Reflection Group A: Tran

Course Reflection

This course gave me insight on the architecture, engineering, and construction industry through the lens of different guests’ speakers. These presentations and discussions provided me with an idea of the future for buildings. It made me evaluate my skills and how it could be best used. Additionally, it informed me of what skills are in demands, signaling me to pay attention to what I should be considering on improving on in the job market. One particular presentation on business and client relationships struck me as extremely interesting. It provided to me perhaps with a more jaded perspective, however, the struggles are real. Academics and education provides students with idealized beliefs in creativity, innovation, and how it interfaces with design. However, the stark reality of entering the job market and becoming a slave to clients who are not so concerned with real energy savings (rather sustainability marketing) was a little demoralizing. Nonetheless, I learned that energy savings are tailored to individual buildings and its operations. It taught me that the design process is a small fraction of the bigger picture. It showed me that there should be bigger emphasis on considering building operations and how to improve upon the control system. I thought this was a great segue into the database part of the course. Though it was a bit banal, I think it provided me with technical and theory based knowledge on building a database. It made me think: how can I use this tool to help me design?

The culmination of BIM, sensors, databases, and intelligent buildings has resulted in a design endeavor that goes beyond this course. Upon working on my term project- I realized some missing links and weaknesses of Revit, especially pertaining to mechanical design. Most engineers would think twice before using Revit for load calculations, despite its capabilities. This is largely because it is not reliable. So a lot of mechanical engineers tend to tediously input information from Revit into Trane TRACE to conduct calculations. This process I have realized is extremely fragmented and can be dealt with more efficiently. How exactly? I’m not sure. However, I think course has provided me with some immense building blocks to solve that issue. My future intent is to try and streamline mechanical calculations by extract the necessary ingredients from Revit models. 

Comments:
Comment on Flint's Post 

Comment on Aikin's Post 

B6 - Course Reflection - Allison Lock - Group E

The AE 510 course was a compelling introduction into the various up and coming technologies related to architectural, civil, and other building design professions. Throughout my college, high school, and work experience I have encountered and become very comfortable with many of the industry tools that are common in engineering firms. This course forced me to assess the future of the field I intend to work in and how effective I will be in that field.

The main exercises that I completed throughout the class broadened my outlook on the developing technologies today. First we learned about robotics development and their implementation into both engineering and other fields. That was one of my favorite lectures. We also looked at BIM systems; which in my opinion are likely to become one of the major new industry technologies with proper development. The course also covered databases (which I had never even thought about the construction of before) and Revit. Students had the opportunity to interact with one another and share their real world experiences and ideas via blog posts and in class discussions. I enjoyed these aspects of the class as they offered interesting insights to work practices and material studies. Generally I found that every lesson of the course introduced me to a technology that I was unfamiliar with or expanded greatly upon one that I had previously used.

This class also caused me to do some serious self-inspection. Towards the end of the term we completed exercises that intended to provide us with the opportunity to assess how the technologies we studied would be implemented into the design processes that we have been studying for years. Groups were required to invent a construction scenario. Descriptions of major stakeholders and the technologies that they would utilize throughout the process were to be provided. I found that, unfortunately I did not even think about incorporating new technologies into the process apart from sensors in the final design despite the focus of the class. This was disappointing to me. I am fascinated and interested in learning about new technologies. When new lessons were presented they were just really cool however I found that I have a hard time integrating them into my own personal design process. I learned that if I do not actively follow developing ideas and do not continually try to integrate them that I will overlook them. This is a lesson I intend to keep with me as I continue on into my professional life as to be effective as an engineer I will need to adapt and incorporate new technologies into my projects. I really enjoyed the course. It taught me material and about myself but was fun.

I commented on Gary Reiff’s and Rebecca Lynch’s posts.

B6: AE 510 Reflection - Danielle Beynon (Group D)

As we get close to reaching the end of the term, I can happily say that Intelligent Buildings has been a worthwhile course. I originally chose to take this course because the topic sounded interesting, and my initial expectations were certainly fulfilled. Not only did I learn about intelligent software for building design, but I also learned how intelligence has been (and currently is) applied to other building aspects such as sensors and construction robotics.

