B7: Course Reflection - Husain Ibrahaim

B7: Course Reflection – Husain Ibrahaim

What I expected?

Well, before taking this class, I was curious to know what “intelligent building” means. I was expecting that the class would focus in BIM only, which I highly interested in. I also expected to learn about some new technologies, but I didn’t have any idea of what they would be.

What I learned?

            This class is exceptional! I learned many things. Starting from robotics and how big the robotics industry is. I was amazed of the video shown where robots were building small building and that opened my eyes to the technology of involving robots in the construction side of buildings. In addition, the technology of 3D printing was an amazing aspect covered in the class. I really liked how this technology has a very wide range of development that may happen in the near future! Stating from printing small plastic objects, to moving cars, leading to actual large-scale houses. The material used in the printing machine can be aluminum, concrete, plastic, or many other alternatives and it’s under development. Furthermore, database topic was confusing at the beginning, but after couple classes, and after readings and guest lectures I really understood what a database is. It is not just simple file with tons of data, instead, it is much more creative way to store and represent information that may take a form of an app. Also, the topic of sensors was really helpful and amazing! I discovered not only basic types of sensors like thermometer, but really intelligent ones. The one that I liked is that measures the daily activity and based on that it controls the HVAC system at the house.

What I found interesting?

            The things that I am really proud of are that I have experienced Revit and MS Access in some details. That would benefit me in my future career and professional life.

Comments:

Bancroft:

I like your point of interest where you are addressing that the importance of learning BIM and other developing technologies and that its that we stay up to date with the current development of the technology.

Uribe:

It is very interesting that you mentioned that most valuable experience we got from this course is the presence of guest speakers. Also, I agree with you that it is beneficial that we respond to the comments.

Perdue:

I liked the idea of that you explained that this course helped us in enhancing the self-learning or independent reeducation.

Resources:

AE 510 course

Prof. Mitchell

Guest Speakers

AE 510 Students

Post_#8: Course Conclusion (Week 10)

AE-510 is one of my required course which I have take as a digital building concentration. The structure of this course is very similar to AE-391 and 390, students have to finish and post most of their work on a webpage. However, most of AE-510 posts was individual rather than do it as a group. During the lecture time, we discussed some high technology aspects which can be used for the building design and construction such as database, BIM (Building Information Modeling) and robotics.

As a digital building concentration student, I found this course is very useful for my future's career in several major factors. First all, keeping a weekly blog post forced me to practice my English writing skills by writing a lot of post, even though my writing skills still need to be improved.  On the other hand, as the AE major things such as database and robotics were very new to me. I never really get into the details of those aspects before I took this course. However, those thing are very important and will be used in the future's construction and design activities.

For example, one of our project during the term was to create a database for a architecture perspective. For this project, I have create a database for all the furniture for several buildings, I stored the furniture details such as give each individual furniture a unique code, furniture type, dimensions and location. I found this project is very practical because, nowadays almost all buildings has a very advanced database to store the building information such as beam sizing, equipment details and other important building information. This database would make a huge benefit for the future's engineers if the structure needs reconfiguration or repair.

Finally, by taking course I had a really good understand of the BIM programs by listening the guess's lecture, watching the videos and discusses with other students in my group. As a very important design process, get know and the study of BIM will sure benefit me in my future's life as well as my career.

Suggestions for the course:

1. The size of group for in-class discussion could be reduced into 3-5 people, in this way, people talks more rather than some of the group member just sitting their and listening to other member talk.

2. There should be more practical assignments like the Revit model and database design rather than the term project. In my point the term project is just not as practical as the Revit and database because in these we really practiced the skills of using the software.

Comment:

I don't see many of my posts from my group member so far, since this topic is the same for everything I am going to comment on the post that are from the students for other group.

To Anthony Yau: I felt like the same way as you mentioned in you post, this course really made us to think of using computer modeling and other modern technologies to server the design and construction propose for buildings. Furthermore, I also agreed that the Revit family member design assignment was the hardest almost all assignments, I found a YouTube video for that otherwise I would not be able to finish it. Finally, I found the weekly blog post was very helpful for my English writing skill it forced me to keep writing, maybe because you are a native speaker so that you found they was not very effective in terms of time.

