Optimisation of geotechnical surveys using a BIM-based geostatistical analysis

PurposeA principle prerequisite for designing and constructing an underground structure is to estimate the subsurface's properties and obtain a realistic picture of stratigraphy. Obtaining direct measure of these values in any location of the built environment is not affordable. Therefore, any evaluation is afflicted with uncertainty, and we need to combine all available measurements, observations and previous knowledge to achieve an informed estimate and quantify the involved uncertainties. This study aims to enhance the geotechnical surveys based on a spatial estimation of subsoil to customised data structures and integrating the ground models into digital design environments.Design/methodology/approachThe present study's objective is to enhance the geotechnical surveys based on a spatial estimation of subsoil to customised data structures and integrating the ground models into digital design environments. A ground model consisting of voxels is developed via Revit-Dynamo to represent spatial uncertainties employing the kriging interpolation method. The local arrangement of new surveys are evaluated to be optimised.FindingsThe visualisation model's computational performance is modified by using an octree structure. The results show that it adapts the structure to be modelled more efficiently. The proposed concept can identify the geological models' risky locations for further geological investigations and reveal an optimised experimental design. The modifications criteria are defined in global and local considerations.Originality/valueIt provides a transparent and repeatable approach to construct a spatial ground model for subsequent experimental or numerical analysis. In the first attempt, the ground model was discretised by a grid of voxels. In general, the required computing time primarily depends on the size of the voxels. This issue is addressed by implementing octree voxels to reduce the computational efforts. This applies especially to the cases that a higher resolution is required. The investigations using a synthetic soil model showed that the developed methodology fulfilled the kriging method's requirements. The effects of variogram parameters, such as the range and the covariance function, were investigated based on some parameter studies. Moreover, a synthetic model is used to demonstrate the optimal experimental design concept. Through the implementation, alternative locations for new boreholes are generated, and their uncertainties are quantified. The impact of the new borehole on the uncertainty measures are quantified based on local and global approaches. For further research to identify the geological models' risky spots, the development of this approach with additional criteria regarding the search neighbourhood and consideration of barriers and trends in real cases (by employing different interpolation methodologies) should be considered.

Multi-Objective Reinforcement Learning for Designing Ethical Environments

AI research is being challenged with ensuring that autonomous agents learn to behave ethically, namely in alignment with moral values. A common approach, founded on the exploitation of Reinforcement Learning techniques, is to design environments that incentivise agents to behave ethically. However, to the best of our knowledge, current approaches do not theoretically guarantee that an agent will learn to behave ethically. Here, we make headway along this direction by proposing a novel way of designing environments wherein it is formally guaranteed that an agent learns to behave ethically while pursuing its individual objectives. Our theoretical results develop within the formal framework of Multi-Objective Reinforcement Learning to ease the handling of an agent's individual and ethical objectives. As a further contribution, we leverage on our theoretical results to introduce an algorithm that automates the design of ethical environments.

Resurrecting the nepeš

Our culture’s approach to dementia typically focuses on preserving the person as they once were. Mental exercises, special diets, and entire memory care facilities are designed to maintain the “previous person.” As important as this is to family and friends, it can be challenging and burdensome to the person who is living with dementia, a person who may not recall, or want to recall, their past life. This essay asserts that the emphasis on maintaining the previous person (and the resultant de-emphasis on honoring the new person) often results from a belief in our innate permanence, particularly the belief in our immortal, immutable soul. Because of this insistence on innate immortality, we tend to undervalue those who fail to live up to the expectations of permanence. The author calls for a renewed emphasis on nepeš, ancient Israel’s concept of the mortal, fleeting human life. By acknowledging our impermanence, we may be able to better identify with and value those who live with dementia and design environments that honor and enable people who are becoming someone new.

Development Electronic Design Automation for RF/Microwave Antenna Using MATLAB GUI

This chapter presents the development of a user-friendly MATLAB-based electronic design automation (EDA) tool for RF/microwave antenna design. The development steps of EDA using MATLAB ‘guide' and MATLAB ‘appdesigner' design environments have been explained in detail. In this chapter, seven EDAs of different antennas are developed and described. The EDA is capable of predicting the dimensions of the antenna by inputting the desired operating specifications of the antenna, such as operating frequency. The rigorous analytical formulations that are implemented in this EDA are briefly described. The developed EDAs have simple and standalone guide user interface (GUI) display and fast program running time compared to iterative solution or numerical-based EDAs. The developed EDAs can be packaged and accessed either as standalone desktop app or web app. The accuracy of the EDA output results is validated by comparing to measurement and simulation results obtained from a commercial simulator.

Exploring Media Architecture Design in Virtual Design Environments

This case study explores how architecture students can learn to design media architecture within virtual design environments tools. The target participants of this study are advanced (i.e. 3rd year) architecture students at the University of Applied Science, Bochum, Germany. To evaluate the student-experience, students were asked to develop a media architecture structure during the semester. Once the project finished the students provided feedback via surveys and interviews. The feedback was analysed employing thematic analysis. The case study shows that students are curious about technology in the design process and that technology has a growing relevance in an architecture career. The feedback will be used to improve future teaching approach.

The Creative Learning Spiral: Designing Environments for Flaring and Focusing

With growing interest in creative learning in recent years, this paper sought to define creative learning through the design of learning spaces. Two learner groups were studied for their interactions with peers, educators, and their spaces—design students at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, a traditional architectural studio environment, and student entrepreneurs at the Harvard Innovation Lab, a startup venture incubator. The result was a new design framework called the creative learning spiral, which groups creative learning into four types of activities: sparking, making, grazing, socializing. The open layouts of both settings facilitated social learning activities of sparking, grazing, and socializing, whereas making time required students to create their own focused environments. The creative learning spiral can be used as a tool to assess the spatial needs of specific creative learning activities, in order to design environments that accommodate the needs of learners.