From Blueprints to Algorithms: Architects and Engineers Adapting to the Software Revolution

I want to begin by thanking Dalton Goodwin for the phone conversation and his eventual articles and videos on this subject.

If you subscribe to ChatGPT and use the Dall-E extension you will find that ChatGPT can now generate images. To test how this would work in a real world example I began with the following request.

Please describe in detail so that an image can be generated of a Navisworks model.

This statement trains the system to do a fair amount of work related to the description. This is the statement it came back with.

Photo of a detailed 3D architectural model displayed in Navisworks software. The model represents a modern multi-story commercial building with clear glass facades, angular structures, and landscaped terraces. The software interface shows a toolbar at the top with icons for tools like 'Viewpoint', 'Sectioning', and 'Timeliner'. On the left side, there's a 'Selection Tree' panel displaying a hierarchical structure of the model components. The background of the software is a gradient gray, and there's a grid on the ground plane of the 3D view, indicating scale and orientation. The model is illuminated with soft shadows, highlighting its intricate details.

While it understood the point, it took my request a bit too literally. So I asked it: "Please limit the description to just the image of the model and not the actual Navisworks interface."

It replied with the following.

Photo of a detailed 3D architectural model representing a modern multi-story commercial building. The building boasts clear glass facades, angular structures, and landscaped terraces. The model is set against a gradient gray background, emphasizing the intricate details of the structure. Soft lighting illuminates the model, casting subtle shadows and highlighting the building's unique design features. The ground beneath the model displays a grid, indicating scale and orientation

It now generated the following image based on that description.

Interesting. Not exactly Navisworks like, but understandable. Of course, unless we are using section planes this might not be exactly what we are expecting to see. It appeared to leave all the important building systems out, which reading the description made sense. So I replied with the following:

This model should include Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Telecom systems

Now we are getting closer. So it replied with the following message and image.

Photo of a detailed 3D architectural model of a modern multi-story commercial building, showcasing its Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Telecom (MEPT) systems. The building structure is transparent in areas to reveal the intricate web of ducts, pipes, conduits, and cables running through the floors and walls. The mechanical system displays air ducts in silver, the electrical system showcases colored wires and panels, the plumbing system reveals blue water pipes and fixtures, and the telecom system shows a network of yellow data cables. The design intricacies of each system intertwine, revealing the complexity of modern building infrastructure. Soft lighting illuminates the model, highlighting the distinct systems against a gradient gray background. The ground beneath the model displays a grid, indicating scale and orientation.

When creating examples, this is typically where I see people stop. But other than some Richard Rogers buildings what we are looking at is uncommon. So I wanted to refine it more. I typed the following:

This image was what I was looking for. Now please refine it. I would like the building systems to be contained below floors, above ceilings, in plenum areas and in areas where solid walls exist and these systems could be framed in.

While perhaps not the perfect example of how a building is constructed, I decided to take for granted it would understand what I was inferring. It came back with the following text and image.

Photo of a detailed 3D architectural model of a modern multi-story commercial building, emphasizing the Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Telecom (MEPT) systems. The building structure is transparent in key areas to reveal the MEPT systems strategically placed: air ducts (from the mechanical system) are situated above ceilings and in plenum areas, colored wires and panels (from the electrical system) run below floors and within solid walls, blue water pipes and fixtures (from the plumbing system) are located below floors and above ceilings, and yellow data cables (from the telecom system) are channeled within solid walls and above ceilings. These systems are framed neatly, showcasing the precision of modern building design. Soft lighting highlights the systems, revealing their intricate pathways against a gradient gray background. The ground beneath the model displays a grid, indicating scale and orientation

OK, maybe not perfect...not even close to perfect.... but it's starting to understand what I am looking for. After 10 more minutes of refinement I began to realize I had reached the limits of what it could reasonably give me.

It was at this point I realized my problem, I had forgotten to specify two things. First, that the systems should be accurately sized. Second, that there should not be any rooms completely filled with these elements. I requested this.

Do the same thing with the mechanical and plumbing systems appearing to be accurately sized for the structure. Additionally, can it be refined so we do not see entire rooms filled with pipe and duct? They should have those elements as straight line runs that cross the ceilings and then go down areas where there are columns. No single room should be filled with these elements.

This last command generated the following image.

Still not perfect, but you can tell it was getting the idea and for this test, that was good enough for me.

This technology has reached a stage where it not only can generate images, but it can also recognize images as well.

The software, still in the process of being rolled out to users, boasts advanced capabilities like image recognition and the ability to interpret schematic diagrams. As a result, it holds the potential to generate layouts based on basic floorplan designs and specifications in the near future.

Additionally, these systems are trained through data connections, and as databases and the recognition of sketches and diagrams improve, this technology will expedite various aspects of the process, including estimation and the creation of material takeoffs.

Nonetheless, it is not set to replace designers and engineers at present, and it's improbable that it will do so directly in the next 5-10 years. Instead, it appears poised to significantly reduce their workloads, potentially enabling projects to be completed with fewer engineers and architects. It will be intriguing to observe how this reduction affects our industry as older professionals retire, and new graduates enter the workforce, facing increased workloads due to aging infrastructure and a growing population. It's highly likely that at that time more people will be battling for the same amount of jobs, thus creating a very competitive job market.

While some may find these advancements daunting, staying informed about these developments and staying on the cutting edge of the field can ensure that individuals continue to contribute to project development throughout their careers, benefiting from the growth of their experience and knowledge.