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A civil engineer turned writer, the girl of 22 set off the journey to freelance content creating since 2019. The impact she could make in people's lives acted as the fuel and the journey still continues in high spirits. This young thrashing blood offers 100% conversion guaranteed contents to your business. Throw brickbats or bouquets and of course, your writing requirements to anaswara.r.s.cet@gmail.com
Technological Advancement

Smart City – 10 Components & Challenges of smart cities – Full Guide

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Smart cities are becoming popular in several countries. The working of such cities are appreciable wonderful. They incorporate technology for solving various issues.

Today, we are going to dive deep into smart cities.

What is smart city?

  • In general, a smart city is a city that uses technology to provide services and solve city problems.
  • A smart city does things like improve transportation and accessibility, improve social services, promote sustainability, and give its citizens a voice.
  • While the exact definition varies, the overarching mission of a smart city is to optimize city functions and drive economic growth while improving quality of life for its citizens using smart technology and data analysis.
  • Value is given to the smart city based on what they choose to do with the technology, not just how much technology they may have.

Also read: https://vincivilworld.in/3-d-printing-buildings/

We will see the characteristics of smart city in the next section.

Components of smart city

Intelligent transportation in smart city
Intelligent transportation in smart city

Several major characteristics are used to determine a city’s smartness. These characteristics include:

  • Adequate Water Supply
  • Assured Electricity Supply
  • Sanitation, including Solid Waste Management
  • Efficient Urban Mobility and Public Transport
  • Affordable housing, especially for the poor
  • Robust IT connectivity and digitalization
  • Good governance, especially e-Governance and citizen participation
  • Sustainable environment
  • Safety and security of citizens, particularly women, children and the elderly, and
  • Health and Education

Let’s move on to the section to explain about what makes a city smart.

What makes a city smart?

  • We need a fresh way of thinking about what makes a smart city smart.
  • The essence of a smart city is its ability to adapt to the challenges the environment presents-its capacity to evolve and if necessary to transform itself.
  • That capacity is enhanced or limited by the resources it has at its disposal. But it is the capacity to adapt that marks a city as smart, not a particular category of resources — in particular, technologies — it can deploy to do so.
  • Identifying smart cities with innovative adaption means that smart cities are not creations or manifestations of the technological revolution.

Its time to look at the basic resources of smart cities.

The Basic Resources of Smart Cities

Buildings in a smart city
Buildings in a smart city
  • Smart cities embrace risk and reward innovation and exploration and foster a culture that encourages human ingenuity and imagination.
  • The need to innovate and adapt puts pressure on cities to create and nurture a culture of freedom and creativity.
  • But all the individual wisdom, creative imagination, self-confidence and capacity to take risk won’t do much to meet the challenges we face without mechanisms that channel these capacities into collaborative efforts.
  • The burden is not simply to create the conditions for key human capacities to develop and mature.
  • The burden is to create mechanisms that turn ideas into plans and plans into effective collective actions that produce desirable and sustainable outcomes.

Also read: Applications of GPS

In the next section, I will walk you through the challenges of smart city.

Smart city challenges

Smart city transportation
Smart city transportation
  • Smart city initiatives must include the people they aim to help: residents, business people and visitors.
  • City leaders must not only raise awareness of the benefits of the smart city technologies being implemented but also promote the use of open, democratized data to its citizens.
  • If people know what they are participating in and the benefits it can bring, they are more likely to engage.
  • Fostering collaboration between the public and private sector and city residents is key to creating a smart citizen who will be engaged and empowered to positively contribute to the city and community.
  • Smart city projects should include plans to make the data transparent and available to citizens, often through an open data portal or mobile app.
  • This enables residents to engage with the data and understand what it is used for.
  • Through a smart city app, residents may also be able to complete personal chores, such as viewing their home’s energy consumption, paying bills and finding efficient public transportation.
  • Smart city opponents worry that city managers will not keep data privacy and security top of mind, fearing the exposure of the data that citizens produce on a daily basis to the risk of hacking or misuse.
  • Additionally, the presence of sensors and cameras may be perceived as an invasion of privacy or government surveillance.
  • To address this, smart city data collected should be anonymized and not be personally identifiable information.
  • However, perhaps the biggest challenge smart cities face is the problem of connectivity.
  • The thousands or millions of IoT devices scattered across the city would be defunct without a solid connection and the smart city itself would be dead.
  • Furthermore, public transit, traffic management, public safety, water and waste management, electricity and natural gas supply can be unreliable, especially as a system ages and grows.
  • However, the importance of these operations will only increase as the city expands and the demands on its infrastructure increase.
  • These systems must be constantly maintained and tested to ensure their proper functioning.
  • Smart cities are also challenged by finding ways to attract and keep residents without a cultural fabric.
  • The cultural essence of an area is oftentimes what attracts residents the most; this is something that cannot be programmed or controlled with a sensor.
  • Therefore, smart cities may falter because they cannot provide a sense of authenticity, distinctiveness or place.

