Course Reflection - Karan Sagar Sinha

I found this course to be really interesting, we take a lot of courses that have traditional knowledge and same old calculations. This course was really different in the approach of combining technology and buildings together. I expected one of two things coming into this course, that it was going to be a BIM class or that it was going to be a class similar to the AE 390-391 series but with more work and explore fields in technology.  Much to my surprise it was neither of these two.  For that I am glad.  I took the course because it sounded interesting but it was also one of the few graduate level courses that were offered this term and I wanted to feel the level of graduate courses that are offered, also it was fulfilling my professional elective criteria.

During 10-week long syllabus, we worked on several projects, such as working on Revit and creating the family. At Drexel we are barely exposed to BIM’s and I was really glad that we were again introduced to Revit as it is a very powerful tool. Also in this course, I was exposed to Microsoft Access, which we had used for the database project. These two projects dealt with topics that I had never covered before and I feel that they will be beneficial in the future, especially the database knowledge.  Modern day society is so dependent on databases that even a minor understanding can be extremely beneficial.  Knowing how to create families in Revit can also be very helpful in the professional world, although, I hope to never have to make one because it was somewhat annoying setting up all the parameters and relationships.  But it’s better to know and not need than need and not know. 

I really enjoyed all the lectures and all the in class activities. Most of it I really enjoyed having guest lecturers. Every single guest speaker was very well chosen because they were all able to contribute with their insight at a topic we were covering. I believe that Hue Robert’s Lecture was very well done; it gave me hope for the industry and the growing figures in infrastructure.

Also I really enjoyed reading other people’s blog posts, and writing my own blog posts. Reading blog posts from other groups really opened up a lot of thought provoking areas. I absorbed a lot of knowledge while reading the blog posts. I would’ve loved going in depths of this course and I would’ve loved having another sequence to this course, which would focus on the use of different BIM platforms.

Comments:

Samuel – I completely agree with your view-point of this course. Both the assignments were well thought out. I am really keen on seeing how your final paper turn out to be, wearable technology always interested me and it would be wonderful exploring how in the future buildings and wearable technology can be linked.

Yuyang – As you had mentioned that the videos on robotics caught your eye, I found it really interesting where the drones were involved in the controlled constructing of a structure. This class was very interesting although I really wish there was a sequence to this course.

B5 - Karan Sagar Sinha

In this weeks discussion/blog we were asked to explore – How databases can be used in construction firms. I feel that the benefits of using database in construction firms reduce the cost of construction. Databases in construction firms that are being used presently are mainly for cost and scheduling purposes. During my co-op, I had experienced the use of database first hand as our project manager on site would have a spreadsheet that contained all the latest drawing sets and had the current schedule and the budget. Having this would make it easier for him to communicate with the onsite workers and he would always have a number ready if he ever had to present to a client or to a higher official.

Database can be used when estimating the price per square foot of a specific type of building/residence. The database uses information and standards for different jobs and shows an average price that can be used to calculate how much your project would cost. Another problem is managing labor and being able to have a unified schedule for when different labor teams should be onsite -- having laborers onsite to do finishing before the spaces are constructed can lead to large wastes of money. Sometimes complex building projects also require simultaneous work of different types to keep the time of construction down -- which also ultimately saves money or can be worth a higher value. The biggest benefit of having database in construction is having a spreadsheet of all the materials and the schedule, this would be beneficial because the contractor or the project manager can keep track of the materials that arrived on the site and how much of it got used or how much got wasted. If utilized properly this could also aid the manager in ordering materials accordingly to reduce storage costs and wastage. Furthermore these systems will also allow for contractors to communicate intelligently with designers and other engineers in real-time instead of requesting a meeting to discuss the issues at length. Now changes or mark-ups can be made on models that are representative of the current progress of construction. These changes can be seen by designers and corresponding engineering teams that can make much more intelligent decisions about the design without the constraint of time and commuting.

Comments –

A.J Kuzniarowicz – I liked your post and how you wrote about LYNX, and how that software can make life easier for the entire construction firm. I have used LYNX during my coop and it definitely made a huge difference in tracking and keeping a schedule and costs of materials, also it makes it easier to communicate within the firm. Also I completely agree with you on your point that the contractors can quickly access the database and come up with an accurate budget.

Alexis – I really enjoyed your post, as I did not know anything about Object oriented database. After reading your post I was quite intrigued and I did further reading on relational databases.

Overall your post gives a very detailed information about Object oriented database.

