B1: Group C - Mridul Chulet

Robotics:

In a simple definition, robotics is a branch of study which deals with the applications of robots. With the advancement in technology on a daily basis, humans are designing more and more robots with the sole purpose of reducing their work load. On the other hand some believe that with the rise in technology every day, robots will soon rule the world. But, it is true that robots have increase the speed and improved the precision of work. Today, you can use the robots in any field you want whether its military or medical purpose or household work.  For instance, double robotics a startup company has developed a robot which aims to reduce the difficulties faced by remote or disabled workers. They used the concept of telepresence where the robot physically goes to the office on your behalf and you can control it back from home and which incorporates features such as Skype or Slack. [1] Therefore, in my opinion having a robotic double is still not exactly as been at the office in person but it is one step closer.

Reference:

1.     Hook, Leslie. "Double Robotics: Enhanced Telepresence - FT.com." Financial Times.  

   

3-D printing:

3-D printing is the process of manufacturing three dimensional solid objects from a digital file which is achieved using additive process. With the increase in popularity of 3-D printing, it is nowadays been adopted by big companies because of benefits such as cheap manufacturing, quick production, less wastage and better quality. The article 5 Incredible Trends That Will Shape Our 3D Printed Future by Rick smith published on Forbes is quite revealing. The main five trends which the author discusses are: Consumer and Industrial Goods, Custom Production Materials, Nano-Printing, Goal-Directed Design and 4D Printing. For instance, 3-D printing is so easy that you can print anything you want. Whether its shoes, mobile case, toys, utensils etc. You just have to look up for the design on the internet, save it digitally and print. [2] Furthermore, with the rate of advancement in technology 4-D printing will soon be possible where you can print a 3D object that can automatically self-assemble or change shape when confronted with a change in its environment, such as temperature or moisture.  

Reference: 

     2.   Smith, Rick. "5 Incredible Trends That Will Shape Our 3D Printed Future." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 7 July 2015.

Artificial Intelligence (AI):

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the branch of computer science concerned with making computers behave like humans. As of today, no computers exhibit full AI but with the day to day inventions it will soon be possible. The article 18 artificial intelligence researchers reveal the profound changes coming to our lives by Guia Marie Del Prado published on tech insider almost give us an image about the future of AI. Some of the benefits of AI discussed in the article are: it will help robots keep humans safe from disaster, use of implants will make humans better at everything, AI might turn humans into to super humans, smart computers can solve all our problems such as climate change and AI might even help save the world. [3] Therefore, in my opinion the use of AI will definitely help the human race achieve greatness and make our lives easier.

Reference:

     3.    Prado, Guia Marie Del. "18 Artificial Intelligence Researchers Reveal the Profound Changes Coming to Our Lives." Tech Insider, 26 Oct. 2015.

Conclusion:

All the articles aforementioned show the astonishing advancements in Robotics, Artificial intelligence and 3-D printing. In the coming decades, we shouldn't expect that the human race will become extinct and be replaced by robots. We can expect that Robots and AI technology will go on producing more and more sophisticated applications which will make our lives better and might even help save the world. From a construction stand point of view, it will definitely help reduce wastage, manual labor, decrease construction cost and help produce better buildings.  

Comments: 

Mohammed Alqallaf, 

 I really liked reading your post. Replacing human’s intuition with algorithms will not only help solve big problems but it will also help save time and money. Before, reading your post I didn’t know that sociology also plays an important role in the building construction. I completely disagree that robots will take over humans. Astonishing advancements in Robotics will only help us make our lives better. Overall you wrote a good post and the statements you wrote make complete sense.

Eduardo Borja,

Great selection of articles for your post. It is astonishing that how the advancement in the technology allows us to make our lives better. I read the similar article as China in which a company has developed a robot which can go to office on your behalf. The robot aims to reduce the difficulties faced by remote or disabled workers by been virtually present at the workplace. But in the future, use of robots and other technology will definitely have an effect on the Job industry.

 

B1 - Group E- Swartz

Databases, networks, and sociology are three crucial aspects of the future intelligent buildings and construction. Nearly all "intelligent" features of buildings utilize one if not all of them as they are essentially the backbone of information sharing throughout a building.