Finally, let me show you some examples of smart cities.

Examples of smart cities

While many cities across the world have started implementing smart technologies, a few stand out as the furthest ahead in development. These cities include:

  • Kansas City, Missouri
  • San Diego, California
  • Columbus, Ohio
  • New York City, New York
  • Toronto, Canada
  • Singapore
  • Vienna, Austria
  • Barcelona, Spain
  • Tokyo, Japan
  • Reykjavik, Iceland
  • London, England
  • Melbourne, Australia
  • Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  • Hong Kong, China

So, we took a quick trip through different aspects of a smart city. Let me know in comments if you have any doubts.

Happy learning!

architectural finishes

Modular Building- Construction, Benefits &Disadvantages

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There are different types of buildings. We can classify them according to various criteria. With the advent of technology, new categories are included each day.

In this blog, we are going to dwell deep into modular building.

Let’s start form scratch.

What is modular building?

Buildings similar to modular buildings
Buildings similar to modular buildings

Modular buildings are structures that are constructed in a factory setting before being transported for assembly on site.

Despite having been used as a method of construction for decades, this type of modular structure is increasingly being used for a wider range of construction projects, ranging from offices and hospitality builds to residential properties, and more.

So, you got an idea about modular building. Now, let’s get into the construction details.

Modular building construction

  • Modular buildings are manufactured in sections away from building sites before being delivered to the desired location where they are installed into a final building design.
  • 60-90% of the work is completed in a factory-controlled environment, either as a complete structure or as modular subassemblies for a larger project.
  • This offsite construction allows the use of lean manufacturing techniques to create prefabricated modules.
  • These modular units can be placed end-to-end or stacked up to create different configurations.
  • The modular construction process is completed onsite using inter-module connections (or inter-connections) to tie the units together.
  • Permanent modular buildings, such as prefabricated homes, are built to standards that are equal or higher than traditional site-built properties, ensuring high levels of quality control.
  • Permanent modular construction (PMC) can be carried out with a variety of building materials, such as concrete, steel or wood, and can also include provision for adding windows, power supplies, water and sewage pipes, telecommunications, air conditioning and more.
  • Many of these additional features can be installed before being taken to the site, saving construction time later in the process.
  • These PMC structures are designed to remain in one location once built and can include as many storeys as allowed by building regulations.
  • The design phase is particularly important in the creation of modular buildings.
  • Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) practices need to be used to make sure the assembly tolerances are controlled and ensure any slack or misalignment can be taken up.
  • CAD systems, additive manufacture (3D printing) and manufacturing control systems are important for modular construction since the components cannot easily be realigned onsite.

Let me walk you through the benefits of such buildings.

