Thoughts on architecture and Building Information Modeling

 

By now, many people may have already heard about BIM or Building Information Modeling. It is a 3D approach in designing buildings, which also incorporates 4D (time) and 5D (costs). This is currently the standard software in some architectural offices around the world. Except that there are still a few who still employ the 2D CAD or Computer Aided Drafting. In this article, architecture expert and design enthusiast Joe Cianciotto shares some of his insights in the melding of architecture and BIM.

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Complicated forms and supertall structures dominate today's landscape. It is increasingly becoming more prudent and wiser for architects and engineers to take advantage of BIM. Also, the industry itself is becoming more collaborative. Architects and engineers coordinate even more closely, pointing out conflicts, even at the schematic phase.

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According to Joe Cianciotto, architects, at the onset, exercise some liberty in the design stage. As the design develops, the structural elements and utilities come into consideration. A good designer takes note of these things early on. If incorporated in the design process, a BIM model helps the design team detect conflicts with other trades. For example, structural elements such as columns and beams were found to be at odds with a design feature. Sometimes, even the ductwork of air conditioning systems has a great chance to affect the ceiling height of a hallway below.

Two BIM software currently used worldwide are ArchiCad, developed by Graphisoft, and Autodesk Revit, currently offered by Autodesk, the developer of AutoCAD. Both software differ slightly in their interface. If you are an architect more familiar with SketchUp, it is also highly encouraged to learn these two leading BIM software, especially when planning to take up more involvement in the architectural practice.

A Beginner’s Guide To Drone Technology

Drones have become very popular and commercially available in the past few years, giving people a novel way to take expansive and sweeping shots of various terrains for both personal and professional video use. Let’s take a closer look at what makes these drones work.

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The technology is known as UAV, short for unmanned aerial vehicle. It doesn’t just refer to the drone itself, but to the device’s aerodynamics, materials used for manufacturing, circuit boards, as well as the chipset and software that powers it.

A typical drone is made of light, composite materials that reduce weight and increase the unmanned aircraft’s maneuverability. Most military drones need these materials for high-altitude surveillance. Drones are remote-controlled using a system called ground cockpit. Military-grade ones often come with infrared cameras, GPS, and a laser.

Today, civilian use of UAVs vastly outnumbers military ones, with already over a million drones estimated to have been sold in 2015. The sale of drones has been increasing rapidly and exponentially, as the device offers tons of benefits to various industries from agriculture and real estate to aerial photography and video-blogging.

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Soon, drone technology will complement other autonomous technologies like unmanned cars, A.I.-powered medical equipment, and home robots.

Hi there, the name’s Joe Cianciotto. I like to keep updated on the latest developments in consumer tech, particularly cameras and drones. For more on my work and interests, visit this page.