Insights and Inspiration from
the World of Access
The year 2020 was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. The construction industry was likewise affected by the measures taken to combat the pandemic. In many countries, construction sites were partially or completely closed, and tasks were carried out from home where possible.
Preventive care, efforts to prevent a disease before needing to treat it, isn't a new idea and originated in Ancient Greek. However, throughout the 20th century, the increasing focus on understanding the human body to prevent the diseases single-handedly saved millions of lives and cut down healthcare costs.
Emergencies and accidents can strike anyone, anytime, and anywhere, including the workplace. The United States Department of Labor includes both natural and humanmade incidents as a workplace emergency.
First inhabited by the Aboriginal locals some 50,000 years ago, Sydney was one of the most significant cities in the Western world by the 19th century. Currently home to over 5 million Sydneysiders, it remains Australia's most populous city and commercial center.
Despite different architectural styles, histories, and locations, Westminster Abbey, Cathedrals of Milan and Cologne, the Palace of Alhambra, and Stonehenge have many things in common. They're all iconic landmarks visited by millions of people a year.
While remote and technology-assisted learning was already on the rise, the COVID-19 pandemic made it an inevitability for millions of students of all levels around the world. Depending on their local and national public health regulations, some educational institutions have re-opened, some experiment with hybrid models of learning, and some continue a fully remote education.
The fact that Building information modeling (BIM) is not a software, has been repeated like a mantra for many many years and is now a well known fact. Nevertheless, since BIM in its practical form is executed using BIM (enabled) software, looking at BIM software is important.
Dozens of buildings crumpled when a deadly earthquake hit Mexico City in 2017, but its gleaming Torre Reforma survived with just a few cracks. It's often said 'Earthquakes don't kill people, buildings do'.
While most of the buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) may seem new, the concept has been around for more than 60 years. American computer scientist John McCarthy, known as the "Father of AI," coined the term "artificial intelligence" in the 1950s, leading researchers across the United States to dig into the computer learning for processing equations and theorems.
While buildings fulfill the most basic human needs like shelter and security, architecture impacts the emotional state of any person who interacts with it. Whether it's intended or not, a building can provoke a range of emotions such as belonging, awe, fear, or hope.
In 2018, the global commercial drone market was worth USD 5.8 billion, with an estimated 275 thousand sales. The market is forecast to grow by over 60 percent in terms of volume from 2019 to 2025.
When the US supermarket chain Piggly Wiggly opened its doors to customers in the early 20th century, its founder Clarence Saunders worried about overcrowding and mass hysteria. Hence, he installed an entry system to regulate people's flow to allow only one person at a time.
Patient flow is the movement of people within a healthcare facility. As one of the most crucial parts of hospital design, a successful patient flow ensures that the hospital can provide the right care at the right time while minimizing any potential risk of transmission of diseases.
Since Augmented Reality (AR) had its beginnings in the gaming world in the 1960s, it evolved to be a ubiquitous technology both in private and commercial life. As millions want to utilize the interactive experience by blending digital elements and a computerized real-life environment, the AR market is booming.
In facilities with high people flow such as restaurants, offices, or care homes, a closed door can be a hindrance in daily life. Especially following a hectic schedule, one might not always have a free hand to control a door. Even if they did, especially at a time when hand hygiene is a bigger priority than ever, people might be reluctant to touch a door.
Security and access control came a long way from the wooden sticks used as keys in Ancient Egypt and Babylon some 6,000 years ago. Modern access control systems are no longer just keys and locks, but sophisticated ecosystems with high-tech components that interact with each other.
The coronavirus pandemic has been changing the world as we know it in both the short and long term. However, as billions stayed home to flatten the curve, few industries have been affected by COVID-19 like aviation and air travel. Between late March and April 2020, more than 20 major airlines suspended their operations by 100 percent.
Building Information Modeling (BIM), which has been evolving for the last five decades, won many praises for how much it cuts costs and time in the process of construction. However, in addition to more efficient projects, BIM can step in to save the most crucial resource of any industry: Human lives and health.