Benefits of Modular Construction Compared to Traditional Construction

  • Modular construction offers several advantages over traditional construction techniques.
  • Construction delays due to adverse weather and other onsite issues are not an issue with factory manufacture, eliminating many potential delays to project completion dates
  • Factory conditions allow for a higher quality product with improved operating procedures and monitoring, while employees are able to work in a more comfortable environment. Construction can also more easily be extended 24/7 if required to complete a project
  • Material supplies are easier to control in a factory setting, reducing wastage and thereby cost, as well as lowering the environmental impact of a build.
  • Manufacture of the modules can begin before onsite preparations, such as foundations, are complete, speeding up the whole build process
  • Modular construction allows for different parts of the building to be built at the same time – further reducing the time taken to complete a project
  • Modular construction is highly suited to remote locations where onsite building could prove difficult or expensive.
  • Building away from these locations also means that staff can work in places where medical and sanitary provision is more readily available if required
  • Modular structures can be added to overtime or even be treated as a relocatable building which can also be readily refurbished to meet a new need
  • Because modular units need to meet regulations for travel and assembly, the final product can end up being more durable than a traditional build that didn’t have to be assessed part by part
  • Many modular units use Structural Insulated Panels which are light yet durable and provide improved thermal insulation as well as damp and cold resistance when compared to materials like timber.
  • The factory construction also removes the potential for high levels of moisture being trapped inside the construction, improving the quality of the product
  • Modular constructions have been shown to offer time savings of more than 50% when compared to traditional builds, with the inherent cost savings this provides

Now, I will show you the disadvantages of modular building.

Disadvantages of modular building

There are a few challenges associated with modular builds, including;

  • The transportation of finished modular building sections can require a lot of space
  • Manufacturing and transportation restrictions can limit the size of each modular unit, which can impact room sizes
  • Lack of knowledge about technology
  • Some amazing architectural designs might not be possible through the construction.
  • All the changes need to be made at the beginning itself. Otherwise, they will have adverse effects on the structure.

We have reached at the last section. Let’s have a quick stroll.

Applications

Modular buildings
Modular buildings in a city

Where modular building used to be associated with temporary structures, improvements in quality, design and unit sizes mean that this type of construction continues to find new applications.

From offices to homes and even larger builds like sports halls, the uses of modular construction are constantly growing.

No longer associated with small, low cost structures, the modern wave of modular buildings are proving that they can be used for any number of applications while offering cost and time savings along with comparable levels of quality to traditional builds.

Must read: What is bim?

That’s it about modular buildings. Let me know if you have any doubts in the comments.

Happy learning!

Roads

Smart roads- 6 Smart road technologies Full Guide

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We’ve all learned about connected vehicles, self-driving cars, GPS mapping, applications for route optimization and ride-hailing services. Smart roads and other smart road technologies are relevant to the advancement of the transportation sector of a country. We are going to dig deep into this in the upcoming sections.

Let’s start from scratch.

What are Smart Roads?

To make driving safer, more effective, and greener, in line with government goals, smart roads use Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

With software infrastructure such as AI and big data, smart roads integrate physical infrastructures such as sensors and solar panels.

Smart road technologies are embedded in roads and can enhance visibility, generate electricity, communicate with connected and autonomous vehicles, track road conditions, and more.

Here are a few examples:

  • IoT connectivity: Cities can connect roads to IoT devices and collect data about traffic and weather. Health, traffic control, and energy efficiency can be enhanced by this form of connectivity.
  • Traffic management networks: For safety enhancement and congestion reduction. To provide warning signs for unsafe situations, the network uses speed cameras and sends automatic traffic diversion signals that control traffic.
  • Traffic lights optimization: Systems that use data from closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras or smart vehicles to optimise traffic signals and jam or bottleneck alerts for commuters.

Let me show you main smart road technologies in the next section.

Smart road technologies in detail

Let’s meet each of the smart road technologies in this section.

1. Solar powered roadways

Smart roads example
Smart roads example
  • Inside hexagonal panels made of tempered glass, which are used to pave paths, photovoltaic cells are integrated.
  • These panels include LEDs, microprocessors, heating devices for snow-melting and electric vehicle inductive charging capabilities while driving. Glass is renewable and can be engineered to be stronger than steel, even when driving at high speeds and to allow cars to stop safely.
  • Although this concept has gained widespread acceptance, as it remains costly, scalability is a problem.

2. Glow in the dark roads

  • A photo-luminescent powder that absorbs and stores daylight uses glowing markers painted on existing roadway surfaces.
  • For 8 hours after dark, the 500m long strips shine.
  • This technology is still in the testing process, and the glow is not yet reliable, but it may be more cost-effective than conventional technologies for road lighting.

