B7 - Course Reflection - Swartz

This class has been one of my favorites during my time at Drexel. Before the first class, I had expected a traditional course with quizzes, exams, and long lectures about intelligent buildings. I was pleasantly surprised by the actual structure of the course, which consisted of about 50% lecture and 50% group work. I feel that this structure allowed me to learn a lot more about the subjects taught in the class and be more involved in the class work.

In terms of the subjects discussed, I think that they were all very interesting topics that really make you think about the future of intelligent buildings. The main topics discussed in the class that I think will greatly impact my professional and private life include 3D printing, Databases, and BIM. As a student pursuing a career in structural engineering, I foresee that the structural analysis of 3D printed materials will be a major aspect of my career, and holds a lot of potential for work to be done in that field. As far as databases go, I believe I will be using them increasingly more during my career as a structural engineer because they are a great, efficient way of tracking the beam and column sizes in buildings. This class greatly prepared me for the use of databases, and I thought that the database assignment was extremely useful in understanding how to create and effectively use them.

BIM was probably the most important subject for me to learn about during this class. I believe that the fact that we can recognize the evolution of 2 Dimensional drawing software into 3 Dimensional building information modeling gives this generation an advantage over those who experienced the evolution from drafting to AutoCad. There is no argument to make that BIM is not the future of the building industry, and this class only clarified that point further for me.

For the future, I would like to continue studying 3D printing, Databases, and BIM as they pertain to the building industry. I think that this class was not only extremely useful, but a lot of fun at the same time and at the very least opened my eyes to the endless possibilities for the future of the building industry.

Comments:

Maq AlQallaf-

After reading your course reflection I believe we both had similar experiences during this course. It was interesting to read what you took from the class as an architectural engineer with a mechanical concentration, and the similarities between what I took from it as a structural concentration. It appears that we both found value in learning about BIM and Databases, which I think further expresses the emerging importance of these subjects. Nice post.

William Whitesell-

I agree with you that hearing from industry professionals during this class was a lot more useful than a traditional class structure. I also agree with you that the database assignment was a bit difficult, and I think it could have been a bit less open ended in terms of what was required for the assignment. Also, I had similar problems with being requested to focus more on the engineering principles of my final project instead of exploring the opportunities in my subject, which was 3D printing, more extensively.

B7 - Course Reflection - Hamad Al-Hajri

Overall, the course was very informative and very interesting (Concept's wise). Also, I enjoyed the majority of the lectures, especially the ones in line with my interests. The materials covered were mostly directly related to the field of engineering. Therefore, it was extremely beneficial to learn how "New Technological Concepts" can be incorporated with our current engineering knowledge. Although the materials covered were extremely informative, I feel a three hours long lecture could make the students lose interest. However, some classes needed to be three hours long, like when we had guest lecturers over. Perhaps the best aspect of the class, in my opinion, was when we had practitioners over to tell us about their personal perspectives and gave great insights! I will be reflecting on the course in terms of the following:


Weekly Blog Posts: This was a major advantage because it helped me further explore concepts discussed in class and, consequently communicate my findings with my classmates. Furthermore, reading other posts and commenting on them was, also, very advantageous because it exposed me to other interesting concepts and personal experiences.

Assignments: Overall, the assignments helped me enormously expand my understanding and knowledge of a number of software. Although a novice Revit user, I was able to understand how to use and explore it's many capabilities (Adding Families..etc). The database assignment was also very helpful. I realized how important it is (Database Software) for corporations and firms, because it helps them organize valuable information. Finally, the final paper was, in my opinion, the most enjoyable assignment. It gave me the opportunity to explore parts of me I didn't know about. It made me realize that engineering is a much broader concept and can be effectively deployed in humanitarian aid, as well as, in many vital aspects of our life.

Personal Experience: In my opinion, it is a must class, especially for CAEE students. It was a fun and valuable experience for me. Although I learned a lot from the lectures, I learned a lot more outside of class. How? The assignments made us independently search for answers, research particular concepts, and write on whatever we find interesting. Furthermore, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the technologies discussed in class are effectively deployed in the near future. Finally, the class, in my opinion, accommodated, at one point, the majority's interests. As a civil engineering major, I would very much recommend this class.


In conclusion, the syllabus and the workload were very reasonable. The materials covered gave us an introduction to potential technologies to be implemented in the near future. However, as stated in the class and by a number of guest lecturers, these technologies might have negative social impacts. Although change sometimes is good, necessary, and important, it can also be complex, messy and scary.

Comments :

Yasmina Shields:

I absolutely agree with you. After this class, I realized the potential of intelligent buildings and its impact on the world and us (CAE engineers). Furthermore, like you stated, compared to other industries we are still behind in terms of advancements and such, however, it is changing right now as the class proved so. Finally, this class gave us the chance to further expand our knowledge on how to use Revit.