To Abdulghani Sayed: Hey Abdul, I really like your suggestions for the course. I also agreed that split this three hours course into two and adding a field trip would make this course better. I also found the same way with you that the blog posts were very help but not only reading others make me think more but also they improved my writing skills as well and I am you improved yours too. Good work!

B7: Course Reflection

     At first, I was totally confused at the term “Intelligent Building”. By reading articles about various topics and speeches given by different guest speakers, I got a clearer idea. In my opinion, this course is based on self-learning and discussion. Most new, unfamiliar words are explained in reading materials. Furthermore, discussions in class gave us an opportunity to communicate with each other to exchange different points of view. Guest speakers also made great contribution to this course so I really appreciate their well preparation.

     We covered five major topics: future, BIM, project, database and sensor. Each of them is somehow related to intelligent building as well as a component of intelligent building. We are concerned about future so the first topic came up with some possibilities we may encounter in the following years.  It is an advantage realizing building construction around us is changing enormously. Building Information Modeling is kind of a skill we should know well in order to fit in this market. Individual project offered a chance for us to think about a project from why, what and how. Database management is another crucial technical ability extensively applied in most industries, including engineering. Last but not least, intelligent buildings rely on sensors extremely. Any measurements or auto-controls are impossible without sensor.

     Two software used in this course are Revit and MS Access. I was a green hand on Revit even after taking this course. I think it is sort of a repetition because in AE 390 we did the similar thing. However, this is my first time getting in touch with MS Access. With the help of tutorial, I learned how to create a simple database, classify information and restore them ingeniously. I feel delight through imitating the example learning something.

     I did not decide my future yet so to be honest, I don’t know how much this course will influent my career. At least, I am convinced of traditional construction technology is on a large scale replaced by modern method. In a near future, something unimaginable could be used in creating, constructing, managing and controlling buildings. We have to pursue self-enhancement all the time.


Comments:

Young Kwang Lee – I have the same feeling as yours at the beginning of this course. I felt like at loss and didn’t know where to start. Although this is not my first time using Revit, I still think I am totally a novice because being an expert is a long way to go for me. However, it looks like a necessary skill so I will probably keep practicing on it.

Abdulghani Albaloushi – I really like Microsoft Access after knowing the basic function and operation. It is a roomy field I can explore since database management will become more and more important in future.

Ami Amegan – Thank you for sharing your experience to us about the relationship between curriculum and co-op. That might be most students concern. You answered some questions of mine. I’m really glad I read your blog today.

Amegan - Week 10 - Blog Post

My last co-op, I was an intern at L.F. Drsicoll Co. which is a large and growing construction company in the tri-state area. It was the best experience thus far, because I was able to get some hands on learning that I can totally relate to this class. At my job, there a BIM expert that is in charge of coordination between our MEP and structural engineers. During those coordination meetings, many errors are detected in advance; minor mistakes such as pipes clashing on the 3-D model before any work is started out in the field. There have been times where I sit and wonder why I chose Drexel. I get frustrated with the curriculum, with the exams, with the fast paste but then things like my co-op experience, Professor Mitchell and all his knowledge make it all worth it. 

This class has definitely opened my eyes on so many things. I had no idea what databases were. Now I know what they are, how they are created and how they work in real life. I'm not an expert in Revit like I would like to be. But almost every single class that I have had with Professor Mitchell, there was some form of assignment that required the knowledge of Revit. Now I can affirm with confidence that I am reaching a proficiency level. Although I do not agree with the length of the class (could be an hour and a half class that meets twice a week), I love how it is structured. First, I did not understand why we had to write these blogs but it is honestly helpful in the way that I can always go back and read it; also everyone's opinion is different and it helps me see things I may not see but others do. The guess lectures have also been very helpful I must say because they were people with experience in their respective fields and they give us a perspective on the paths we're headed. Microsoft Access, was one of the other things that this class has taught me. I never used it before and was never really told what it was for. 

When it comes to what I wish to do in the future, that is to get an MArch. With that Master in Architecture and my HVAC undergraduate background, as strange as it sounds, I do not really want to become a designer. Rather, I want to shift to construction, where I could become a project engineer or project manager. I believe I will be a good fit that common point between the design team and the construction managers. Because the field is being taken over by technology I can say that this class will go a long way for me. For our term project, my team and I remodeled an existing building. This improved our BIM skills greatly. On a regular day, I would not take time to learn how to become a better Revit user but because I was forced to for my project, I am thankful. One last aspect that I look forward to is the benefit of BIM; benefits such as saving time and a lot of money. Clash detection is the one thing I witnessed and this prevented the owner having to spend more money and the managers to not waste time on reconstruction. Maybe this class should be imposed, not a choice. Every student should have the opportunity to be exposed to the greatness of BIM and have a taste of what software are used in the field. 