3. Interactive lights for smart roads

  • As cars approach, road lights triggered by motion sensors illuminate a specific section of the road.
  • Once the vehicle leaves, the lights fade. Interactive lights, ideal for roads with less traffic, provide night visibility when required and minimise energy wastage when there are no vehicles.
  • The wind created by passing vehicles to power lights is used in one design built in Holland.

4. Electric priority lane for charging electric vehicles

Smart roads at high traffic areas
Smart roads at high traffic areas
  • Magnetic fields that charge electric vehicles while driving are created by embedded cables.
  • In the engine, a receiver coil picks up electromagnetic oscillations from a road-embedded transmitter coil and converts them to AC, which can then power the car.
  • For static cars, inductive charging technology already exists, but potential wireless technology could charge batteries when in motion, providing electric vehicles that drive longer journeys with distance-range solutions.

5. Weather detection

  • Weather conditions that affect road safety are identified by networks of AI-integrated sensors.
  • Today’s Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) are limited in use because they gather data only from a small number of weather stations.
  • In order to capture atmospheric and weather data and automatically upload it to the cloud, a bigger future network might use automated weather stations.
  • To illustrate invisible roadway conditions like black ice, complex temperature-sensitive paint could be used.

6. Traffic detection

  • Traffic detection implies information that helps travellers schedule their journeys.
  • Highway-lining sensors track traffic flow and weight load, warn traffic jam drivers, and automatically inform authorities of incidents.
  • Wear and tear are identified by fibre-optic cables embedded in the lane, and contact between vehicles and roads will enhance traffic management. Rapid flow technologies, for example, use artificial intelligence (AI) to control traffic lights that respond to each other and to automobiles.
  • In order to maximise flow during peak journey times, conventional systems have been pre-programmed and emerging technologies are able to process and optimise flows in real-time.

In the next section, let us find out the importance of smart roads.

Importance of Smart Roads

Smart highways
Smart highways
  • The importance of smart roads is recognised by many governments and transport authorities.
  • It can, however, be expensive and complicated to build smart city infrastructure on a large scale.
  • Starting with low-investment, narrow-scale initiatives that can provide initial value, leaders can break down smart road projects into stages, setting the stage for high-investment and large-scale efforts.
  • Cars were possible in the early days of motor-powered mobility, but no suitable road networks existed; the first private cars were barely more powerful than horse-driven waggons.
  • The authorities have increasingly agreed that only a substantial investment in road infrastructure would allow the population to benefit from modern transport technologies.
  • Similarly, the importance of smart roads as an important forum for mobility innovation is beginning to be understood by today’s governments and urban transport authorities.
  • Smart roads will power smarter vehicles, motivate drivers, and provide unparalleled visibility and control of the living fabric of motor-based traffic for governments.

We have reached at the end of the section. Let’s conclude smart roads now.

Conclusion

  • Although countries such as Dubai have announced plans to develop and incorporate existing smart technology into their traffic networks, China is one of the first, if not the first, to announce plans to create a planned 161-kilometer-long smart road in its eastern province of Zhejiang, incorporating safety features to enable sensor-tracked autonomous driving, an Internet of Vehicles system and solar p pp.
  • The growth of autonomous vehicles in the world has also given rise to the concept of smart highways, encompassing all kinds of technology to build a safer and more effective driving environment, such as sensors, solar panels and software.

That’s it about smart roads. Let us know in comments if you have any doubts.

Technological Advancement

Applications of GPS- 9 Applications Full details

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There are various applications of GPS since it is used for navigation and shrivelling, it is required in many domains. We can observe that technological growth is very rapid and the use of GPS is also getting increased.

Some important applications of GPS are explained are given in the first section.

1. Applications of GPS in agriculture 

The combination of GPS and GIS has given rise to the site-specific farming an approach to precision agriculture. GPS based applications in precision farming are used for: 

 It also helps farmers to work in bad weather conditions such as rain dust fog and darkness when visibility is low.

With the help of Precision agriculture, gather the Geographic information regarding the Plant-Animal-Soil requirements beforehand and then applying the relevant treatment in order to increase productivity.

The collaboration of GPS and GIS with better quality of fertilizers and other soli enhancements, weeds, pesticides can help a farmer greatly in protecting the natural resources in a long run.

