B5 - Kuzniarowicz Group E

                For the blog assignment for Week 5, students in Group E were tasked with researching the uses of databases in construction firms. According to Merriam-Webster, a database is “a collection of pieces of information that is organized and used on a computer.” In today’s society, databases can be utilized by professionals in any trade to organize and present data on a specific topic. In construction, databases are utilized for a number of uses in every project. One of the most useful databases used by construction firms today is the RSMeans software to evaluate construction costs for a wide variety of new construction projects. By utilizing RSMeans, construction firms can accurately determine the budget and schedule for a given project, based on the parameters given in the design submission. RSMeans is the world’s leader in procuring construction cost data for any type of construction project from small residential buildings to large office skyscrapers. The ability for contractors to quickly access this data allows the firm to have a rapid turn-around when creating an accurate budget, which helps in the construction bid process. Because of the extensive information data presented in the RSMeans software, contractors are able to very precisely break down costs for specific bid items to ensure an accurate bid estimate for the client.

                There has been an immense amount of research conducted on how the use of electronic databases can simplify a number of tasks that would normally have to be done by hand by construction managers. A previously tested relational database, called LYNX, was put to the test in utilizing photo documentation while being interfaced with Microsoft Access. It was found that by utilizing photos of specific materials and other activities to organize a database, the process of tracking materials, shipments, and other information became much easier for construction managers in the field. Today, current technologies allow contractors to scan material bar codes to update databases containing a variety of information. I believe that BIM technologies will continue to grow and become more powerful within the construction field. These technologies will not only allow designers to draw the design they are looking to achieve but they will also allow contractors to import real-time information of installation, logistics, and cost of materials being used in the project.

Comments:

Rebecca Lynch:

Rebecca,

You brought up a number of very good points in your post. I did not know anything about the relational database theory, or much about databases as a whole, and your post clarified how the relational database theory is utilized. I believe that we have all done this before without even realizing that we are editing a dataset. The bank example you brought up is also very good since security is so important when it comes to people’s identities and finances.

Alex Palma:

Alex,

You did a very good job explaining what SQL is and how it works. I have very little experience with database creation and manipulation but it seems that this type of coding language relates to most types of other coding methods with the use of the standard commands which allow for database manipulation. 

References:

http://www.rsmeans.com/

Brilakis, I. and Soibelman, L. (2006). "Multimodal Image Retrieval from Construction Databases and Model-Based Systems." J. Constr. Eng. Manage., 10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9364(2006)132:7(777), 777-785.

B5, Group B - Palma

SQL stands for “Structured Query Language”, and is a method of communication with a database¹. According to ANSI, SQL is the typical method of communicating with relational database management systems. A relational database management system, or RDBMS, is a database which allows you to create and maintain information in a table format, where rows, columns, or entries can have some relation or dependency on one another. Some more well-known RDBMS are Oracle, IBM’s DB2, and Microsoft’s SQL server².

First about the reason for SQL; originally, DBMS were used primarily by programmers in order to maintain and create data. In order to create a system which output some answer (for example, a total revenue or production capacity), a programmer would have to develop new software that often was not worth the trouble.

SQL is one of many “query languages” developed to solve this problem. When a user is requesting something from a database, this is called a “query”. As such, query languages were developed in order to allow the user to efficiently request from the database in a customized manner. For SQL, database management systems follow a particular process at the creation of a query. The system must first break up the input statement, checking syntax, then validates the statement, ensuring all relevant tables or entries exist. The system then creates an access plan to retrieve the data, and optimizes this plan. Once optimized, the system performs the access plan to retrieve the answer for the request³.

This process is used on the data retrieval side of SQL. As mentioned before, however, SQL is also used for the creation and updating of databases. SQL has standard commands, such as “Select”, “Insert”, “Update”, “Delete”, “Create”, and “Drop” that allow the user management for most purposes when working with the database.

