Project Outline: Audrey Ryan, Jeremy Sulak, Tyler Woyshner

Description of project:

Each member of our team has chosen a different hazardous environment to research in regards to the dangers of performing maintenance in that setting.  Three different hazards, repairing facades of tall buildings, hazardous waste disposal and repair, and falls of heavy items, are identified as possible places where robots can improve the process to minimize the danger to humans and increase the economic efficiency.  Each hazard will look into the relevant technologies and materials, how it can be achieved, progress made so far, what else can be done to make it a possibility.

Why chosen:

Collectively we felt inspired through discussions in class about the future of robotics and how they can be used to improve the safety within the building industry.  From this we wanted to see what has been done so far to mitigate these hazards and explore the future of what is possible.

Relation to Intelligent Buildings:

With the increasing number of high-rise and large-scale buildings, modern buildings are becoming intelligent, and are incurring high construction costs and requiring careful maintenance. Maintenance for buildings significantly depends on human labor, unlike other construction processes that are gradually being automated. Accidents may produce very high social and economic losses. Additionally, the reliability of the manual inspection approach is questionable because human judgement is always subjective. Consequently, the poor inspection result will cause either excessive or inadequate repairing work that is undesirable in term of costing and safety. To address this problem, herein, a robotic building maintenance system using multi-robot concepts, can improve the efficiency and economic feasibility of the process. 

Challenges:

Not a lot of progress has been made in relation to building industry in terms of using robots for maintenance; instead the majority of robots have been used towards actual construction of the buildings.  A challenge for us will be to find information related to the future of robotics, specifically for maintenance.  

The Future of Buildings: How Technology will Change Construction and Design

Outline

Intro/Challenges of maintenance/types of hazardous environments

Repairing facades of tall buildings

• ·         Explanation of hazard
• ·         Relevant technology and materials
• ·         How can it be achieved
• ·         Progress made so far
• ·         Work left to do to make it possible

Hazardous waste disposal and repair  i.e. asbestos etc

• ·         Explanation of hazard
• ·         Relevant technology and materials
• ·         How can it be achieved
• ·         Progress made so far
• ·         Work left to do to make it possible

Falls of heavy items

• ·         Explanation of hazard
• ·         Relevant technology and materials
• ·         How can it be achieved
• ·         Progress made so far
• ·         Work left to do to make it possible

Conclusion

Comments to other posts:

Dave, I found your project plan for exploring the future application of 3-D printing to building construction fascinating. Establishing the criteria for materials and technology that are crucial to the success of such large scale printing will definitely be key in implementing this in real-life industry and I'm interested to see your take on it. Creating examples in Revit/SketchUp of building models that fit those criteria is a great way to demonstrate the feasibility of the technology. I also like that you are taking into consideration the potential social and economics benefits of 3-D printed buildings. It's obvious that you have put a lot of thought into your topic and I really look forward to seeing the final project.

Teddy Bruder, I found your idea for your project to be very interesting. As an avid music downloader, I know all about how it is becmoing more popular in today's world to download music illegally instead of paying for it.  This is not only unethical, but it is insulting to the musical artists who are not getting the proper repirations for their hard work.  This can be directly related to 3-D printers and pirating.  There is a lot of excitement about what 3-D printers are going to be able to do, and it would be very unfortunate to have to deal with pirating. I am curious to see if you end up forming any opinions into any future laws that may be enacted to combat this inevitable event and how they would be enforced.  Congress always seems to be a little behind the times when it comes to applying legislation to technology.  

References:

Bing L. Luk, Louis K. P. Liu and Arthur A. Collie (2007). Climbing Service Robots for Improving Safety in Building Maintenance Industry, Bioinspiration and Robotics Walking and Climbing Robots, Maki K. Habib (Ed.), ISBN: 978-3-902613-15-8, InTech.


Lee, Seunghoon, Min-Sung Kang, and Chang-Soo Han. "Sensor Based Motion Planning and Estimation of High_rise Building Façade Maintenance Robot." IJPEM 13.12 (2012): 2127-134. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

Group C - Week 4 - BIM makes the Engineer's Work Easier vs It makes the Engineer's work Harder

Group C

BIM makes the Engineer's work easier:

• With experience, BIM can save a lot of time.
• Easy visual communication with clients and contractors.
• Easier to visualize during design and construction.
• Allows for integrated design.
• More flexibility in design.
• Continuous use of the same document throughout a buildings life cycle.
• Aid in building operations and maintenance.
• Easier to detect or plan for construction errors in advance.