Al-Qallaf:

I remember signing up for the class for the exact same reason. I felt after repetitive engineering courses it's time to take something different and unique. Also, the vast amount of emerging technologies discussed in class, like you stated, is just fascinating. I would also agree with you that after taking this class, I more aware of so many concepts, and software due to the assignments given in this class.

B7 - Shields

Overall I feel more informed about the vast potential of intelligent buildings and what I may be seeing as a future civil engineer; the civil/architectural engineering industry is known for being decades behind other industries in terms of transformative technology, and through this class I’ve been introduced to progressive technology relevant to our fields that I had no idea existed. Between autonomous construction methods (robots), 3-D self-printed bridges in Amsterdam, to 3-D concrete printing, I was surprised at how progressive this field is becoming and what potential lies ahead.

In my first blog post for the class at the beginning of the term, I had expected to gain a more thorough understanding of Intelligent Buildings and learn how to apply that knowledge towards my career aspirations as a structural engineer; upon review of the syllabus, throughout the course I can say that I am capable of successfully defining concepts related to Intelligent Buildings, am much more proficient in using Revit than before I started this course and can evaluate advantages of using BIM, have a deeper understanding of SQL and relational databases, as well as assess future technology trends relevant to Intelligent Buildings. My definition and understanding of intelligent buildings has since changed; I initially thought intelligent buildings were simply designed using BIM software and require minimal physical labor to construct using remote assembly. This is a very basic and not an all-encompassing definition, as I now view intelligent buildings as incorporating computer technology in any part of the system.

As Professor Mitchell said in the beginning of the term, AE 510 is a course where you get just as much out of the class as the effort you put into it, in addition to being attentive during lecture and writing weekly blog posts. For my and Danielle Schroeder’s final project, we did a research paper on the viability of autonomous homes, where we discussed green vs. intelligent features and if they were equivalent terms. Had we had more time in our schedules, I would have liked to incorporate a BIM model to go along with the paper of a preliminary design of an autonomous home, in order to get more experience with Revit. 

Comments:
Whitesell
Schroeder

B7 - Group D - Ayon

This course gave me insight not only on the newest technological advances in the construction and design industries, but also made me look at things differently. After looking at the key term Professor Mitchell introduced at the beginning of the course (BIM, database, sensors, 3D printing, etc.) you see there is much more there to an intelligent building. The importance of these key terms goes beyond simple definition understating, therefore we were required to do several class projects and write blogs to further enhance out knowledge.

Through the weekly blogs, we were given a specific topic and we had to analyze this topic in relation to BIM, always looking for limitations and advantages. Providing sources was an excellent way to go out of the box, in my opinion, since it made us look for current applications of that topic and compare it to the future. I personally felt curious after writing a blog about robotics, therefore I decided to do my research paper on that.

Also, we had larger projects to complete through the term allowing us to put into practice the definitions we had learned about the key terms. For instance, creating a database using Microsoft Access made me look at the importance of databases and more importantly, how they work. It was a challenging task for me since it was the first time I was creating a database, but it made realize and understand the importance of applying this in the real world. A construction project would run easier and smoother with this application, as not only material properties and specifics would be in the database, but also cost information, schedule, constriction plans, and even contractors information.

Taking these course made me realize there is more out there than simple sketched done through AutoCAD, that there is a whole intelligent world created with the intend to facilitate the job of the engineers, architects and designers. In the future, I hope to get further knowledge on these applications and put them into practice. Technology is something that will keep changing through the years, and us as Engineers need to be able to adapt to what is new out there and willing to implement these new technologies to our work.    

B7 - Group E - Alqallaf

Initially, when I signed up to take this course I did not really know what the material of this course would be but the name grabbed my attention. Being an architectural engineering major pursuing a career in the building design industry I always strive to increase my knowledge in emerging technologies. I have learned from studying engineering and from work experience that efficiency and easy access to data/information is key when it comes to design. The notion of working smarter as opposed to harder is extremely prominent in the building design and construction industry. Taking this course has further reinforced my belief in this concept and opened up new interests for me.

Before taking this course I had a very general and basic idea of what BIM is and how it is implemented in the building design industry. Coming into this class my goal was getting better at utilizing BIM and understanding more about interoperability. I learned that BIM and interoperability are tools of efficiency in the building industry. Tools that should be utilized properly to maximize product output. Working for an engineering design firm for my coop I had to coordinate duct work with the structural system in a Revit model. That saved a lot of work and time. It gave more time for the structural engineers to innovate and come up with new ideas for the system.

Furthermore, I learned a lot about databases and the importance of a database in the building/construction industry. Being a mechanical concentration, I had to use multiple databases for HVAC calculations. This includes solar data, weather data, etc. Some databases are huge and are updated by the hour but I never paid attention to the importance of databases. The database assignment helped me better understand how a database is structured and how it helps with easily accessing information. I believe that I can implement using a database for anything in the future for it is a great way to organize information.