AE 510 has had a positive effect on my profession in several ways. The most important way in which this course has been useful to my profession is that I have gained significant knowledge in BIM software. My previous co-op, to which I will be returning in the spring, involved structural design and the use of AutoCAD and Revit to create foundation and framing plans. I learned about the drawing tools and some structural features in Revit while on co-op, but I learned even more Revit functionalities and the “behind-the-scenes” aspects of the program from taking this course. Creating families and learning how families are retrieved in databases were highly beneficial aspects. Also, I am learning how multiple Revit system models are integrated while working on the final project. Having these skills are helpful to my structural design profession.

Another aspect of the course that I thoroughly enjoyed was the guest lecture portion. It is one thing to discuss among classmates what is happening in the building industry, but having spokespeople from various companies come to class and talk in detail about their personal experiences is highly worthwhile and rewarding. The variety of guest lecturers was also great, since it allowed for an introduction to a wide range of career paths and I was able to see how each person applies the skills and knowledge that we obtain in class to their everyday lives.

Looking ahead to the future, I can apply skills obtained in AE 510 so that I can think more innovatively and acknowledge technological advances in society. Aside from the useful BIM aspects of the course, I have learned to appreciate how far technology has come in the field of buildings. It is even more impressive that technology is evolving every single day, and sometimes this innovation can go unnoticed. I believe that as engineering students, we are all capable of aiding in the future of intelligent building, whether it be with coming up with new improvements or by implementing the existing software to produce models that are appealing to generations to come. Personally, I will apply the intelligent aspects of this course to my future in the engineering field.

Comments:

1) http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/02/b2-dianna-vogel-reflection-post.html

Dianna,

I agree that AE510 has exposed us to topics that are directly useful to our future careers in structural engineering, as well as topics that could potentially help us if the opportunity arises. I definitely will use the family tools and other Revit functionalities in my profession, so I am grateful that a section of this class involved Revit and discussion about other BIM software. I do not predict that I will use databases much in my profession but like you said, if it does happen, I will at least have a background in how they work and how they are initiated. I liked how the class topics were broad since I think it made us more well-rounded students in the building technology field.

2) http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/02/b6-group-b-alex-palma.html

Alex,
I, too, believe that AE510 has helped in preparing me for the professional world. With the skills and knowledge that we have obtained in BIM software, databases, and sensors, we now have a wide range of building technology traits that will help us in the future. With the information and advice that we have received from listening to guest speakers talk about their real-world experiences in the industry, we have gained more professional pointers than I would have ever imagined when signing up to take this course. I will certainly take many aspects of this course and apply them to my future career in structural engineering; just the way of thinking innovatively itself is something that I will keep with me.

B5 - Group C - Sean Coffey - Object Oriented Databases

Object Oriented Databases

Before researching object oriented databases, I did not know what object oriented databases were and was not aware how they were extensively used for to enable BIM software. Object oriented databases simply put are databases made up of complex objects that are defined by simple data and algorithm attributes. These attributes can be edited and modified manually and automatically.

Differences from Other Databases

Object oriented databases are unlike traditional databases in some important ways. They contain simple and complex attributes while more traditional databases like relational databases only contain simple data. The simpler databases store data in tables that are often reference other tables to return useful information.

Advantages & Disadvantages

Object oriented databases have their advantages and disadvantages over other less complex and traditional databases. Some of the advantages include their programmability to act more intelligently and automatically than other databases. This is accomplished with the embed code and algorithms. This code and how the database interacts with other databases makes object oriented databases more complex and due to the increased complexity they are harder to maintain and edit. On the other hand, if object oriented databases are setup properly they require less maintenance, while more traditional databases require regular maintenance. Also object oriented databases are work better when implemented to communicate and interact with other databases.

BIM’s Use of Object Oriented Databases

One of the best ways to use object oriented databases is when programing CAD and BIM software. Autodesk leverages the advantages of object oriented databases to make the intelligent programs such as Revit. Object oriented databases are fundamental to how Revit acts parametrically. An example of how this database type is implemented in Revit is to create families that are intelligent and modifiable. Revit families are defined by simple and complex properties or attributes. Example simple attributes are the dimensions of a door. They can be quickly and easily modified by user to customize the door to match the actual door that will be installed into the real life building. While a complex attribute would be how the door interacts while placing the door on walls with different widths. The frame for the door has to have an intelligent algorithm that determines how the door will automatically modify its width to match the wall width. The use of object oriented databases makes Revit seemingly simple, work intelligently and nearly flawlessly.