BIM makes the Engineer's work harder:

• BIM programs require significant computing power to operate smoothly and to maximize the number of functions they're capable of performing.  This increases costs for engineers.
• The file sizes are often very large and can be difficult to share with others due to size restrictions and upload times for email and cloud based services.  Organizations that use BIM programs often have to purchase a lot of extra hard drive space.
• The learning curve for existing BIM programs is large.  Simple projects (like the ones we complete in class) are easy to complete but realistic, full length projects require years of experience using the program to be successful.  Fighting through the learning curve can be frustrating.
• The programs themselves are expensive.  This increases costs for engineers.
• Models are often delicate.  If someone tries to make changes to a complex model and they are inexperienced or incorrect they can severely alter the model and its outputs.

B - What's the relation of BIM to other IT Software?

Although BIM is improving its capabilities and features, it still lacks in terms of what other software such as SAP or eQuest can analyse.

Industry standards such as CAD have dominated the engineering and design atmosphere for so long, and BIM is seemingly putting an end to it.  Typical 2D software is no longer sufficient when the capabilities to manage and model 3D figures are there to help owners, designers, and engineers better visualize the structure under review.

BIM interoperability with different software is allowing groups to use the software of their choice and allowing them to interact with fewer errors between the transfer of data among them.  One of the challenges that faces BIM in industry is the need to link other types of software to the model in order for firms to achieve the level of functionality that they're looking for.  Many designers still prefer to use platforms developed specifically for their individual disciplines.

Group D - Will BIM improve Buildings

We all agree that BIM will help improve buildings.  We believe that the ability for BIM to analyze models and run many iterations of multiple designs will all around lead to a better building.  The one issue we see with BIM is that it may initially degrade the design process as the roles of the Architect, Engineer, and Contractor will need to be redefined and who "owns" the model will cause tension.  With the addition of cloud computing the security risk increases.  Security of not only the model and its make up but the systems that will rely on the BIM model for facility operations may be compromised.  Also with BIM design the tradesman and their knowledge may get lost.  Think about the situations of confined spacing and construction as a designer it will be so easy to place a wall without thinking about the actual spacial requirements needed for the construction of the object.

Group E - BIM vs. Drafting

BIM vs. Drafting

Advantages

• Self contained for construction documents and such.
• Shows up in all the different views.
• Clash detection
• Less error

Disadvantages

• Learning curve
• Getting people to switch
• Initial cost
• Time consuming up front

Group A - What changes do you see coming in the way BIM works?

BIM is an evolving software.  New things are beings added each year by companies.  Many changes are going to be added to BIM software as years go on.  Some of these are:

• More calculation heavy
• Fabrication will have more BIM features involved
• Interoperability: Disciplines work with each other more, more software will communicate with each other
• BIM software will be involved in projects from beginning to end.  Goal is to have same model for all disciplines
• Cloud computing will change the game for processing completely for Revit models.  Unlimited space to save models

Aside from the general future aspects of BIM, some more futuristic possibilities are possible throughout different industries.  Some of these could be:

• Robotic systems are hooked up with BIM models to give ergonomic space for movement in an area
• BIM models can use sensors to analyze the environment inside and out of a building so that money can be saved in regards to energy consumption and mechanical systems in a structure
• BIM models can use databases to give real time feedback on different variables in a structure

Source: 

Eric Kuszewski

BIM will Improve Buildings

BIM applications have become very popular in the field of architectural and civil engineering over the years. Programs such as Revit can be seen in most major AE firms throughout the world due to the benefits that the program provides. BIM is a digital representation of a building that exceeds any drafting software to date. While this technology is very powerful and has many advantages, there are risks associated. This blog post intends to determine whether BIM improves the quality of building design and functionality, or causes harm to the project.

 The benefits to properly utilizing a BIM application in building design are numerous. BIM software is able to model the properly model a building's geometry that portrays a more clear image. Esther mentions parametric modeling in her post, which is a function that will save engineers and drafters valuable time that can go into building design. Corners will not be cut because it is too difficult and time consuming to change the thickness of a wall during the final stages of design. Also BIM is not restricted to the design phase of a building. BIM is utilized for construction management, cost estimating and facilities management. Being able to perform these functions in one platform will allow more effective buildings to be designed.(Azhar 2008) Michael K. mentioned in his post how BIM can determine energy trends in buildings. These monitored trends will then be used to make the building and futures more energy efficient. Buildings will be able to last longer with constantly monitored health and the data will be easier to access with the information all on one platform.