Databases

There are a wide variety of uses for databases in the intelligent building industry. They can be used for collecting data during construction, such as scheduling and tracking concrete pours and deliveries, as well as for collecting data throughout a building's occupancy, such as automatically collecting weather data to be used in heating and cooling load calculations. An extremely useful application of databases in building systems is the collection of a building's total energy consumption [1]. If the energy usage for the building is tracked, it can be used to make the building's total energy consumption from the grid very efficient.

Networks

Networks are used throughout buildings in order to provide communication between various systems. They usually go hand in hand with databases, the networks distributing the data and the databases storing it. Networks are especially useful when combined with motion sensors in various areas of a building. The sensors detect occupancy within a space and that information is carried through a network, to a data base and is used to efficiently control the heating/cooling/lighting of a space [2].

Sociology

Sociology will always play a large role in intelligent buildings as it does with every other industry. Throughout history it is evident that as mankind has evolved and become more intelligent, so have our buildings. The building industry is currently following society in becoming more digital and intelligent. It is important to point out that there is a difference between intelligent buildings and automated buildings, in that intelligent buildings are more equipped to change with society [3]. For example, if a building was evacuated for a long period of time, an intelligent building would shut down its systems until it became occupied again, while an automated building would turn its systems on and off at set times.


[1] http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S036013230600312X
[2]http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0957-0233/12/9/706/meta;jsessionid=A82ED88265963A4DE2BED592693ED990.ip-10-40-2-75
[3]https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=5EYU9jvsnvsC&oi=fnd&pg=PA25&dq=sociology+intelligent+building&ots=Z8mFHEu-6s&sig=9ifrhu-RJ-2vhTJg0Z0gxBtu_tk#v=onepage&q=sociology%20intelligent%20building&f=false

B1 Group D: Kate Flint

HVAC

Keen Home’s Smart Vents implement Smart Phone App technology, and pressure and temperature sensors.  Vents can be remotely opened and closed from the App depending on which rooms are occupied during different times of the day. The vents are battery powered and can replace any standard vent. Each room will receive a schedule depending on its function so the app knows what time of day the room is most often occupied.  This cuts down on energy use and will make a residential HVAC system more efficient.  The article also explains that this technology is best when implemented with a smart thermostat.

http://www.wired.com/2015/01/brilliant-air-vents-never-knew-needed/#slide-x

Sensors

MyFox security system allows a homeowner to monitor their home’s safety when they are away via cameras. When the family returns home the cameras shut off to preserve their privacy.  The system’s 2-way audio capability allows family members away from home to communicate with those in the home. This system also utilizes an App which stores up to 7 days of recorded video, can arm and disarm the system, and monitor who is entering and exiting. Sensors on doors and windows will detect a break-in and sound the alarm before an intruder can enter the home. Users can also allow friends and neighbors access to their security system, which can be helpful when traveling out of town.

http://www.getmyfox.com/us_en/

Database

Before data can be analyzed, we must understand how it is connected.  Graphing data can be helpful to understand and manipulate data. According to the All Things D article, “graphs are the best abstraction we have for modeling and querying connectedness.” Personally, I have not worked with Big Data before or many databases. A graph database is defined as “an online transactional system that allows you to store, manage and query your data in the form of a graph.”  Data and databases are important to almost all career fields to help businesses grow and better understand their customers.  Telenor, a wireless Telco company, uses graphs to organize Big Data on customer accounts.

http://allthingsd.com/20130109/graphs-as-a-new-way-of-thinking/

AI/Future

“Artificial Intelligence will replace Smartphone in five years.”  This is an alarming and interesting statement.  This idea was concluded after surveying 5000 Smartphone users around the world. This article explains the many limitations of Smartphone, which explains why AI could replace them. A handheld device with a definite battery life is limiting and impractical.  Most of those polled believed that AI will become wearable and many household appliances will contain an audio AI component.  They also believed that an AI system could replace teachers, travel agents, assistants, and doctors in certain situations.  This article demonstrates that the Smart Homes of the future are much closer than we think.