References

http://www.archdaily.com/302490/a-brief-history-of-bim

http://www.comptechdoc.org/independent/database/basicdb/dataobject.html

Comments

Mohammed Alqallaf
http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/02/b5-mohammed-alqallaf-group-e.html

Bridget Frasca
http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/02/b5-group-d-frasca-uses-of-databases-in.html?showComment=1455059965158#c2225312694583606569

B5: Databases and Design - Danielle Beynon (Group D)

A database is defined as “a collection of information that is organized so that it can easily be accessed, managed, and updated.” [1] Databases are taken for granted somewhat, since they tend to be “behind-the-scenes” systems that people access every day without being fully aware of it. An endless number of companies and offices use databases to organize information, even engineering companies.

In the 1980’s, structural engineering programs were starting to be integrated with comprehensive design systems, and a central database was required to do so [2]. With this database, updated information could be attainable for design as it progressed over time. Upon reading a particular article, I learned that at this period of time, the functionality of database management systems (DBMS) was being implemented in structural engineering for better design efficiency. DBMS can store data so that various applications, present and future, are able to use it [2]. These systems allow for organization of storing a wide range of data, which can help designers to continuously add modifications that can be retrieved at any given time. Given that this example was applicable over 30 years ago, database systems have continued to thrive and improve.

Since we have discussed and used Revit frequently in AE510, I think that it is important to realize what this BIM program has to offer in the realm of databases. Revit contains a plethora of database information, which not only helps designers to make changes endlessly but without which the program would not serve its purpose. As we have learned, engineering companies in a variety of disciplines have adopted Revit as their chief design software and it is with databases that the functionality exists. All of the data that is generated when creating a model (materials, families, level designations, etc.) is stored in one or more databases so that any changes that are made can be reflected in the most recent version of the model. This is a wonderful characteristic from the designer’s standpoint, since the transfer of information from one discipline to another is simple and efficient. Rather than having one engineer entering the necessary changes, any engineer in the office can directly modify the model.

Looking forward, I expect that designers will always depend on databases for their structured storage and ease-of-use in obtaining information. Now that I have learned about several database applications, I realize the hidden importance that comes with using these systems. It is certainly incredible to think about how programs, online applications, and file exchanges are all tied to databases; they are constantly updating as design progresses, something that is crucial to the success of engineering projects.

References:

[1] http://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/definition/database

[2] http://repository.cmu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=cee

Comments:

1) http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/02/it-isgenerally-accepted-that-databases.html

James,

Similar to your post, I discussed how databases are used by structural engineers and designers in other fields. I, too, realized that no particular database is available for structural engineering alone but this is not a limitation. Rather, databases in BIM software allow for a structural engineer to access more information than is required; this is a better opportunity than having a limited database containing only pertinent information about structural design. With BIM databases, mechanical engineers, structural engineers, and architects can access data efficiently since the databases cover a wide range of information.

I enjoyed reading about the general history of databases that you provided. It is interesting to see that databases are being applied to more and more fields, since they aid in making companies more efficient. I cannot think of a job that does not involve database access; they certainly are a reliable source of information.

2) http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/02/b5-group-e-allison-lock.html

Allison,

My post involved how databases are applicable to designers so it was interesting to learn from your post how databases are applicable to contractors. It sounds like databases help with advertisement for contractors and like you said it is somewhat a “buy-and-sell” technique. However, I believe that it is more than that; not only can contractors advertise, but they can access information regarding contracting from a variety of database resources. If they experience a unique problem during a project that they do not know exactly how to fix, they can access a database to see if this problem was encountered before, and they can see potential solutions to this problem. I have not done research regarding this idea, but I am sure that this is helpful in some cases. Databases contain a plethora of information and as long as one performs the right search or looks in the right place, applicable information will come to them.