Comments:

Professor Mitchell: I just wanted to say thank you for always taking time to explain things we don't understand; for all your tutorial videos and just for your excellent knowledge of this industry. 

Abdulghani: I agreed with the time that the class is offered. It's a bit late. If I'm being honest, I still do not understand how the sensor database is used. Before this class, I never even used Microsoft Access but now I can find my way around it and create a database.

Taylor Castonguay: When I hear of robotics, I automatically think of robots in like car assembly or experimental robots. Although I forgot to mention it in my post, I was one of those who were not interested in robotics. Not once did I actually think to relate it to our field of engineering and construction. But after I read some of the articles about how robotics can be implemented on the job site, I have to agree that it is pretty fascinating. And from a safety point of view, it sure will save a few lives in the future and prevent a lot of injuries.

Kwang Lee: We do have a common interest when it is comes to our careers. I believe being the intermediate point between the designers and the construction managers takes a lot more knowledge than I initially thought but I think we have a good head start thanks to the classes we have been exposed to! Good luck to you, I hope we can both accomplish our goals one day.

B8: Week 10 - Group B, Lee

Topic : Reflect on course and its effect on your profession and your future

I think the description of this course is very accurate, which states that I will get out of it as much as I put in. There were numerous topics that we covered in this course and although it seemed overwhelming at first especially since I was a novice in this field, I was able to learn and understand the subject appropriately. I had to go through a lot of tutorials for beginners but I believe that is ultimately the purpose of this course: regardless of the extent of my knowledge on the topics, I will be able to improve from my prior position. The most rewarding topic for me was the BIM Modeling. I was a complete novice to the Revit software before this course but I was able to learn the basics and understand its function and features through an assignment and a term project. I liked how I could choose my own topic for the term project, which I took advantage of by exploring Revit more. In addition, the course offers various perspective on the AEC industry through the lectures, discussion and guest speakers. It was especially interesting to hear different opinions from the current professional engineers in the field, prompting me to think about the prospect and potential in the corresponding technology. I think all the guest speakers that were invited for this course should be invited again next time because their inputs and advices are extremely helpful and beneficial to the engineering students. 

As I mentioned above, having the knowledge of Revit is critical for my profession and future. I am looking into becoming a project engineer in an architectural firm focused in mechanical component of buildings such as HVAC. The future usage of BIM modeling softwares like Revit in this field is promising and that's why I wanted to use this opportunity to improve my skill set. My internship experience at a small company introduced me to this field and I believe knowing how to use Revit will prepare me better for the future profession and career. Furthermore, there were many times when we discussed about current and future technology in the course and it was helpful to think about what I should be expecting in near future so that I will be able to adjust and learn the necessary skills in advance. 

Comments: 
Catherine Stephens - I agree that this course also helped me see the reality of the swiftly changing industry. I definitely want to survive this competitive world of engineering as well. Also, learning about sensors and MS Access was a plus to me too and I'm sure they will be useful later in our careers. It's great to hear that you have opened up your perspective on career little more, possibly looking into cruise ship designs and construction. I have also realized that BIM is used in numerous fields and I hope to find something that I enjoy. 

Abdulghani Albaloushi - I also did not know anything about the database before this course. It was difficult at first but I now see how useful and necessary database is in this world of information. I agree with your suggestions to improve this course. I think having a 3-hour class on this subject may be a little too exhausting, and perhaps having shorter class would be better. Going on a field trip to witness and experience the technologies we discuss in the course seems like a great idea. Hopefully it is feasible and available for next class. It was strange to use blogs for the assignments at first, but I do agree with Professor Mitchell that all the discussions will stay online and we can always revisit when we want to. 