http://www.kurzweilai.net/ai-will-replace-smartphones-within-5-years-ericsson-survey-suggests

Comments:

Danielle, I was very interested in the idea you mentioned of "data singularity" and the Internet of Things. I think this technology would be especially helpful in building design and monitoring. Currently I think the construction industry is lacking an understanding of how humans utilize buildings and building systems. An apartment building can have the most advance, efficient HVAC system in the world, but if none of the residence know how to use it properly it is not very efficient.
Another issue I foresee with "data singularity"is the issue of privacy. Americans especially greatly value their privacy and may not want their every move recorded and analyzed for the advancement of science.
As you also stated, many advancements are being made to create more efficient HVAC and lighting systems. Buildings utilize a significant portion of the energy made around the world, and will need to become more efficient during this energy crisis.

I am especially interested in Passive House technology, which sets standards to make a building twice as efficient as a Platinum LEED building.  This technology pairs a highly efficient envelope (with a high R-value) with a small, efficient HVAC system.   Passive House buildings are able to keep and maintain a comfortable internal temperature and use less energy than conventional buildings. These buildings can become more energy efficient by adding AI and smart building components such as Smart Vents and a smart thermostat.

http://www.phius.org/home-page

James http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/b1-group-d-redus.html?showComment=1452638545809#c6660136212418568563

Rebecca Lynch (Group A)-B1

The field of AI is changing the way that we as humans perform daily tasks ranging from how we drive to how we work and collaborate. The interesting thing that I found in the advancement of AI was the change in how these systems are programmed. The article entitled “The End of Work?” discusses the changes that are occurring, and are expected to occur, in the workforce due to the advancements in AI. This integration into the workforce is due to new methods of deep learning where computers are able to teach themselves based on experience through pattern recognition and trial and error. These methods are demonstrated in the article “How to teach machines to see.” In this article, a program was created using these methods that recognized patterns in images to identify and group objects in order to identify the surroundings. This was done by labeling each individual pixel in thousands of photos. After enough photos, the computer is able to group the pixels into the preassigned groups, such as pavement, buildings, and pedestrians, based on the prior experience. This will enable a more accurate determination of a self-driving car’s location and surroundings compared to the current use of GPS and sensors.

The expansion of deep learning methods will allow for the in integration of AI into the workplace through programming computers to perform simple tasks that can be checked and modified by humans. This will free time for professionals to work on the more interesting or difficult tasks. These capabilities are limited, however, in that computers lack human intuition and creativity. They are also task-specific and lack the ability to perform generalized tasks. These limit the uses of AI to programmable, task-oriented jobs. The push towards use of AI in the workplace will change the nature of the job market. While many are worried that it will increase unemployment with the decrease in people needed to run a business, it will also open the door to more people in the field of robotics and programming, as well as create new fields. In addition, there will be a greater push for higher education and a continuation of learning after entering the workforce in order to compete with the emerging technologies.

In addition to allowing systems to be programmed through learning, there is also a change in how systems are programmed to interact with people. As Janet Tran discussed in her post, computers are better at performing specific tasks and organizing data from individual inputs into an overall solution. The majority of human-computation systems today are based on this ability of computers, with the computer assigning micro tasks to individuals, then organizing all of the results of these tasks to complete the main objective. However, this method limits the ability of the users to interact and collaborate, which allows people to build off of each other’s ideas, and does not allow the expansion of creativity that occurs when humans work in groups. In new human-computation technologies, the computer acts more as a sharing platform where the work of one individual is sent to the next to be evaluated and revised while the computer continues to integrate each individuals work into the overall goal. This new method allows individuals to build off of each other to expand the potentials of working together from far away with the potential to solve the world’s major problems.

With the new advancements in AI, people are becoming optimistic in their views of how they will live in the future. As Laura Worley discussed, the article entitled “AI will replace smartphones within 5 years, Ericsson survey suggests” demonstrates the populations desire to move away from smartphones to more integrated system of appliances and accessories. These technologies varied from 3D virtual reality around the viewer and holograms to AI doctors and teachers. While these technologies are possible in the future, I agree with Laura that the five –year timeline is unrealistic with some of these applications, such as doctors and teachers. This is mainly because the people surveyed were laypeople who were optimistic in what they want in the future, rather than the expert opinions of the possibilities and timelines.