B4: Janet Tran Group A

Term Project Description

My term project will be an individual that will be related to my senior design project. My design project consists of building a new library for Drexel to suit the needs of contemporary students. I will be using Revit to create a 3-dimensional explicit architectural model of my building. This will allow me to easily create sections, elevations, plans, and 3-dimensional interior and exterior views. Additionally, Revit will also be used to document the mechanical system and create schematic design drawings. Since Revit takes much less effort in drafting duct-layouts than CAD software, I anticipate it will allow me to focus more on design and less on drafting. Additionally, upon sizing and selecting equipment I will be using manufacture's download-able families that interface its specifications. Both drawings and schedules will be made using Revit. This should also allow for a more fluid process between selection, design, and documentation.

 The usefulness of Revit is that is provides and explicit 3-dimensional representation of the building. More traditional software such as AutoCAD is a mere drafting tool that has dimensional limitations. Creating a Revit model forces think about coordination and how the various building systems interact. Although I am not the architect this exercise will allow me to think and take the architectural design into consideration in order to integrate my mechanical design in a more thoughtful way. In addition, it gets me to think about the other systems such as the structural, electrical, and plumbing. 

This project will extend beyond schematic design because I will be providing zone-by-zone load calculations and identify each specific area’s load and system type applications. Unlike the structural system the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is most likely going to consist of at least more than one type of system. I also intend on beginning ductwork layouts of the building, which is a step more in the design development process rather than the schematic design phase. Though I am not creating an intelligent building, I think these exercises will help advance my skills in the use of Revit. Having never taking a course specifically focused on this program I want to take the opportunity to develop this skill, largely because it becoming an industry standard skill. Once, I am able to establish a fundamental knowledge base it will allow me to really explore other plugin features that are more advanced, such as energy analysis and load calculations. From my understanding most mechanical engineers do not perform calculations in Revit due to its limitations. However, I want to explore this limitation in the future and see how I can use Revit to streamline the design process and make it more efficient.

Student Blog Comments

Comment on AJ Kuzniarowicz's Post

Comment on Mohammed Alqallaf's Post

B4 - Group D - Yuyang Shi

For my term project, I decided to work on our senior design project with BIM.

Being able to understand and use BIM is an important aspect of this class. Based on what we have learned so far, BIM has so many advantages and one of them would be its ability to work across multi platforms and disciplines. As a senior student, I am working on a senior design project with teammates that have different backgrounds and concentrations. We have two civil engineering students, one environmental engineering student, and one architectural engineering student(that is me, and I am also minoring in Architecture). So instead of continuing using Sketchup and AutoCAD for this term, I decided to switch to Revit as all of my teammates will be able to understand and even modify the model based on their expertise.

The process of working on a senior design project is similar to a real life project. As different architects and engineers will need to input their ideas on the same project and make it work. There is going to be compromise, but use Revit can minimize the compromise and maximize the efficiency in making adjustment to the model. So I have realized that putting sensors all over the building is only one understanding of what intelligent building is, the process of designing a building can also be intelligent as well by using BIM.

Certainly there would be many challenges. First of all, although I have used Revit to model before, my understanding about BIM is still limited, which was not enough if I want to develop a senior design model. So there are many tricks and methods that I need to get familiar with in order to go to next step. Another challenge is that not all my teammates know how to use this software. Some of them probably need to take a little more time on learning the software, such as the structural and mechanical aspect of Revit. I believe that as long as I am able to tackle down the fundamentals of this software and really understand the difference of Revit with traditional design software, I will able to get a much better understanding of this software and use it for our future projects.

Source:
http://au.autodesk.com/au-online/classes-on-demand/class-catalog/2014/revit-for-structural-engineers/sd6511#chapter=0

Comments:
http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/02/b4-kuzniarowicz-group-e.html?showComment=1454377137082#c5542433107591464727

http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/b4-group-c-alexis.html?showComment=1454377779956#c8034422902102812576

http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/b4-group-e-mohammed-alqallaf.html?showComment=1454378500094#c749143398678096598