Hatim Amiji - B4 - Group B

The term project focuses on the present status of construction using 3D concrete printing and how it can be improved, specifically the "concrete mix" in order to achieve construction of big complex structures (i.e. high rises, bridge decks) and the socioeconomic impact of this technology in the society. 3D printing also known as additive manufacturing is a process of producing a three-dimensional object/structure by laying down successive layers of material until entirely completed. Each layer is a thing horizontal cross section of the finished product. 3D printing technology has evolved over the years to an extent that it is now capable of producing bigger structures/objects of varying complexity. In 2014, A Chinese Company “Winsun Decoration Design Engineering Co” printed 10 houses in 24 hours using a 3D printer with a mixture of recycled construction waste and quick-drying cement. In 2015, the same company demonstrated exceptional capabilities of the 3D printing technology as they built the world’s tallest 3D printed building i.e. a five-story apartment building. The building was created using a 6.6 by 10 meter printer which pours layers of a mixture composed of glass fiber, steel, cement, hardening agents and recycled construction waste. Sections of the building were printed in the plant and were assembled on site which is similar to prefabricating concrete designs to create the final building. The building met relevant national standards in terms of building code, it was declared safe, reliable and features a good integration of architecture and decoration.

The rapid evolution and improvement of the 3D concrete printing has led to numerous research on how this can be improved to build projects of even bigger scale and complexity such as high rises, bridge decks, dams etc. The main ingredient of this process is the concrete mix and thus it determines the strength, size and complexity of the structure. Improvement in the concrete mix leads improvement in the overall technology. Also, our research will comprise if the possibility of 3D printing can be achieved using different construction materials not only concrete hence increase the variety/options of construction. The growth of this technology will have socioeconomic impact such as reduction of housing costs hence improving standard of living (since 3D concrete printing is cheaper than conventional construction method), impact on labor union can be enormous since this process in general replaces labor work by the use of a machine which pours layers of concrete.

The research will begin with a brief introduction of 3D concrete printing technology, history and its evolution in the construction industry. Technical aspects of the 3D concrete printing will be discussed such as the machine pouring the concrete mix, the concrete mix itself and its properties as well the as the assembly of the 3D printed construction elements i.e. walls, beams, columns etc. The current application and the future of this industry will be analyzed i.e. what scale and complexity of construction can be achieved as well as the alternative materials which can be used instead of concrete. Furthermore, socioeconomic impact of 3D concrete printing will be explored i.e. impact on economy, labor union and improvement in living standards.

The outline of our project is as follows:

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Introduce the project and its deliverables
• History and evolution of 3D printing in the construction industry.
• Technical aspects of 3D concrete printing
• Discuss process
• Concrete mix
• Assembly
• Current applications and future of 3-D concrete printing.
• Scale of construction projects at present
• Complexity of projects
• Alternate materials
• Future
• Socioeconomic impact of 3D concrete printing in the construction industry.
• Impact on economy
• Cost
• Effect on labor unions i.e. jobs creation or reduction?
• Conclusion

References:

1. http://www.archdaily.com/591331/chinese-company-creates-the-world-s-tallest-3d-printed-building

2. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/08/3d-printed-houses_n_5773408.html

Comments:

Maria - I agree with you that robots such as SAM are used in the construction industry at present and it is not only saving time but also reducing construction costs. With the development of such machines, the future holds more prospects of extensive use of robots in the construction industry which will be more powerful, efficient and capable of doing complicated tasks. However, this can have major socioeconomic impact on the society since it is replacing jobs of construction workers hence creating a vacuum in the job market which in turn may have a negative impact on the economy. Therefore it is important to factor in such impacts due to advancement of technology and to find the balance so that the impact is minimized.

http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/02/b4-group-d-maria-ayon.html?showComment=1454448937973#c6663408153290580973

Samuel - RTLS has a wide range of scope, it is like a GPS device attached to every single person in the building however in this case it holds more information than just the location. It can be used in hotels where each guest is wearing a wearable that provides information about his sleep patterns, choice of food/drinks, so that the hotel personnel know when to wake him/her up or what type of food he/she may like etc. This is an interesting idea, and its applications are immense, As Derek mentioned in a big construction site where hundreds of workers are working it can be used to locate a special technician when needed.

http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/02/b4-samuel-boyce-wearables-group-a.html?showComment=1454454434267#c8059420729148418938

B4 - Karan Sagar Sinha

For our term project we have chosen to do a research paper on 3D printing that focuses on printing 3D concrete building components. 3D printing is becoming popular in the construction industry day by day. It really fascinated us after Professor Mitchell showed us a video in which the 3D printer was printing concrete blocks in different shapes and sizes. We feel that 3D printing will become very efficient and cost effective. It will reduce the time taken for a building to be constructed as the building components could be prefabricated with provisions cut out for ducts and internal wiring. Structural components that are made via 3D printing, otherwise known as “concrete crafting,” use less material than the same components made using normal concrete forming techniques. Whereas curved concrete structures that are poured into forms are solid, those made via concrete crafting can be hollow, allowing space for essential building services right inside the structural elements of the building.