References:

"AI Will Replace Smartphones Within 5 Years, Ericsson Survey Suggests." Kurzweil Accelerating Intelligence, 09 Dec. 2015. Web. 11 Jan. 2016. <http://www.kurzweilai.net/ai-will-replace-smartphones-within-5-years-ericsson-survey-suggests>.

"Can Human-machine Superintelligence Solve the World’s Most Dire Problems?" Kurzweil Accelerating Intelligence, 05 Jan. 2016. Web. 11 Jan. 2016. <http://www.kurzweilai.net/can-human-machine-superintelligence-solve-the-worlds-most-dire-problems>.

"How to Teach Machines to See." Kurzweil Accelerating Intelligence, 22 Dec. 2015. Web. 11 Jan. 2016. <http:// http://www.kurzweilai.net/how-to-teach-machines-to-see>.

Shisan, Ji. "The End of Work?" The New York Times. The New York Times, 09 Dec. 2015. Web. 11 Jan. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/10/opinion/the-end-of-work.html?ribbon-ad-idx=8&rref=science&module=Ribbon&version=context®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Science&pgtype=article>.

Comments:
Yuanjin Li

Janet Tran

B1: Group D: Redus

HVAC (& BIM)

The design of HVAC systems has changed significantly BIM systems have increased complexity. Until relatively recently man regulated the air quality and temperature of their dwellings by windows and fire. Obviously these primitive systems did not require advanced modeling techniques. During the last century people have developed many new tool to condition the air. Buffalo Forge was an early company that invented dehumidifiers and air filters. It was the fan however that created the HVAC industry [1]. Fans and pumps allowed air and other fluids to be piped from a central unit to auxiliary spaces. This allowed buildings to expand: rooms did not need windows to ventilate or a hearth to heat them.

The expanding complexity of HVAC systems also meant that designing them was more difficult. The loads of the spaces had to be calculated, and the engineer need to discern how best to condition them. The engineer and architect also needed to make sure the HVAC system did not interfere with any other systems. As the quality of indoor spaces improved people became fussier about the quality of their indoor space. Fortunately for the designers of such systems, humans were inventing computers simultaneous to fans, refrigerators, and filters. Enter BIM.

The concept of Building Information Modeling was first published in a 1962 paper by Douglas Englebart [2], it would take some time before his ideas would become a reality (rendering is difficult for punch cards). The first significant step was Charles Eastman’s Building Description System (a similar system was developed in the Soviet Union). Quirk describes it as a GUI that could render view and had a “sortable database that allows the user to retrieve information categorically by attributes,” (it was written on a PEP-10). BIM began to gain traction in the design community of England during the 1980’s with a variety of now forgotten systems. The 90’s saw an interesting development in BIM (of equal importance: I was born). Lawrence Berkeley National Labs (LBNL) developed the Building Design Advisor which could perform simulations and evaluate a model against given criteria. The International Foundation Class (IFC) file format was also developed in 1995 to ensure that different BIM systems could communicate with each other. The promised that structural engineer, MEP engineers, and architects will be able to communicate with each other.

The first popular BIM software was Revit, first released in 2000. Revit created a “ visual programming environment for creating parametric families [a set of related objects that are defined by a set of parameters] and [importantly] allowing for a time attribute to be added to a component,”  [2]. This time attribute allows contractors to simulate the building process. Other companies have created other BIM systems since Revit’s inception. The main advantage of such systems to an HVAC engineer is the ability to coordinate drawings among disciplines and reduce unforeseen conflicts.

Much more interesting to the engineer are the simulation programs. These programs can predict peak and annual loads to optimize system sizing and selection. Revit can produce such simulations, but there are many free software systems such as eQuest and OpenStudio that are also capable. eQuest operates on the U.S. Department of Energy’s DOE-2. Created in 1998 DOE-2 is a building energy analysis program that employs building and weather data to create an energy simulation (in hour increments) [3]. It is also capable of estimating the building’s utility costs (interestingly, it was also designed by LBNL, among others). eQuest utilizes wizards to input the data into DOE-2 and presents the results in a user-friendly format. This allows HVAC designers to evaluate and compare different system selections. EnergyPlus is the next generation of DOE-2. It can handle additional complexities such as air movement between zones and more advanced fenestration models [4]. Simergy is the GI for EnergyPlus. OpenStudio is an open source collection of software tools for energy modeling. It uses EnergyPlus and a daylight analysis program called Radiance. There are many other energy modeling tool that a engineering firm can utilize to help select the best system design.

