CEE 111/211: Multidisciplinary Modeling and Analysis

Objectives

Overview

This multidisciplinary class teaches students to do multidisciplinary modeling and analysis of AEC projects. Multidisciplinary refers to the AEC disciplines of architecture, engineering and construction and the project perspective of the product (some facility), design-construction organization and design-construction process.

In classroom interactive laboratory sessions, students will learn to use Integrated Concurrent Engineering (ICE) methods quickly and well. The class uses the methods of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) in a collaborative ICE setting to design projects well and exceptionally quickly.

The class has three main objectives:
1. Effectively and quickly use methods and technology to do multidisciplinary modeling and analysis, including ability to interpret and build project:

  • Design-construction project measurable objectives with their relative importance;
  • Product models (3D CAD) that are parametric in that objects have meaningful relationships with each other;
  • Organization models;
  • Process models (design and construction plan and schedule);
  • Economic analysis of the total economic impact of Virtual Design and Construction technology;
  • Multidisciplinary analyses and presentations to allow project stakeholders to understand designs and at least five performance metrics of two and ideally many design alternatives;
  • Enable class participants to perform useful tasks with VDC models, i.e., using the multi-display CIFE iRoom:
    • Describe the contents of virtual design-construction models using "quick" models that address specific business issues;
    • Design the product, organization and process of a project using VDC tools and methods;
    • Analyze VDC models;
    • Predict impacts of changes in project design;
    • Explain and Evaluate the relative engineering and economic advantages and disadvantages of design alternatives, given specific business objectives;

2. Develop confidence in the rapid and integrated use of multidisciplinary modeling and analysis methods in an ICE setting. All students will do a project motivated by a current case example from practice. Students who volunteer to participate successfully in a mini-internship with a AEC company. Interns will apply and explain use of virtual design and construction models on a small industry project.

3. Theory: develop practical understanding of the theory of multidisciplinary modeling and analysis, VDC, ICE and their application in practice.

In addition, the class has a number of more general educational process objectives. The class will emphasize and try to improve these broad intellectual process skills that all of us have to some extent, but which all of us can improve.

  • Work effectively in teams: most assignments will be individual assignments, but I encourage active participation in study sections. The project will involve both small and large-group collaboration.
  • Use critical judgment in problem solving. In engineering practice, and in starting to use new theories and technologies, cookbook solutions rarely can be used directly for interesting problems. We must modify existing approaches and design new solutions. We must exercise judgment in design and application of our solutions.
  • Learn by doing: Learning to use virtual models requires using them. The class will emphasize active student classroom participation, problem sets, and a project.
  • Present effectively: We will emphasize clear, sharp interactive and written expression, delivered in multiple ways using interactive web technology.
Objectives
Agenda
Organization
Prerequisites
Evaluation
Reading
Mini Internships
 

Last updated 21 November 2008