The location information is collected by GPS receiver for mapping field boundaries, roads, irrigation systems, and problem areas in crops such as weeds and disease.

2. Aviation

GPS application
GPS application

GPS is used in aviation throughout the world in order to increase the safety and efficiency of flights.

Space-based position and navigation enable three-dimensional position determination for all phases of flight from departure, en route, and arrival, to airport surface navigation.

The role of GPS in Aviation is : 

  •  Area Navigation allows aircraft to fly user-preferred routes from waypoint to waypoint where waypoint does not depend upon the ground infrastructure 
  •  New & Efficient Air routes made possible by GPS are continuing to expand 
  •  Improved approaches to airports, which significantly increase operational benefits and safety, are now being implemented even at remote locations 
  • Potential decommissioning and reduction of expensive ground-based navigation facilities, systems, and services 
  • Reduced aircraft delays due to increased capacity made possible through reduced separation minimums and more efficient air traffic management, particularly during inclement weather. 

3. Environments

In order to sustain the earth’s environment with the human’s needs, there is a need for better decision making in association with more updated information.

Such decisions are supposed to be taken by Government & Private Organisations but both of them are facing the biggest challenge of gathering accurate & timely information.

GPS is the tool which helps greatly in this situation.

Some of the benefits which are provided by GPS to environment are :

  •  In order to provide a comprehensive analysis of environmental concerns, GPS data collection system is complimented with GPS packages 
  • GPS/GIS data collection system efficiently recognize Environmental patterns and trends 
  • There is no need for digitizing the fields data transcription, it can be analyzed quickly without this preliminary requirement 
  •  Environmental Disasters such as fires and oil spills can be more accurately tracked. 
  •  Precise positional data from GPS can assist scientists in crustal and seismic monitoring. 
  •  Monitoring and preservation of endangered species can be facilitated through GPS tracking and mapping. 

4. Marine

GPS technology
GPS technology

In the case of Maine’s search and rescue operations, GPS has provided great support.

GPS provides the fastest and most accurate method for mariners to navigate, measure speed, and determine location.

This enables increased levels of safety and efficiency for mariners worldwide.

Some of the benefits of GPS in Marine are :

  1. Allows access to fast and accurate position, course, and speed information, saving navigators time and fuel through more efficient traffic routing. 

 2. Boaters get precise navigation information- Improves the precision and efficiency of buoy positioning, sweeping, and dredging operations. 

3. For container management in port facilities, enhancement in efficiency and economy is achieved 

4. Increases safety and security for vessels using the AIS 

5. Public Safety & Disaster Relief 

  • GPS serve as a technique in disaster management & rescue operations since, in such real-time situations, time is the critical component.
  • In order to save lives and reduce the loss of property, the med is to know about the relevant information by time, knowing the precise location of landmarks, streets, buildings, emergency service resources, and disaster relief sites reduce the effect.
  • GPS has proven to be of great importance at the time of Tsunami, Katrina and Rita that were havoc in the parts of the world.
  • The rescue team with the collaboration of GPS, GIS and remote sensing gave rise to the rescue operations by correctly locating the site and other relevant information.

6. Applications of GPS in Surveying

GPS is widely used in surveying and by ma keepers. Telephone lines, fire hydrants, server lines and many such can easily be mapped by using GPS. The images of various sites can be tank very easily and fast by using GPS technology

7. Mobile Phones

GPS
GPS
  • GPS proved to a very efficient feature in Smartphones.
  • GPS is not only used for navigation purposes but also for many other applications in the phone which are dependent on GPS.
  • GPS also provides the service providers in improving their efficiency and quality of service as it can give the feedback as to what signal strength is available.

8. Applications of GPS in Robotics

Robotics is spreading its wings of applications to every field. And, now it has reached in civil engineering as well with GPS.

Robotics field has been benefitted greatly by GPS as it helps the robots in navigation and performing various tasks.

9. Military purpose

Initially developed for the help of military, GPS has covered almost all the areas and applications.

Apart from navigation purposes in military, GPS helps in other fields like in tracking the target using Drone technology.