Utilizing BIM also saves firms thousands of dollars. Table one is a case study from 10 different firms in which BIM has saved a huge amount of money. If the utilization of BIM becomes more mainstream and efficient, the amount of savings will only increase. Money and time can then be diverted to other tasks such as providing a more efficient HVAC or MEP plan.

Table 1: Representation of return on investment of BIM. (Azhar 2008)

The use of BIM does provide some risks however. The biggest and most influential problem with BIM concerns liability and responsibility. Due to BIM integrating all of the project data into one platform, the origination of design errors will be more difficult to place(Thompson 2007). No one will gladly except a lawsuit even if they know it there fault. This "blur" of the lines of responsibility could potentially lead to more carelessness due to those responsible knowing they may get away with it. (Azhar 2008)

While BIM does have challenges that it needs to overcome, it does not diminish the impact it has had on the industry. BIM has greatly improved the efficiency of the design process and improved communication between different firms and consultants.(Thompson 2007) With time, BIM may completely abolish software such as 2-D CAD drafting due to the numerous benefits it provides to building design. Buildings will be designed quicker and overall more efficiently through the use of BIM.



Azhar, Salman, Michael Hein, and Blake Sketo. "Building information modeling (BIM): Benefits, risks and challenges." Proceedings of the 44th ASC National Conference. 2008.

Thompson, D. B., and Ryan G. Miner. "Building information modeling-BIM: Contractual risks are changing with technology." WWW document] URL http://www. aepronet. org/ge/no35. html (2007).

BIM vs. Drafting (with a CAD Program) - Advantages and Disadvantages

In the 1980s most architects and engineers used drafting boards for drafting; then CAD applications revolutionized the AEC world. Now, most architects and engineers use CAD applications, and BIM is on its way to revolutionize. 

Both CAD and BIM are applicable for building modeling. CAD programs are great for simple geometry, as it draws as you would by hand – it makes 2D lines, circles, ellipses, rectangles etc. When you draw a line, a line appears. With BIM technology, drawing a line can create a whole wall. With BIM, the building is a digital database that holds information about the geometry of the components as well as the data relevant to these components. (5)

But which way is the best way to make a building model? Here are 5 rounds:

Presentation:  With BIM you create a virtual 3D model of a buildings, and sheets with sections and plans are automatically made directly from the model. With CAD programs you draw every plan, section and elevation manually. As BIM models are whole buildings, it is easier for clients to understand than a regular 2D plan or section. Not everyone can understand 2D CAD drawings, and more exciting architecture is possible, as the client can actually figure out the design.

Change management: With CAD programs every line has to be drawn manually, and if one thing changes, everything will have to be changed manually to fit. With BIM technology everything is connected, so changes made in one place will automatically change the whole model. 

Simulations: CAD programs only generate lines, which can’t be used for any simulations. BIM models contain data related to the different engineering disciplines such as the load-bearing structures, all the ducts and pipes and sustainability information.

Data: With BIM, schedules of necessary manpower, coordination, and building components can be created automatically, which improves the calculation of costs and quantities. With CAD everything will be measured and calculated manually, which means more manpower and can involve errors.

Building operation: BIM models contain so much data that can be used throughout the entire building lifecycle, helping to reduce the operation and management cost. 

CAD programs mimic the hand drafting process, and BIM technology simulates the real world. 2D drawing is still the preferred method, probably only because of tradition.
It is easier to start drawing with a 2D CAD program, and it takes a whole other workflow to start using BIM. But buildings aren’t just lines that represent something, buildings are real and should be computer-generated in that way.  

Comments: 
Jeremy: Really great post. One sentence stuck with me: "(…)These lines have no inherent meaning, whether inside the computer or on the printed sheet". I think that really says how outdated the regular 2D output is.

Andrew: I found your post very interesting, especially the last part of the architects only thinking of the near future and not the entire life time of the building. Hopefully in the future the architects and engineers can work close together and create beautiful and sustainable buildings - not just buildings that are sustainable with energy savings here and now, but also with a long life time.

