B4: Group C - Alexis

My group is studying daylighting technologies in intelligent building for the final project. Daylighting is one feature of design that has a large impact on occupant productivity, energy efficiency, and aesthetics. We plan to study lighting sensors, smart glass windows, and passive daylighting techniques as three types of daylight harvesting strategies. Our project will also look into the energy usage of these three topics to compare their efficiency and common applications. My group was interested in researching the future advancements of daylighting, especially sensors and controls. I think this topic will be helpful for my senior design project as well. My team is working on designs to retrofit a historic warehouse to become a middle school. We want to incorporate the large existing windows of the warehouse into the overall lighting design in order to enhance the classroom environment and student productivity.

This research paper will be challenging in that the technology is only as beneficial as the occupants allow. Manual overrides that are not reset could potentially reverse the annual electricity savings. It will also be challenging to narrow our research since it is a broad topic and widely adopted in new construction.

This topic is tied to intelligent building because it is one aspect of adaptive technology. Lighting sensors read ambient light levels and will adjust the intensity of interior fixtures in response to the outdoor conditions. This control sequence depends on location, building orientation, and type of space. The photosensors adjust the electric lighting in the space based on the intensity of available daylight through building fenestration. The most advanced types of systems are connected to dimming switches, which will regulate the amount of electric powered lighting throughout the day. These systems are generally more difficult to install and more costly because of the additional sensors and integration with the building automation system.

All three daylight harvesting systems that we chose could be used together. Dimming systems will work the best in spaces with skylights, clerestory windows, light tubes, or glass curtain walls. Since these sensors and calibration have a high initial cost, they are most common in open commercial spaces like lobbies, open office spaces, schools, and malls. Passive lighting is nothing new to the building design industry, but adaptive technologies have found ways to take advantage of the variations in lighting levels throughout the day. Photosensors are now a common characteristic in new construction projects for occupant productivity and increased energy savings compared to the baseline model.

Reference:
http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/daylighting/rp_simplifiedconcepts.asp

Comments:

Cathlene,
Very interesting topic - even though there is still a lot of research and testing to be done, this type of 3D printing could transform building design and construction. I am a bit skeptical that we will see this applied in the near future because of the two issues of buildability and flowability like you mentioned. It is a really interesting concept but there are still huge developments to be made before we see this applied at such a large scale as a building envelope. I think architectural firms will be the
most eager to adopt this technology for modeling complex forms and curved facades. This type of advancement will also call for a new skill set in the structural engineering field, since designers will need advanced software to model stresses around the built-in openings for duct mains, conduit, and piping.

Maq,
Sounds like a great project - it will be extremely helpful to have a 3D model that your group can develop throughout the term for section views and refer to for schedules. You may be able to link the AutoCAD plans to your Revit model through the Manage Links tab. That might help you match the existing floor plans which you can place on the demolition phase, and all new mechanical and structural systems can be on a separate new construction phase. Even though the central model and local files are not available here, having a 3D model will help your team visualize any coordination issues.

B2 - Adrian Kuzniarowicz Group E

For this week’s discussion post, Group E was instructed to read Chapter 6 of BIM Handbook: A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners. In Chapter 6 of the guide, the author writes about the various applications which BIM technologies are used for by contractors in the field.

The utilization of BIM technology in the construction field has tremendous impacts on the cost, time, and constructability of most construction projects. In design, BIM is utilized by all members of the project team to accurately model and integrate the components of the construction process. The implementation of BIM technology in the construction process allows for a better planned construction process with a reduced number of potential conflicts. Projects that benefit from interdisciplinary BIM models are typically ones that include IPD, or Integrated Project Delivery. IPD is a joint contract that requires architects, designers, general contractors, and trade contractors to work together from the start of a project.

In today’s construction field, BIM technologies can be utilized for a number of applications, including the following:

·         Clash Detection, Quantity Takeoff,  Cost Estimating,Construction Analysis and Planning, Integration with cost and schedule control and other management functions,  Etc.

In the past, contractors have been deemed with the task of performing manual quantity take-offs, estimates, and schedules, which became a very tedious and time consuming process. As time has progressed, contractors have recognized the importance of team communication and collaboration early into the project and how the implementation of BIM technology can simplify the organizational tasks which must be completed by contractors prior, during, and after the construction sequence. By considering the importance of team collaboration for the creation of useful BIM models, the number of errors in a project can be significantly reduced compared to previous construction projects which did not use BIM.

This guide presents an informative take on the importance of the emergence and utilization of BIM technologies in the construction field. The chapter on contractor implementation of BIM technologies presents good examples of applications and expectations of how BIM software impacts a contractors methodologies. The chapter demonstrated various different applications where BIM software is utilized in construction which I had no idea about. I found the chapter very interesting and informative considering BIM technology will only continue to advance and be implement in construction and design all over the world.

Comments:

  Kate Flint:

Kate,

From your post, it seems that your chapter on the implementation of BIM by Architects and Engineers pointed out many of the same things as my chapter on the implantation of BIM by Contractors. Similarly to Chapter 5, Chapter 6 stressed the importance of BIM in the early phases of the design process. I found that for a contractor to have an accurate BIM model, there must be collaboration between disciplines early in the process. In regards to your co-op experience, I have seen the same problem with tradesman not wanting to get on board. I believe that this is because they just want to get in and out of the project to get paid as fast as they can.

 Laura Worley

Laura,

In your last paragraph you mentioned the importance of the feature of clash detection in BIM software. I don’t know how extensively Chapter 2 touched on the subject, but in Chapter 6 on the Contractor implementations of BIM, the topic is discussed very extensively. It really gives you a good idea of how important BIM is when considering a fully integrated building design. I also agree with your statement of the importance of BIM in determining load paths through a structure. I have also used BIM for this and it has proven to be very beneficial.

Reference:
Eastman, Charles M. 2011. BIM Handbook : A Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers and Contractors. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), EBSCOhost.