It is also used for the guidance of missiles and projectiles 

Some other benefits of GPS in this domain are :

  •  Provide positional informational to individuals having mobile devices in the case of emergency 
  •  Flood Prediction Capabilities are enhanced along with the monitoring of Seismic precursors 
  •  GPS also helps the meteorologist in storm tracking and flood predictions 
  •  Helps scientists in anticipating earthquakes 
  • To contain and manage forest fires, aircraft combine GPS with infrared scanners to identify fire boundaries and “hot spots.” 

Now, we have reached at the end. Let’s summarize the applications of gps.

Conclusion

GPS is very important tool for navigation and tracking purpose.

Its popularity has increased drastically and covered almost all the domains. The applications of GPS are explained in a detailed manner.

The new updations and advancements are increasing its scope further.

That’s it about applications of GPS. Let me know in comments, if you have any doubts.

Happy learning!

architectural finishes

What is BIM? All Applications Explained!

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BIM is one of the trending civil engineering technological advancements. It has impacted the construction sector hugely and continue to make it better and better.

In this blog, we will find out all the details of BIM.

Let’s start from the definition.

What is BIM?

  • BIM is an acronym for Building Information Modeling.
  • It is a highly collaborative process that allows multiple stakeholders and AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) professionals to collaborate on the planning, design, and construction of a building within one 3D model.
  • It can also span into the operation and management of buildings using data that owners have access to.
  • This data allows owners and stakeholders to make decisions based on pertinent information derived from the model even after the building is constructed.

In the next section, I will walk you through different BIM objects.

BIM Objects

The steps in building drawing
The steps in building drawing
  • BIM objects, the components that make up a BIM model, are intelligent, have geometry, and store data.
  • If any element is changed, BIM software updates the model to reflect that change.
  • This allows the model to remain consistent and coordinated throughout the entire process so that structural engineers, architects, MEP engineers, designers, project managers, and contractors can work in a more collaborative environment.

Time to know the future of BIM.

The Future of Building Information Modeling

  • Because of the clear benefits, it’s certain that BIM is here to stay.
  • It has defined goals and objectives that are clearly beneficial to all those who work their way through the levels.
  • Undoubtedly, the future of construction will be even more highly collaborative and digital.
  • As BIM becomes increasingly more sophisticated, 4D, 5D, and even 6D BIM will start to play a part in the process.
  • Furthermore, around the globe, there is an attempt to reduce waste in construction.
  • Much of this is attributed to supply chain inefficiencies, clashes, and reworking.
  • By working collaboratively in a BIM environment, all of this becomes much less likely, setting the stage for a better tomorrow

Now, let me show you how Building Information Modelling can help you.

How can BIM help you?

  • BIM brings together all of the information about every component of a building, in one place.
  • BIM makes it possible for anyone to access that information for any purpose, e.g. to integrate different aspects of the design more effectively.
  • In this way, the risk of mistakes or discrepancies is reduced, and abortive costs minimized.
  • BIM data can be used to illustrate the entire building life-cycle, from cradle to cradle, from inception and design to demolition and materials reuse. Spaces, systems, products and sequences can be shown in relative scale to each other and, in turn, relative to the entire project.
  • And by signalling conflict detection BIM prevents errors creeping in at the various stages of development/ construction

Also read: Types of Cracks in Building- 14 Causes& Prevention Full Details

Applications of Building Information Modeling

Building design top view
Building design top view

A building information model can be used for the following purposes:

• Visualization: 3D renderings can be easily generated in house with little additional effort.

• Fabrication/shop drawings: It is easy to generate shop drawings for various building systems. For example, the sheet metal ductwork shop drawings can be quickly produced once the model is complete.

• Code reviews: Fire departments and other officials may use these models for their review of building projects.

• Cost estimating: BIM software has built-in cost estimating features. Material quantities are automatically extracted and updated when any changes are made in the model.

• Construction sequencing: A building information model can be effectively used to coordinate material ordering, fabrication, and delivery schedules for all building components.

• Conflict, interference, and collision detection: Because building information models are created to scale in 3D space, all major systems can be instantly and automatically checked for interferences. For example, this process can verify that piping does not intersect with steel beams, ducts, or walls.

