Tag: automation

  • Things are changing. Constantly

    Things are changing. Constantly

    It has been 40 years since the first major breakthrough in construction software. It was 1982 and AutoCAD was first released. 1982 marks the beginning of construction innovation and automation.

    In the last 40 years lots of things changed.

    AutoCAD was only the beginning. Since then, we have seen the rise of the BIM software, structural calculation packages for complex construction calculations, estimating and project tracking packages and many more. And of course, the one and only Microsoft Excel that changed everything in the way we manage data. By the way, the first Excel version released in 1985.

    Even though it’s been 40 years of constant innovation, there are some sectors in the building industry that things haven’t changed much. Fieldwork has not experienced the same level of technological transformation as office-based tasks. The physical nature of the task, as well as the delayed acceptance of technology on construction sites, might explain part of the industry’s resistance to change.

    Take as an example scaffolding. In the office the workflow has changed. There are numerous software packages that can do structural calculation, can design scaffolds or manage a whole project, but on the field, the work pretty much remains the same (excluding some tools that are now working with batteries for example).

    The rise of AI

    The last decade we have seen huge steps done towards AI and automation. Especially, the last 3 years many AI products have made it to the market. Take a look at ChatGPT (the known AI chat machine) , Bard (Google’s AI chat), Stable Diffusion or Midjourney (two major tools for AI images). They didn’t even exist 5 years ago (or at least we didn’t know they existed) and now thousands of people rely their jobs on those tools.

    How this affects the construction

    Due to the complexity of the construction projects, AI is not as much of a threat to the construction (all levels) as it is to the humanity (as a whole). But, unless AI robots start designing and building other, more advanced robots (compared to them), construction is (almost) safe.

    But, there are some products that might replace some tradesmens’ work. Take a look at this robotic builder for example.

    4 days to build a 3-bedroom house. Not bad at all for the owner (that multiplies the profit margins) or the buyer that will buy a house cheaper. Bad news for the bricklayers though. Or the sculpturers (take a look at this  robotic sculpturer ).

    Even worse are the news for the setting out engineers. HP (Hewlett Packard) robots are already replacing their job.

    Things will just change.

    Even though automation is going to replace lots of humans there will be a huge shift in employment and new roles will be created. For example, the above “bricklaying” robot will need someone to feed it with material, check the setting out, feed it with designs etc. And, who you think will build those machines. The general idea that the west world has automated most of their production is of course false. The production has shifted to Asia, and it is coming to Europe/USA again.

    Conclusion?

    We are living in a very interesting era. The era that the new replaces the old, rapidly. Technologically, geopolitically, financially, and generally in every sector there are changes and transformations happening that will shape the future, which is unknown at the moment.

    From the perspective of the construction industry, innovation never stopped. Especially now automation at work is taking over every field and we should embrace this change. These technology innovations not only offer opportunities for cost-effectiveness and enhance efficiency, but also provide unreached levels of precision, safety, and sustainability in the construction industry.

  • Save And Close All Open AutoCAD Drawings

    Save And Close All Open AutoCAD Drawings

    Recently, I found myself having 10-15 AutoCAD drawings open at the same time and wanted to close them all.

    An easy way to do it is with two commands.

    To do so, first you type SAVEALL at AutoCAD’s command line and all the open documents are saved. Secondly, the CLOSEALL command follows that will close all the open drawings.

    But… I wanted something more automated. So I wrote a small script that combines those two commands into one that will automatically save and close all the drawings.

    Here’s the script:

    (defun c:SCALL ()
      (command "SAVEALL")
      (command "CLOSEALL")
      (princ)
    )

    That’s all. The file is named SCALL.lsp and the command to run it is also “scall” typed at the command line of AutoCAD.

    If you want to know how to load an AutoLISP script in AutoCAD you can read this small article that teaches you step by step what you should do.

  • Transforming the Economy and Shaping Our Future

    Transforming the Economy and Shaping Our Future

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) and tools like ChatGPT are shaking up the economy, bringing loads of potential to boost productivity and efficiency. But this revolution also raises questions about job losses, a growing social divide, and what work will look like in the future.

    AI is changing the game across industries, with tools like ChatGPT automating tasks like content creation, customer support, and data analysis. These advancements help workers build new skills, streamline their work, and increase their earnings. But this shift also brings challenges and concerns.

    Many people worry about job losses as AI takes over tasks once done by humans. While some jobs may disappear, AI can also open the door to new opportunities, like AI developers and data scientists. Plus, tools like ChatGPT can help workers focus on more meaningful tasks like problem-solving and strategic planning, which are harder to automate. This could lead to happier and more productive workers.

    But there’s another issue: a growing social gap between those who can use advanced tech and those who can’t. To tackle this problem, governments and organizations need to focus on digital literacy and make AI tech accessible to everyone. By encouraging ongoing learning and upskilling, we can help people adapt to a fast-changing tech landscape and ensure everyone benefits from the AI revolution.

    There’s a myth that technology has already automated most jobs, causing a decline in labor opportunities. But the truth is, many labor-intensive jobs have just moved to other continents, like Asia, due to lower labor costs. This highlights the complex relationship between technology, globalization, and economic forces. As tech continues to reshape the economy, it’s important to understand these dynamics and work towards a fair future for all workers.

    As AI and tools like ChatGPT change the way we work and live, we need to address concerns about job displacement and social divisions while recognizing their potential to create new opportunities, boost productivity, and enhance our quality of life. By promoting inclusivity, lifelong learning, and equal access to AI resources, we can make sure everyone shares in the benefits of this tech revolution.

    In today’s fast-paced world, it’s more important than ever for people to keep learning and adapting. Governments and organizations need to work together to support continuous learning and create a more inclusive, socially-focused economy. This means making education affordable and accessible, developing targeted skill programs, offering financial incentives, and promoting flexible work arrangements. Social policies that focus on reducing inequality and promoting social well-being can help bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, redistributing wealth more fairly, and providing universal social safety nets.

    In conclusion, promoting lifelong learning and adopting more social policies are critical for building an inclusive and sustainable economy in the face of rapid technological and economic changes. By focusing on everyone’s well-being and supporting accessible education, skill development, and work-life balance, we can ensure a brighter future for all.

    Lastly, making training data and models public is crucial for building trust and promoting innovation in AI. Open access to these resources lets researchers, developers, and the public better understand how AI systems work and hold them accountable. Collaboration leads to more innovative solutions and faster AI advancements. Plus, it helps the wider community identify and address potential biases and ethical concerns, ensuring AI systems are developed responsibly and fairly. In the end, it’s our data that AI systems are trained on, so transparency and collaboration are essential for creating systems that benefit everyone.

  • Print PDFs (multiple) from Excel with a press of a button

    Print PDFs (multiple) from Excel with a press of a button

    On a previous article, dated 2 years ago, I explained how to automatically print to pdf a sheet, with a press of a button.

    This one is the part 2. It is a tutorial of “how to print multiple pdf files from populated tables” in excel, with the help of VBA.

    I wrote the code in 2018 and since then it has saved me (or the company I work for) a massive number of working hours (or weeks to be more precise).

    (more…)
  • Print to PDF from Excel Automatically

    vba-logo.pngYou are working in your highly automated super excel spread sheet that you have created. After all these months of additions and formulas, cell updates and tests you are there! You finally mad your spread sheet fully automated that produces alone cells, numbers, prices and data that would take days to calculate them manually.But…

    Something is missing… (more…)