Sensors

Merriam-Webster defines a sensor as “a device that responds to a physical stimulus (as heat, light, sound, pressure, magnetism, or a particular motion) and transmits a resulting impulse (as for measurement or operating control.” Cornelis Drebbel, the famous inventor, built the first thermostat prior to 1630 [5]. The 1880s saw the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Many different sensors have been developed since that time. The Clapper is a company that sells a system to turn ones lights on or off when they clap. Some of the more common building sensors include temperature, humidity, motion, CO₂, and light.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is practice of simulating human intelligence, especially through computer science. One interesting recent development in AI is the ability of computers to “see.” While the first digital cameras were developed in the mid-1970s and facial-recognition in the late 1990s computers have been unable to comprehend what they are looking at (beyond basic geometry). One fascinating project by Baidu aims to change that. Their produce, called DuLight, generates an audio description of a live image [6]. While the goal of the project is merely to increase the perception of a blind person, there is a lot of potential from this project. Computers can already operate from written words (this is what modern programming is based on). A computer that can see can operate based on its surroundings.

Database

Wikipedia defines a database as “an organized collection of data. It is the collection of schemas, tables, queries, reports, views and other objects. The data are typically organized to model aspects of reality in a way that supports processes requiring such information.” In other words, database software provides convenient ways to enter, store, and retrieve relevant information for a set of events. They are the backbone of BIM systems. The wonderful thing about BIM is that each object has a useful description built in. A slab in AutoCAD looks like a rectangle. A slab in Revit has a thickness, materials, construction time, R-value, and many other specifications. Revit knows all this information because the project file is really a database file, the UI simply a wizard.

Future

What does the future hold? No one really knows, but it looks pretty exciting (if the politicians don’t screw things up). When our parents were born (the 60s), computer memory was just transitioning away from paper. When we were born (the 90s) laptops and the internet were gaining popularity and computer games were becoming a thing [7]. Now (2015) we carry the entirety of human knowledge in our pocket and consider computer programming requisite part of elementary education. In the 60s every building was drawn on paper by hand, the only calculation aid a slide rule. Today we have many complex applications to model and simulate our buildings (Revit, SAP2000, Simergy, etc.). What will our industry look like in 2070? While I really have no idea, I can guess one thing based on history: we won’t be bored.

[1] Stonecypher, Lamar. Bright Hub Engineering. 26 November 2009, “History of HVAC: Knowing the Timeline.” Accessed 9 January 2016, Available: < brighthubengineering.com>

[2] Quirk, Vanessa. Arch Daily. 7 December 2012, “A Brief History of BIM.” Accessed 9 January 2016, Available: <archdaily.com>

[3] James J. Hirsch & Assiciates. DOE2.com. 2012, “Welcome to DOE2.com.” Accessed 9 January 2016, available: <doe2.com>

[4] U.S. Department of Energy. Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. 11 December 2015, “EnergyPlus Energy Simulation Software.” Accessed 9 January 2016, available: <apps1.eere.energy.gov>

[5] Tierie, Gerrit. Cornelis Drebbel. 1932. Accessed 11 January 2016, available: <drebbel.net>

[6] Metz, Cade. Wired. 1 January 2016, “Artificial Intelligence Finally Entered our Everyday World.” Accessed 11 January 2016, available: <wired.com>

[7] Computer History Museum. Timeline of Computer History. 2016. Accessed 11 January 2016, available: <computerhistory.org>

Comments:

http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/b1-group-d-kate-flint.html?showComment=1452634055589#c3874827947329324040

http://ae-510-ay15-16.blogspot.com/2016/01/b1-future.html?showComment=1452636034867#c6839479571691892893