• Forensic analysis: A building information model can be easily adapted to graphically illustrate potential failures, leaks, evacuation plans, and so forth.

• Facilities management: Facilities management departments can use it for renovations, space planning, and maintenance operations.

Also read: 3 d Printing buildings |Concrete Printing & Contour Crafting Methods Full Guide

In the next section, let’s see the benefits of building information modelling.

Benefits of BIM

  • Accurate geometrical representation of the parts of a building in an integrated data environment
  • Faster and more effective processes: Information is more easily shared and can be value-added and reused.
  • Better design: Building proposals can be rigorously analyzed, simulations performed quickly, and performance benchmarked, enabling improved and innovative solutions.
  • Controlled whole-life costs and environmental data: Environmental performance is more predictable, and lifecycle costs are better understood.
  • Better production quality: Documentation output is flexible and exploits automation.
  • Automated assembly: Digital product data can be exploited in downstream processes and used for manufacturing and assembly of structural systems.
  • Better customer service: Proposals are better understood through accurate visualization.
  • Lifecycle data: Requirements, design, construction, and operational information can be used in facilities management.

That’s it about BIM. You have seen the technical details as well as other aspects of the innovation.

So, do you think it’s going to change the future of civil engineering? Let me know in comments.

architectural finishes

Smart Building: 4 Features Full Guide

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Today, we are going to talk about one of the interesting innovations, smart building. With the advancement of technology, civil engineering has seen mouthful innovations in the past decade.

We will find out everything you need to know about smart buildings.

Let’s start from the definition.

What is a smart building?

Smart buildings View
Smart buildings view
  • A smart building is any structure that uses automated processes, including heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, safety and other systems, to automatically control the building’s operations.
  • In order to gather data and handle it according to the functions and services of a company, smart buildings use sensors, actuators and microchips.
  • This infrastructure helps owners, operators and facility managers increase the efficiency and performance of facilities, decreasing energy usage, maximising the use of space and mitigating the impact of buildings on the climate.

Also read: 3 d Printing buildings |Concrete Printing & Contour Crafting Methods Full Guide

In the next section, I will walk you through the process of building smart buildings.

The creation of a smart building

  • Making a smart house, or making a building smart, starts by connecting sensors and control systems to core systems such as lighting, power metres, water metres, pumps, heating, fire alarms and chiller plants.
  • Also elevators, access systems and shading may become a part of the system at a more advanced level.
  • There is no single collection of norms that makes up what a smart building is, but convergence is what they all have in common.
  • Many new buildings have “smart” technology and are connected to a smart power grid and are sensitive.
  • To operate in smart buildings, you don’t even need to move offices or create a new building.
  • In order for property owners to take advantage of the power available in older buildings, building automation systems such as those from Honeywell or Johnson Controls exist.

Next, we will find out the benefits of smart buildings.

Let’s come to the main features section.

The main features of smart buildings

Highly automated building
Highly automated building
  1. Systems are connected
  • The most fundamental characteristic is the connection of the core systems within it.
  • So, all connected are water metres, pumps, fire alarms, electricity, lighting etc.
  • This is what makes “smart” a building-the capacity of the systems inside it to communicate with each other.

2. The use of sensors

  • Use of sensors can help make various activities easier and effective.
  • There are different types of sensors available to be used according to the purpose

3. Automation

  • The systems that have been placed in place collect and interpret information, and this is done continuously and in real-time, basically.
  • This continuous monitoring makes it possible to make automatic changes that can control conditions in an entire building.

4. Data

These type of buildings create a large amount of useful data about their own usage, which is something that is obviously not done by standard buildings.

Also read: Cracks in a Building |3 Types of Cracks in Building Walls Full Guide

Time to look at the benefits of a smart building.

The key benefits

  • The strategies will minimise energy costs
  • Increase the efficiency of the workers of the facility
  • Enhance construction activities
  • Encourage environmental initiatives
  • Improve decision-making throughout the organization.

You have seen the different aspects of a smart building. It indeed is an innovation worth incorporating in your life. Let me know if you have any doubts in comments.

Happy learning!