In conclusion, I learned a lot from this course. I really enjoyed researching and reading more into innovations and emerging building technologies. The assignments were very helpful and I believe that the class was structured really well. I hope to utilize what I learned from this class in my future career.

Frasca,

I really enjoyed reading your course reflection. Likewise, I believe that the lectures were very long and splitting them up or having a shorter lecture would’ve probably been a lot better. I personally have a short attention span and it’s very hard for me to focus for 3 continuous hours. I agree with the amazing learning experience I had taking this class. There were many things that I did not know about advancements in the building design and construction industry that I know now.

Kate Flint,

I agree with your opinion on BIM being an important aspect for people looking to work in the construction industry. I really enjoyed learning more about BIM. Especially databases. I had little to no knowledge in databases. I did not even know how important databases are until I took this course. I learned that efficiency and easy access to information is key in the building industry. 

B7: Group C - Mridul

As a civil engineering student with concentration towards structural engineering, I was never familiar with the topics covered in AE-510. I found the course really informative which covered a range of interesting topics such as AI, BIM, robotics, databases management, 3-D printing, different types of sensors which can be used in the construction process and in green buildings. It gave me an insight in future for the aforementioned fields and how they will improve the construction and the engineering industry in the coming years.

One of aspects I liked the most about the course were the guest lecturers. Every week when the guest lecturers discussed about there work from different industries, it gave me more insight on how the technology is been used today and how important can it be in the future. It was also a good networking opportunity as the presentations helped me learn about their company and the work they do which helped me assess my goals after college. The class mainly consisted of blog posts, guest’s lecturers, lectures and assignments. Blog posts helped me learn more about the technologies in depth through the research and give my opinions about them. Replying to blog posts of my peers also helped me learn more about the topic and their opinions. I liked how Professor Mitchell showed us different videos and presentations which helped us learn more about the topic. The various assignments we did in the class gave us an opportunity to plunge to different topics discussed in class. I had never worked on Revit and MS Access before. Through the assignments I was able to learn the software’s and their importance in the engineering industry. Overall, the blog posts and the assignments gave me a better understanding about the course i.e. intelligent buildings.

I really enjoyed this class as my professional elective credit because it is one of few courses which discussed about intelligent buildings. Through the course I learned that how building information models (BIM) is an integral part of the buildings. Few of the advantages of BIM I came across the course and through guest lectures is that it helps capture reality, maintain & control efficiently through digital model based workflow, help the architects and the engineers visualize easily and present better 3-D views.

Comments:

Hamad Al-Hajri,

I really enjoyed reading your blogpost. I completely agree with you that the class helped us increase our knowledge of number of software’s in the class and the weekly blog post helped us gain more in-depth knowledge about the concepts discussed related to intelligent buildings. Also, I agree that the overall syllabus and the workload in class was very reasonable. In conclusion, the class definitely helped me get an insight about the technologies in the coming future.

Kate Flint,

Good job. Your blogpost was really informative. I agree that BIM plays a very important role in the construction industry for buildings. Through the course I learned that how building information models (BIM) is an integral part of the buildings. Through your post I enjoyed learning more about BIM. Few of the BIM advantages I came across in the course are that it helps the architects and the engineers visualize easily with better 3-D views and use the digital model based workflow more efficiently.  

William Whitesell-Group C-Reflection

As I entered this course, I imagined it would be focused on computer based simulations and integrating our respective disciplines. However, it turned out to be a more of a free ended course, where the gains were equaled effort. Avenues of the information age were introduced and critical thinking by the student was encouraged. This led us to form opinions of what we see, with the future of technology and integration with buildings. Speakers were introduced to depict real world practices and where the industry will likely head in the future.

Robotics, automated systems and artificial intelligence was an area of focus throughout the term; how the information age is changing construction for the future. We saw that robotics have an increasing presence in the construction and the modeling phase.  Artificial intelligence is another way the building industry is revolutionizing. It is first in the modeling phase, with additional system analysis and more comprehensive models. This leads to increased building efficiency and lower cost. The detail of work required is advantageous from the bidding to the construction phase. Artificial intelligence is also playing a major role in occupied buildings with to make assumptions and use logic and building controls.

Deliverables for this course included a weekly blog post which introduced me to a new process. The weekly posts encouraged imagination and allowed us a wide platform to elaborate on. It was related to BIM and building interactions.

There was also a database assignment due with a simple model to be created. This was difficult for me having never worked with the program before. I was unable to conceptualize how the systems link to each other to produce desired results.

For a final project, an open ended interpretation of BIM and building applications was presented. I missed the concept of this project and the BIM interaction. I attempted to rely heavily on engineering and building analysis. Instead of focusing more on incorporating BIM for design. I found a project that interested me and attempted to fit BIM modeling into the design.  The problem statement was not one of great cause and led to difficulty in formulating a plan of action.

The guest lectures were informative and for a feel of the world outside the classroom. The only part that could have been improved for me is the database assignment. As mentioned earlier, I had difficulty conceptualizing the database project delivering the final requirements.