Sources:

1) Gaidytë, Rita, 2D and 3D modeling comparison, Gjøvik University College, May 25^th 2010

2) Grabowski, Ralph; CAD & BIM: Is there a free pass? Whitepaper; a research paper from upFront.reSearch funded by Graphisoft; 2010

3) Graphisoft; Open BIM; http://www.graphisoft.com/archicad/open_bim/about_bim/

4) Hardin, Brad; Death of a CAD Draftsman; Constructech; http://www.constructech.com/news/articles/article.aspx?article_id=8572

5) Magdy, Ibrahim; To BIM or not to BIM, This is NOT the Question: How to Implement BIM Solutions in Large Design Firm Environments; Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University; http://www.iit.edu/~ibramag

6) Webster, Dave, Keys to a Successful BIM Implementation: BIM vs. CAD: Really…What’s the difference?, Mastergraphics 2011, http://www.mastergraphics.com/wordpress/2011/keys-to-a-successful-bim-implementation-bim-vs-cad-reallywhats-the-difference/

BIM makes the Engineer's Work Easier vs It makes the Engineer's work Harder

I chose whether BIM makes the engineer's work easier or it makes the Engineer's work harder as my topic this week, I read through some online sources, and I will use two of them to support my point.

Before discussing whether BIM makes the engineer's work easier or it makes the Engineer's work harder, we must know what BIM is, BIM is an acronym for Building Information Modelling, or Building Information Model. It is the process of designing a building collaboratively by using one coherent system of computer models rather than just using separate sets of drawings.

From last week’s posts I think the advantages of the BIM is very obvious, such as The 3D clash detection relies on 3D geometry model to detect a large amount of clashes, this technology would reduce the human error to the minimum, which in the end, will save contractors a lot of time and money. And 4D models could help project managers to compare schedules and track construction process, compare the actual construction field to the 4D models, project managers could easily check the project status to see if it is on track or behind schedule. The list goes on…

As I discussed the advantages of the BIM system, still, not every engineering firm is using the BIM system, it is still going to take years for BIM systems to fully implement. For example, some professional engineers have been using AutoCAD throughout their whole career, now by the time goes by, they will have to learn all the functions and shortcuts from fundamental. The poor compatibility of BIM is going to take some senior engineers a long adjustment period to get familiar with these new tools. But in the long term, BIM will still give them much more benefits compare to the short term inconveniences.

BIM will offer all parties involved gains in saving in cost and time, much greater accuracy in estimation, and the avoidance of error, alterations and rework due to information loss. But the implement of BIM system is far more different than just simply change the software we are using, in order to achieve all the benefits it offers, everyone in the architecture, engineering and construction industries will have to learn how to use it fundamentally.

Comments On:

Esther

I really like the graph you put in the post, the graph shows when should we use BIM and when we should not. The poor compatibility of BIM is going to take some senior engineers a long adjustment period to get familiar with these new tools. But in the long term, BIM will still give them much more benefits compare to the short term inconveniences.

Audrey Ryan

I totally agree that BIM will make buildings more efficient. Like I said from my last post, 4D models would be really helpful during the community forums since it could show people clearly how a project would impact traffic, environment and their daily life. Owners will also have drafts to show to the engineers and contractors to make things more clearly.

References:

2013 WSP Group Limited “What is BIM?"  n. page. Print.

http://www.wspgroup.com/en/wsp-group-bim/BIM-home-wsp/what-is-bim/

Chuck Eastman, Paul Teicholz, Rafael Sacks, Kathleen Liston; “Bim Hanbook, a Guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers, and Contractors” Second Edition 2011

Week4 - BIM will improve buildings.

Nowadays we have the ability to design and visualize a building in three dimensions. This ability can help people to understand their buildings better, such as improve building efficiency, reduced the associated risks and control the budget, etc. BIM is a platform that can provide a comprehensive and interactive assembly of the components in a building and BIM model is closer to matching the real world building itself.

One important feature about BIM is important for improve buildings is because BIM can calculate the most efficient array of pump size, duct size, etc by analyze the building throughout the day. By increase energy efficiency to meet the requirement, designer could use the data to translate a better design.  This ability saves time for designer and help them to turn out a energy efficiency building. Compare to hundreds years ago, designers can only use 2D drawings, they can not design a efficience building like BIM does.

The other reason of BIM can improve buildings is BIM can measure things. Some high-tech building owners currently require that the building energy model be maintained and updated throughout construction and building commissioning. To measure and monitor the energy use is a very important ability that BIM can provide. It has been documented that providing building users with the measuring and monitoring of their impact on building energy has resulted in changed behaviors and reduced energy consumption. Measuring and monitoring of energy use provides the information for users to make the proper decisions to reduce a building's energy use.