“Embedded SQL” is the first technique for sending SQL statements to a DBMS. Here, SQL is used as a sublanguage, hosted by some other programming language which contains variables or statements³. Furthermore, embedded SQL can be broken up into static and dynamic SQL. Static SQL queries consist of requests that do not change when the database is accessed⁴. Conversely, dynamic SQL queries are a flexible form that allow for queries where data access cannot be pre-determined. For example, if the database is located elsewhere, then although the request can be entered, there is no way of validating the statement, as mentioned in the process before⁵.

References

1 - http://www.sqlcourse.com/intro.html

2 - http://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/definition/relational-database-management-system

3 - https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms713599(v=vs.85).aspx

4 - https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms712349(v=vs.85).aspx

5 - https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms709342(v=vs.85).aspx

Comment to Dianna Vogel

http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/02/b5-group-b-dianna-vogel.html?showComment=1454944655909#c6765232892333845012

Nice part about the importance of SQL. As mentioned, SQL is relatively old, and compared to other programming languages, has been around for quite some time. That being said, I don't see it disappearing any time soon. SQL is an efficient and logical method for working with databases. Even with newer programs, optimal languages for this form of work will likely always have some basis from SQL; it's probably not going away unless databases do, which certainly won't happen.

Comment to Bryan Cummings

http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/02/b5-group-b-cummings.html?showComment=1454945117088#c1043703076217096240

I liked that you related this back to BIM. Take Revit for example (since I know it fairly well). The amount of libraries and commands that are likely based of something like this, or very similar, is huge. You mentioned how most systems have their own proprietary languages built in to use with SQL; I also discussed this a bit in my post, where systems use embedded SQL.

 

B4 - Derek Zaccheo - Group A

For our project we are doing how office buildings will change in the future using Intelligent building technologies. We will look into this by looking into how  specific buildings utilize intelligent building technology in the first place and how we think they could utilize it within the next ten to fifteen years. We will also discuss how intelligent buildings can revolutionize the workplace and the construction industry leading us to design better buildings more efficiently. In the introduction to the paper we will discuss how we define office buildings and how we view their role in today's society. We will go into some recent history of office buildings by going into their construction history, their design history and their functionality. We will define intelligent systems and discuss what buildings we are choosing to analyze. The three office buildings we will be looking at are the Comcast Center, the One World Trade Center, and the Cira Center.

 For all three buildings mentioned above we will be looking at how they were constructed, what special, if any, techniques were used. Going more in depth for this process will be difficult as the information will likely be tough to find. We will describe current existing technologies that are being used in the buildings themselves. We will go through the current impact that these have on the occupants. Then we will go into what features we can expect to see that will improve these buildings and how these intelligent systems will affect the workplace, designers, and construction.

In our conclusion we will be discussing how other building information technologies that were not discussed earlier on in our paper could be used in other general office buildings. We will also reiterate and concisely summarize how the design and construction industries could be revolutionized by these changes as well as go into how patrons using these buildings will be impacted. We will then reiterate what technologies will be present and prevalent in the next 10-15 years.

The biggest challenge we will face by far is finding all of the information about the current buildings themselves. Sometimes these details can be tough to find and shrouded in secrecy. We chose this topic because it is very interesting and was something that this class got us thinking about. It directly ties into intelligent buildings since that's the focus of what we are talking about on the office buildings.

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

Comments:
Comment on Samuel Boyce's post
Comment on Rebecca Lynch's post

B4 - Group E - Swartz

My group’s project is the use of 3D printing in the construction industry. We will explore the current and future uses of 3D printing technology including the materials, methods, and real life examples. So far, we have specified the main materials being 3D printed in the construction industry as concrete, metal, plastic, wood, and other materials such as regolith, a material that is abundant throughout the earth, moon, Mars, and some asteroids [1]. The main methods of 3D printing will also be explored such as the machines used and the feasibility of those methods.

We will also discuss real life examples of 3D printed structures and investigate their benefits and limitations. A real life example that will be explored is China’s 3D printing of the world’s first villa and the world’s tallest printed apartment building. The villa was printed in less than 3 hours and used a combination of 3D printing and modularity to print and assemble the building [2]. Another example that will be explored is a 3D printed office building in Dubai. The building will include a completely printed interior layout, including printed furniture. Contrary to the villa example in china, the proposed office building will be printed on site with a 20 foot tall 3D printer. The materials that will be printed include special reinforced concrete, fiber reinforced plastic, and glass fiber reinforced gypsum. Similarly to the villa, the office building will be completed in a fraction of normal construction time, a matter of a few weeks [3].