We are focusing on concrete as our material as we feel that concrete can be easily molded/printed in any shape and size and is easily customizable. This opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for architects everywhere. Much like the freeform design of The Bird’s Nest in Beijing, China, 3D printed architectural components are totally unfettered by typical design constraints. The ability to use curvilinear forms, rather than being cost and process limited to rectilinear forms, opens a whole new realm of design.

Modern Architecture is demanding new developments in construction manufacturing technology, a team at Loughborough University has been working on a 3D concrete printing project that could allow full scale building components to be 3D printed on-site to any design. This gives the architects a tremendous degree of design freedom. An example of such a design can be seen from the image shown below, as you can see that the possibilities are endless with concrete and 3D printing. The possibilities using concrete is endless.

The goal of our project is to do an extensive research on how concrete a valid option in building construction and how it has a potential to improve in the future.

The outline of our project is as follows –

• Abstract -
• Introduction -
• Introduce the project and its deliverables, History and evolution of 3D printing in construction industry.
• Technical aspects of 3D printing-
• Discuss process
• Concrete mix
• Assembly
• Current applications and future of 3-D printing.
• Scale of construction projects at present
• Complexity of projects
• Alternate materials
• Future
• Socioeconomic impact of 3D printing in the construction industry.
• Impact on economy
• Cost
• Effect on labor unions i.e. jobs creation or reduction?
• Conclusion

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20120316-a-second-generation-3d-concrete-printing-is-under-development.html

http://www.viatechnik.com/3d-printing-and-looming-changes-in-the-construction-industry/

Comments:

Allison – I found your topic quite interesting. I can imagine having a mechanism that senses changes and adapts accordingly. Our group was also thinking to do a similar project but then we felt that what all technology would we need in order to have such a mechanism. It really fascinates me on how this could actually be possible.

A.J Kuzniarowicz – We are also doing our research paper on 3D printing and we have a lot of topics in common. I totally agree with the points you’ve made throughout your post about how 3D printing would be cost effective and would also cause some social havoc with the labor unions. Also looking at your outline, under additives, I found it very fascinating and thought provoking that you could add certain components and materials to further enhance 3D printing.

B3 - Karan Sagar Sinha - Group E

Revit and AutoCAD are both computer aided drafting/designing programs that allows the user to draft 2D and 3D models. Revit and AutoCAD are fundamentally the same but differ on a huge scale. For an instance, Revit allows the user to use BIM and scheduling costs, while AutoCAD does not. Compared to Revit, AutoCAD lacks in comparison in terms of time and effort efficiency to create a helpful, useable model. Revit allows for components to be represented as whole pieces with various types of data and modifiable parameters and constraints that relate to that type of building component.

For example, a window in AutoCAD is really just a number of lines that will look like a picture of a door whereas a door in Revit is a pre-modeled component that is fully 3D, has multiple parameters in many different categories relating to design, and has a tremendous amount of data and constraints linked to it. It is simple to see that Revit can eliminate many of the tedious tasks associated with current design processes, including the dreaded updating of schedules and other information as the model changes. Although I am more familiar with AutoCAD, I feel that creating a 3D model with AutoCAD would be a huge task that would consume a lot of time and effort. On the other hand, just being exposed to Revit for a few hours I could model a bookcase that had parameters and constraints and modeling any 3D object is much easier. I feel that Revit is a much better software when used just for “Buildings” on the other hand I cannot see Revit being as useful as AutoCAD when it comes to designing and drafting “Civil Engineering Designs”, such as I cannot see Revit being used to draft water main lines, it would be easier to use AutoCAD in that scenario.

Some of the main ways that Revit and AutoCAD can relate with with other drafting programs are the way they allow you to design and edit and share these files. A great deal of design and drafting is done on the computer, instead of by hand now. This allows quicker editing and fixing mistakes, whereas before, you would have to redraw the design. Both of these programs, as well as other computer-based programs, save companies time and money and also provide more accuracy. Using computers require more precise detail because errors can and will occur and not allow the model to not be complete. 

The next software that comes to my mind which I can relate to Revit is Google Sketchup, google sketch up is a fun tool to use and express architectural ideas, but it lack in adding details to the components of the building. I feel that google sketch also lacks in terms of giving the components parameters and constraints. I feel that Revit is more of a professional software as compared to google sketch up. 

Comments:

Allison Lock: I was also comparing Google Sketchup and Revit, and I totally understand your point of how Sketchup is a useful tool when it comes to express components of a structure architecturally and you are better off using Revit when you really need to add details to your structure. I have barely seen any of the big firm use google sketchup as one of the softwares they would use to create 3D models, they would prefer using Revit as it is accepted widely and it can be related to professional use.

Adrian Kuzniarowicz: I really enjoyed your post, you gave a very nice and a brief history of the two softwares and how the technology progressed with time. Also your post allows the readers to track how Revit evolved over time becoming more user friendly and how it allows users to create 3D models and architectural parts of a building.