B4- Group E - Mohammed Alqallaf

For our term project, Faisal Alghati and I are going to be working on part of our senior design project, which is the Renovation of the Alumni Engineering Labs Building. We are going to be converting old AutoCAD plans and drawings of the Alumni Engineering Labs to a BIM integrated Revit Model. The building is old and is in dire need of renovation due to poor circulation and occupant discomfort. This project will include renovations of the architectural, mechanical, and structural systems of the current building. The renovations will tackle the current issue and improve the buildings efficiency and sustainability. Newer material will be used for the building envelope to give the building a more modern look. The HVAC systems of the building will be improved and made more efficient by the changes made to the envelope and also the addition of VAV systems to accommodate zone specific temperature requirements. In addition two floors will be added to the building to increase current square footage to accommodate for new and larger spaces. The Revit model will consist of floor plans, 3d model, structural plans and mechanical plans. My partner and I have already started the project and we are currently familiarizing ourselves with Revit. I believe that this is a great idea for us to get to learn more about Revit and applying BIM in it. The use of schedules in the software will be utilized to help with cost estimation and analysis. I believe that it is going to be very challenging to learn how to utilize Revit’s complete BIM capabilities. There are certain issue with having to import certain families from companies that provide them such as for the HVAC units and such. But doing so will help us have a more accurate cost analysis.  I believe that having hands on experience with BIM technology will help us better understand how such technology will increase building performance and efficiency. In addition it will also help minimized the buildings cost. Upon reading an article about BIM and green design it really helped me understanding how BIM makes every aspect of the building transparent to the other helping every sector in the building design work in unison to create a well rounded efficient building.

Sources:

[1] https://www2.buildinggreen.com/article/building-information-modeling-and-green-design

Comments:

Allison,

I found your topic to be very interesting. As an architectural engineering major with a concentration in mechanical/HVAC I found this topic to be very relevant to my field. I have looked into dynamic buildings and I have seen a building on YouTube that actually has a dynamic façade in which the exterior walls would be uncovered in the morning to allow for natural solar heating and at night the façade would move and close the building off making it look like a black cube to maintain the heat gain and reduce the heating need for the building. I look forward to seeing you present and to hear more information about this topic.

Cristian,

I really enjoyed reading your post. I found your topic to be very interesting. I really like the effort you are putting into the project. I like how the buildings design is made so that it matches the architectural style of the location chosen. That is very considerate. I believe that you will learn a lot of Revit making plans for the building. I wish you best of luck

B4: Group B - Alex Palma

For my term project, I am working with Danielle Beynon and Dianna Vogel to create a Revit model of the Farnsworth House in Plano, Illinois. By making a Revit model incorporating all primary building systems, including architectural, structural, and mechanical, we can expand our knowledge in both Revit and BIM. All members of the group are of a structural concentration, and prior to this, we have only had significant experience with creating architectural models in Revit.

A short piece about the project topic itself; the Farnsworth House was designed by Mies van der Rohe. It was constructed in Plano, Illinois in 1951, as a weekend retreat for Edith Farnsworth, and has since changed ownership to the National Trust for Historic Preservation¹. The structure is a simplistic design using steel framing elevated off the ground through extended columns, along with large glass panels for a lightweight façade and appearance. Van der Rohe attempted to make the structure appear as one large, uninterrupted piece, and as such, he attempts to keep consist structural member sizing throughout, even if over-designing. 

We have had the opportunity in class to read and discuss the concept of “Intelligent” building design, and as such, we chose a project that gives us the opportunity to use software based around this. Instead of simply drafting plans, elevations, and relevant documents in a drafting software such as AutoCAD, we can use Revit to model systems throughout the building and how they operate in conjunction with one another. For this project, my goal is to learn more about how to model mechanical systems in Revit and how Revit recognizes clashes and conflicts between separate systems, as well as resolution techniques for common clashes.

Outside of implementing the various systems into our model, our design will have to accommodate multiple components not stocked in the Revit libraries. Connections between members, such as the beam, column, or corner connections, all include components which are unique to the design and will need to be created for this instance. To do this, we will have to develop our knowledge of families in Revit, which we have learned in the past assignment, and use it to accurately model these components.