My group will also explore the future of the 3D printing industry in construction, and the possibilities it presents. A possibility that involves the use of regolith is the printing of structures on the moon, planets, and asteroids in space. These structures may one day require no physical man power to construct and will be completed in a fraction of the current time.

A basic outline of our project can be seen below:

3D Printing in Buildings

·       Abstract

·       Introduction

·       History of 3D Printing

·       Background of 3D Printing in Construction

·       Examples of 3D Printing Applications

·       Materials

·       Concrete
·       Metal

·       Wood

·       Plastic

·       Alloys

·       Other (Moon Rocks)

·       3D Printing in Construction

·       Printing Methods

·       Structural Components

·       Entire Structure Examples

·       WinSun China builds world’s first 3D printed villa and tallest 3D printed apartment building

·       UAEIC 3D Printing Office Building

·       Future of 3D Printing

·       Additional Construction Applications

·       Growth of 3D Printing

·       Conclusions

·       References

References:

[1] http://www.esa.int/Highlights/Lunar_3D_printing

[2] http://3dprintingindustry.com/2015/07/20/3d-printed-modular-villa-assembled-in-three-hours/

[3] http://3dprint.com/77550/dubai-3d-printed-office/

Comments:

Alexis Aikins-

This sounds like an interesting topic. We have all always learned that sunlight imposes a large thermal load on buildings, but the effect of sunlight on occupant productivity is something that also needs to be considered. It is also good that you will be incorporating what you learn during this research on your senior design project. That only makes this topic that much more important because it demonstrates the real life application of your research. I also agree with what you said about the control of daylighting being an adaptive technology. The weather is unpredictable, and can only be controlled in buildings through the use of sensors and other intelligent building components. Good post.

Mohammed Alqallaf-

This sounds like an awesome project, and one that really needs to be done. It is good that you are able to incorporate your senior design project into this project, because it will only increase the overall quality of your design. You project also demonstrates the need for modeling existing buildings with BIM software, because of renovations such as the alumni labs. I also liked your point about having hand on BIM experience will help you to better understand the building integration process, and I believe that that knowledge is important for everyone in the construction industry to understand. Good Post.

B4 - Group C - Faisal Alghati

Our AE 510 project will be part of the senior design project, which it is the Renovation of Alumni Engineering Labs (AEL). The building was built in 1950 as part of an extension project to Drexel University’s Main Building Complex. The adjacent building is located on 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA. This project will consist of renovating the AEL in terms of its architectural, mechanical, and structural systems. The renovation will improve the circulation throughout the building and provide a better distribution of spaces, independent for each engineering department. The building’s aesthetics will also be renovated to give the building a modern look. With regard to the dated mechanical system, the renovation will provide better HVAC efficiency. In order to do so, the current system will be enhanced with modern equipment, and additional equipment will be placed where needed. Furthermore, the insulation will be improved and the building envelope will be upgraded. With regards to the structural system, the building will be expanded vertically by adding two new floors, allowing for the desired additional square footage.

 

The Alumni Engineering Labs (AEL) 

My partner Mohammed Alqallaf and I will create a 3-D Revit model and redesign most what the building elements as a part of the renovation process in addition of two new floors. The renovations workflow will follow the process of:

1-      Capture data from existing building model

2-      Create and process the 3D Revit Model

3-      Develop the Model and analyze

We have already started transforming all AutoCAD documents into Revit as 2-D plans and that was quite challenging as we cannot import plans directly from AutoCAD to Revit. Of course, as beginners, and to be more familiar with Revit features, we have to watch tutorials and learn more. We also believe that the ability to create a complete BIM model and the use of this to help to analyze the costs and develop as schedule of the building construction process. However, with all of these challenges, we are so excited to and looking forward to see how is the final model will look.

Comments:

Danielle

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