entered-the-everyday-world/

[3] http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/10/opinion/the-end-of-work.html?ribbon-ad-idx=8&rref=science&module=Ribbon&version=context&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Science&pgtype=article&_r=0

Student Comments
1.) Janet Tran's Comment 
2.) Rebecca Lynch's Comment
3.) Sam Boyce's Comment

Week 1 videos

What changed between the first and second?

There seemed to be a large difference between the first and second in terms of the fluidity of the motion. The first structure relied on precise movements, whereas the second flowed in relation to both the ropes and the other drones. The second structure also showed greater promise for teamwork, with both drones working in close proximity of each other. These three improvements combine to create a more feasible building process, however it did lean heavily on human constructed elements.

What implications does this have for the future of our industry?

• Speed up time 
• React to environment
• More feasible structure
• Safer, possibility of creating tethers for harnesses
• Can work at great heights 
• Inspection work, not necessarily construction

Let Me Introduce Gary Reiff

Hi everyone!  My name is Gary Reiff, and I'm a senior BS/MS civil engineering student with a structural concentration.  In AE 510 I would like to learn about the thought process that goes into the design and construction of intelligent buildings.  I know BIM is a powerful computer software used in building design.  I have never used BIM before, so am I excited to get my feet wet and learn a bit about how this software functions.  Lastly, I would define an intelligent building as a building designed and constructed using an extensively thought out process, while utilizing technology, such as wireless sensors and computer software.

Second Post to complete Student Name Tags

This post is empty.  It was necessary to complete creating the student name tags.