Ami Amegan - Having a co-op experience at Drexel is indeed a very good opportunity that helps us to understand and prepare for our profession after graduation. I think I have a very similar interest in project engineer position as you are. Instead of designing, I am also intrigued by the common point between the design team and the construction managers, facilitating a connection and communication while preventing any clash. I hope to get to a point of proficiency in regards to BIM, especially Revit, and eventually become a BIM expert like the colleague you knew back in your last co-op. 

Abdulghani Albaloushi - B7 - Week 10

This course has some good and some not so good aspects about it. What I liked the most about this course was the fact that we learned how to use Microsoft Access for databases. Before taking this course, I had no idea on how to use databases. I always thought that Microsoft Excel does the job. Most factories, retail stores, construction firms, hospitals etc. use databases to keep track of records. So I am sure this will definitely help me in my professional life. I think I can learn more about Microsoft Access than I have learned in this course and what I learned in this course is just the basic. Also, when applying to jobs, having experience in Microsoft Access is definitely going to be a plus point. 

Besides, many new sensors were introduced in this course.  However, I wish we had a field trip where we can actually see the different types of sensors.

The blogs were really helpful. It made us read what other people did in their projects. This helps students learn from another. 

We also learned building information modeling (BIM) and different BIM software.

Suggestions:

      I think it would be great to have this class earlier in the afternoon or the morning rather than having a 3-hour class.

      A field trip would really help students learn more about the different types of sensors and their functions.

      Keep the blogs, but assign the same assignment (with different topics) for the students. This will be extremely helpful.

 

Comments to Hamad:

I agree with you, having guest speakers really helped us understand the topics. Also, learning more about Revit will also help us in the future.

Comments to Schwakoff:

I agree. I am sure this course will help since your degree focuses on buildings. Also, guest speakers complimented the class very well.

Comments to Taylor:

Agreed. I am also an architectural engineering major with a mechanical concentration and I agree that working with BIM will be very important for us in our careers.    

Stephens: AE510 Reflection

"Technology won't replace teachers...

But teachers who use technology will probably replace teachers who do not."

--Anonymous

AE510: Intelligent Buildings is a course intended to make students question and reflect about the future of technology and how it affects design and construction of structures. The past 9 weeks have opened my eyes to the reality that the industry is changing, and only those who can keep up with it will survive the competitive world of engineering. New things get invented everyday. More and more people lose their jobs because they are being replaced by machines. Using machines, simulating structures with BIM softwares, creating databases, and understanding the use of different sensors were some of the skills I have learned in this class. Specifically, using MS Access is something that I think will be very useful in my career. The guest speakers that came to share their experiences were very informative. They have given me knowledge on what to expect after I graduate. The only thing I would suggest is discussing sensors in greater detail. Maybe have a project that is directly relevant to understanding how sensors work.

Just recently, I had a realization of what I really want to do. Although I was certain that I wanted to design buildings, an article that I read on the internet made me question my goals. I read about a cruise ship being built in Miami, FL. They use BIM softwares to make sure that everything fits physically. This caught my attention because I love cruising. But, I would have never thought in a million years that I would be qualified to design cruise ships because they would probably want someone with a background in marine engineering. I looked up the company anyway and saw that they are hiring Civil and Architectural Engineers with experience using BIM. Then I reflected back to the speakers and came into the conclusion that there really is no limitation to what I can do. Kayleigh Houde, for example, is an AE graduate that is now a BIM Coordinator at one of the biggest engineering companies in the world. I understand that as I learn and explore more facets of the industry, my mind will keep changing. But for now, my goal is to be a cruise ship designer. And I know that as long as I keep up with technology, this goal is well beyond my reach. I wouldn't mind escaping to a warmer weather either.

Comments:

Sayed- I definitely agree that it was nice to learn databases. Specifically, MS Access is a very helpful tool that can be useful in any field. I do think that 3-hr class is a little too much but the purpose of having this class in the evening is to make sure that graduate students who are currently working are also able to take advantage of this class.

Zhang- I do agree that Revit exercise was kind of a repetition of previous courses. However, the addition of creating a family of bookcases was really challenging. Although it took me hours to finally figure it out, I think it kind of helped me understand family in greater detail. It is definitely something that can be very useful in the future.

Lee- I, too, liked that we were able to choose our own topic for the final project. It gives up the opportunity to explore something that we are interested in instead of just doing something because we have to. I am also glad that you chose a Revit project to improve your BIM skills considering you consider yourself a novice. Good luck to you!