The last reason of why BIM can improve Buildings is BIM can do a long term job than designers and the construction managers. Designers and managers may be responsible for buildings for one to two years, but they do not have the responsibilities for the life time of the building's operation, maintenance, and renovations. But BIM can provide users with information on their energy use, environmental benefits to the site and community and more. Finally, the application of BIM, which could provide more information on how buildings are used and perform over their life cycle, will be invaluable in the design and construction of new buildings for the future.

Comments:

To Yoon:

http://ae-510-ay13-14.blogspot.com/2014/01/bim-advantages-and-disadvantages.html?showComment=1390948033939#c6844176844966728377

To QI:

http://ae-510-ay13-14.blogspot.com/2014/01/bim-advantages-vs-disadvantages.html?showComment=1390947292493#c7129731163193449254

References:

http://www.facilitiesnet.com/green/article/BIM-Contract-Requirements-Help-Standardize-Results--14298?source=part

Week 4 BIM makes the Engineer's Work Easier vs It makes the Engineer's work Harder

BIM is a new approach to building project delivery that uses data to create a full or complete model of a facility to improve the design, construction, and operation of the facility. Throughout the articles I have read, I believe that BIM has several benefits that could make the engineer’s work much easier. BIM tools show significant benefits that will improve the design quality, field productivity, and reduce the construction costs and duration.

Using BIM tools will help the engineer to create a digital representation of a building, which increases the ability to predict the costs of a project.  Predicting the costs avoid the project to go over the budget, which could cause canceling the project or cut in quality.  In addition, using the BIM tools helps the engineers to analyze how are all of the elements (columns, beams, duct works, etc.) on the design will work together under different types of loads. As an example, creating 3D BIM model helps avoiding possible clashes before construction starts and materials have been ordered. Therefore, BIM software allows project to be built inside a computer, analyzing the elements and predicting the costs, and solving any possible errors, before the project is actually built, and then changes are really difficult and costly.

BIM tools could be really helpful for structural engineers as well as MEP engineers. BIM allows structural engineers to model steel columns, beams, and truss; so, it gives a 3D representation of the structural system of the building. Also, beyond the 3D model, BIM add intelligence to the model by providing information about different elements available to the users. For example, using GPS data a building is anchored to a specific location in the world, that will provide the long-term weather, solar data, rainfalls, which helps the engineers to estimate the annul energy use of the building and heating and cooling loads. 

Another benefit of using BIM is increasing the efficiency and productivity. It helps the engineers and makes their work much easier since the design and construction documentation are linked, and gives them more time to evaluate more alternatives or design changes. Also, it allows them track the work process and statues. Before BIM, design drawings and as-built really had slightly importance in the maintenance and renovation phases of a building's life since it is difficult to read and analyze. However, using BIM to create a model of a building allows the engineer to use the model or design in different phase of constructions. 

Therefore, I really believe that BIM makes the engineers’ work much easier due to that it could save cost and time. Also, reducing the amount of error and avoiding any conflict or clashes, which could be costly to change after the project is completed. Last, it increases the efficiency and productivity when designing since it can provide better representation of the building before it constructed.  

Resources: 

• Strafaci, Adam. "CE News." CE News. N.p., Oct. 2008. Web. 28 Jan. 2014. <http://www.cenews.com/magazine-article----what_does_bim_mean_for_civil_engineers_-6098.html>.
• Eastman, Charles M. BIM Handbook : A Guide To Building Information Modeling For Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers And Contractors. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2011. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 28 Jan. 2014
• "Commentary." Why BIM. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2014. <http://www.acebim.ca/why-bim>.

Comments:

Comments on yoon’s post:

I agree with you if the case is bad economy or changing the purpose of the building. But, one of the BIM tools (GPS) allows the engineers to anchor a building to a specific location in the world that will provide the long-term weather data, which helps providing information about different elements to the engineers so they can select the appropriate materials or elements from what is available to the user.

Comment on Dongyan Qi’s post:

Not using BIM might cause many sources of errors when constructions. These conflicts are really costly to change after the project is completed. So, the training and software costs are nothing comparing to the costs of changing any sort of errors that happened after constructions. 

Comment on signe’s post:

I totally agree with you, I have used CAD and Revit. Using Revit is much easier, and could save time and effort. CAD is time consuming since you need to draw every single line. Also, BIM will give you better representation of the building’s model since it can provide a 3D model with no need for using any other software.