Speakers:
Jon Anunson, Senior Global Manager, Process & Metrics, AECOM

Abstract Summary
The design process generates lots of data.  Not just our design output, but what we do, with what tools, for how long, and to what outcome.  This is a look at finding intelligence and business benefit in the broader ecosystem of project delivery data.

BIG Data, Data Center, Data Warehouse, Data Lake. These are in vogue terms in many industries today, and very powerful tools that can be leveraged to inform strategic decisions, but can we benefit from these concepts in our own practices?  In our industry, we’re primarily focused on delivering data for our clients. BIM, media / content, designs, solutions; these are information rich data sources, but they’re not the only data sources we can benefit from.

In this class, we’ll say, “It’s All Data to me” and look at utilizing a broader perspective on the data you can use to understand and improve your business. It’s becoming easier and easier to answer questions like, “What licenses am I consuming and what does that mean to me?" But what else does our usage and process information begin to tell us? Can we use these big data techniques to help us answer these questions and more?

We’ll look at a case study of using design technology licensing software as a source of useful data about business processes, health, and maturity, and discuss applications of big data techniques around the management of design tools, licensing, even talent and user behaviour! The data that is generated AROUND our production can help us understand and optimize that same production!

Session Objectives
After this session, attendees will be able to:

• Understand Big Data principles and concepts
• Plan an approach for harvesting data for Business Intelligence
• Cite examples of how that data can be used to optimize business processes
• Use BI tools to help users understand capability and maturity

Session Snapshots

Speakers:
Trevor Taylor, Associate Partner, ZGF Architects
Philip Rothey, Design Technology Manager, ZGF Architects

Abstract Summary
Data is knowledge; and knowledge is power. Databases are, therefore, the modern engines of power. This session is an introduction to the basics of database technology with some cool practical examples and, hopefully, we will inspire you to head off on your own. There’s gold in them there hills!

Learn why data is such a big deal all of a sudden. It isn’t as if data is anything new. Human beings have been collecting and using data for their entire recorded history. Databases, however, are a relatively new invention. Computer technology introduced the ability to store and (quickly) retrieve information. This new technology needed an efficient, regular method of managing often huge amounts of data: enter The Database. Databases have been the humble filing cabinets of business for decades. However, in our current era of hyper-connectedness, ubiquitous sensors and, of course the ultimate data-sponge: the smart phone, humans are generating and collecting vast amounts of data; and doing so at an exponential rate.

Businesses like FedEx and Amazon, which appear to be about logistics and retail sales, are really software companies using data to connect people to stuff. Everyone is on the web and the web runs on data. Data Analyst is a popular career choice for the college-bound. It is important to be conversant in the ways of data and databases. Your business uses multiple databases for finance, project information, customer relationships, and a host of other things large and small.

In this session we will present a few of the more common database models, discuss how they are used in the business of architecture and Building Information Modeling. To augment our discussion we will show several examples of how we use data technology at ZGF. We plan to draw these examples primarily from our use of Revit+Dynamo and Rhino+Grasshopper.

Session Objectives
After this session, attendees will be able to:
• Gain a conversational understanding of database technology
• See some real-world examples of data in design

Speakers:
Greg Schleusner, Director of Design Technology Innovation, HOK

Abstract Summary
If a picture is worth a 1000 words how many is a model worth? Every firm has an image database or archive. Every firm has copies of models stored in a project archive by this point as well. Some firms do the extra work to capture a set of documents. This information is very hard to leverage to run the business; instead it is used for marketing and not particularly well. Our solution to this problem brings together a set of tools and techniques to automate the collection and conversion of model data into a searchable platform. This can answer questions we have today and ones we haven't asked yet.

For a design firm the largest and most data rich information store we have are our designs. In this presentation, we'll explore efforts to extract and store this data so we can start to query it for current and future use.

The presentation will touch on some key tools: RTV Tools, FME and Mongo - as well as key file formats including IFC, glTF and others.

Session Objectives
After this session, attendees will be able to:

Understand more about the tools needed to automate the collection of models
• Identify questions models can answer today
• Acquire a basic understanding of FME software

Speakers:
Ryan Cameron, Project Architect, DLR Group

Abstract Summary
Digital tools that create and assess data have taken our industry by storm. When implemented correctly, these technologies can greatly provide answers to problems your projects are facing. Is your team interested in finding ways to have data help drive decisions? Have you looked into data analytics but don’t know where to start?

This session will provide practical use applications to help your everyday architects, engineers and designers complete requirements. Design changes daily so we will look at some strategies using computation from your 3D design platform and put them into a data analytics tool like Power BI. We will also lead discussions on simple steps to help manage your data so you can begin to create a data strategy for your teams.

Users will gain an understanding of Data Strategy, a dataset of PowerBI templates, Revit models, Dynamo Scripts and working knowledge of how to connect all the data dots in between.

Session Objectives
After this session, attendees will be able to:

• Create simple Design Data mining strategies to begin data integration into your processes
• Learn advanced data mining and computational design techniques to solve daily problems
• Create your own workflows and use templates to mine data from your models
• Learn to lead your team through a data-driven process
• Learn about tools to implement in your team's strategy for data mining

Session Snapshots

Speakers:
Kelli Lubeley, VDC Manager, Fortis Construction

Abstract Summary
Imagine handing over a model to the owners/operators that not only contains accurate, as-built geometry, but also crucial operating information like install and warranty information, fuel consumption, client tracking information, and more, all validated against the original design.

This session will cover how to provide a service owners have always wanted, but is rarely, if ever delivered: A coordinated, validated, as-built data deliverable in a standardized and usable format. Attendees will learn how using the everyday tools of our trade, most if not all currently in use by their firms, to streamline the process of validating BIM against field data collected during the construction process, and deliver to the client not only a validated model, but also corresponding data collected and validated from design through COO.

Tools discussed will include: Revit, MS Access, MS Excel, BIM 360 Field & Glue, COBie, and Cx Alloy.

Session Objectives
After this session, attendees will be able to:
• Understand the role data should play through all phases of the project lifecycle
• Indentify vital information for the turnover process and where the data originates
• Learn best practices for normalizing data to work across multiple tools and platforms
• Apply concepts and best practices to create deliverables that will work with existing tools and data used by AEC firms and their clients

Speakers:
Tammy Adolf, Stantec
Brok Howard, dRofus

Abstract Summary
Data is as much about what as it is about who. Who is providing the data? Who is relying on the data?

In this discussion we will review the types of data used throughout a project from the initial data that defines a project through to the use of that data during a building lifecycle. We will also discuss the role of those creating data and those who use the data.