References:

1) http://farnsworthhouse.org/ 

Comments

Cathlene,

3D printed structural material is still coming along, so hopefully you'll be able to find enough research about it! I'd be interested in seeing, as you mentioned, the anisotropy of concrete formed in layers, and how significant the effect would be. I'm sure it would have to do with the type of concrete and more importantly the time between pouring layers, and there's probably research already done on this topic since it's integral to the structural performance.

http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/b4-3d-printed-concrete-properties.html?showComment=1454339948174#c2097122995757274726

Bryan,

Nice topic! A lot different than most of the other topics from the class. Using Matlab is likely a good choice for a project like this; I'd be interested in seeing how you model a sensor (or rather, sensor-like behavior) in Matlab. Depending on the parameters you establish, it might also be difficult to create a numerical or programmed "value" for these properties, so I really look forward to your end product.

http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/b4-group-b-cummings.html?showComment=1454340425523#c5263001556707361011

 

B4 - Danielle Beynon (Group D)

For the AE510 term project, I am working in a team with Dianna Vogel and Alex Palma to create a 3D Revit model of Farnsworth House, which is located in Plano, Illinois. The house was designed by Mies van der Rohe as a weekend retreat for Edith Farnsworth and was constructed between 1945 and 1951 [1]. Currently, the house functions as a museum and is owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation [2]. The structure has a steel framing system with mainly glass walls, which coincides with Mies’ ideal to have the house mimic the nature surrounding it. Figure 1 depicts Farnsworth House in its natural landscape.

Figure 1. Photograph of Farnsworth House

We chose to create a multi-system Revit model for Farnsworth House because we want to expand our BIM skills through this program, integrating the Architectural, Structural, and Mechanical systems. Our team already possesses skills in the Architectural modeling system but we hope to gain skills in the Structural and Mechanical modeling systems in order to learn how system integration works in Revit. Farnsworth House was chosen because it is a fairly simplistic building that reveals its overall structural “story” just by looking at it, while also having unique aspects that are of interest to model. Also, plans and details are available which will help in accurately modeling the components of each system.

Our proposed 3D Revit model of Farnsworth House directly relates to Intelligent Building because, upon project completion, our team hopes to have recreated an existing building using advanced building software capabilities. The final model is expected to comprise multiple systems that accurately depict the actual structure, and potentially an energy analysis can be implemented to determine if the structure is successful in the input and output of energy. Other analysis capabilities could be achievable with our model as the cornerstone, and this reiterates the fact that 3D models represent one of many positive outcomes of Intelligent Building.

Since our project involves learning several Revit systems and how these systems can be integrated, our team expects to face several challenges along the way. We have started the Architectural model but once we work on the Structural and Mechanical models, it will be challenging to figure out the functionalities associated with these systems and it will be even more challenging to figure out how each separate system can be combined for one complete model of the building. As the guest speaker mentioned last class, clashes between systems can be detected in Revit, so clashes could definitely be a challenge that our team could encounter during system integration. Also, we would like to customize certain aspects of our model to more closely depict the existing structure, so we will face the challenge of creating multiple families in order to accomplish this goal. However, with all of these expected challenges, our team feels confident that by the end of the term, we will have a representative 3D Revit model of Farnsworth House.

References:

[1] http://www.archdaily.com/59719/ad-classics-the-farnsworth-house-mies-van-der-rohe

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farnsworth_House

Comments:

1) http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/b4-group-c-sean-coffey.html

Sean,

Your project topic sounds pretty interesting. The internet of things is certainly a prominent aspect of today’s society, and I like how you and your partner plan to refine this broad topic to focus on intelligent and sustainable buildings. Even though sustainable buildings and intelligent buildings differ in some ways, I think you will find that they share several similarities when it comes to technological capabilities. It is phenomenal what technology can do in regard to building applications, and I can only imagine how much there is to research for this topic. The future holds many opportunities for “smarter” buildings, and learning the current capabilities in both intelligent and sustainable buildings can be highly informative and inspiring.

2) http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/as-i-haveprogressed-through-my.html

James,

Your term project sounds both interesting and challenging. I was exposed to sensors during my freshman design project but thankfully, there was a mechanical engineer and an electrical engineer in the group so they were more informed about how sensors work. Sensors are such a beneficial invention, and learning how they work is a beneficial feat. As building technology progresses, more sensors are being placed in them to detect many different types of things and to be more user-friendly. It surely will be a challenge to find a large amount of technical information, but I am sure that by the end of the term, you will have a plethora of knowledge about indoor air quality sensors. I look forward to hearing the inner workings of these devices.