If you have watched the TV program, A Person Of Interest, this concept will be familiar to you. The program is based on a city-wide surveillance system that ties all independent surveillance systems together, analyses the data, and outputs "security issues" for the stars of the show to resolve. (Supposedly NYC actually has something similar up and running.)

In the more mundane world of the individual facility something similar is possible. By adding computer analysis to your new or existing video security system, you can receive live alerts to the presence of anomalies without anyone watching the camera feeds, or without risking that the watcher is distracted or simply misses the event. Further, there are some events, like the 'package left behind' that are very difficult to notice in a busy space. 

The definition of video analytics according to Honeywell, a major vendor in the field, is "cutting-edge software that uses algorithms which detect, track, analyze and classify behaviors and objects, vehicles and people in a live or recorded video system".

The main applications are detecting incidents that are difficult for conventional sensors; detect, track and alert on incidents that threaten operations; monitor more cameras effectively with less labor; and collect data for operations.

Two key benefits of video analytics are the elimination of storing vast amounts of irrelevant data and of 'inattention blindness'. A military study of surveillance demonstrated that, when monitoring two or more sequencing monitors, the operator will miss as much as 45% of all scene activity in a two minute period. Over a 22 minute period the percentage missed goes up to 95%.

Here are some ways that video analytics can be used.

• Car Counting (can give lane by lane sub totals)
  
• Person Falling (detects the telltale movement of falling)
  
• People Or Object Counting (a kind of inventory taking)
  
• Moving In The Wrong Direction 
  
• After Hours Theft (activity that is an anomaly)
  
• Object Left Behind (detects the appearance of something that wasn't there before)
  
• Control Lights (Off/On or varied levels where sensors are impractical, e.g., a warehouse)
  

Video Analytics can provide better security, improve the efficiency of your system through alerts and searches, provide the additional benefit of counting, and reduce costs of personnel, data storage, and data collection for management use.

Costs vary significantly based on what you want to accomplish. However it is not hard to imagine that video analytics will become standard in more and more facilities in the near future.

orig post date NOV 2012

The National Concrete Masonry Association [NCMA] is a valuable resource for technical information about concrete block. Their e-Tek articles are industry standards for every concrete masonry topic you can think of. 

A PDF of the NCMA e-Tek table of contents is embedded below or can be downloaded. 

The e-Tek articles are accessed through one of the member websites. So, to access these e-Tek articles follow these 6 steps.

1. Go to the NCMA website http://www.ncma.org/Pages/default.aspx
   
2. Click 'e-Tek & Details' on the top line menu.
   
3. Select your state. (or a nearby one)
   
4. Choose from the list of companies that serve your area. 
   
5. Click the link to view TEKs. 
   
6. Select the e-Tek article you are interested in for download.
   

When you find yourself working with a Building Committee, you will normally find that they do not have any particular experience of serving on building committees or managing a building project.

There are exceptions - public schools, higher education, hospitals and organizations with a facility manager - but your first step is to determine what work they have done so far.

You want to know if they have a documented plan for the project as most Owner/Architect contracts state. So, if they have a documented plan and program, budget, and schedule, and they all seem realistic, you are ready to start designing. 

If they do not have a boni-fide plan, and if you begin designing in order to 'stumble upon' a solution that works for them, then you will almost certainly have some re-designing to do sooner or later. You and the building committee need a coherent plan for their project - a plan that will require little or no re-design. 

If there is no plan, or if it doesn't make sense, then you will need to back them up and take them through the planning that they need to do. The engineers and contractors on the committee will balk at this. This is where you point out that you are being asked to go 'off-script' and to proceed in a way that is unpredictable and that is not anticipated by the contract. So either way, planning first or jumping into design, you will need a larger fee than has been proposed because the scope of your work has changed. 

If you are asked to begin designing anyway, you should try to get the fee for Schematic Design changed to an hourly basis to compensate you for the inevitable redesign that you will have to do. You might consider spending some time, in that case, doing the planning that needs to be done so that the redesign doesn't come back to haunt you after Schematic Design is approved and you are back to a standard fee for Basic Services.

If you are given the chance to help them with the planning, here is an outline of how you might proceed.

• Find out who all the stakeholders are
  
• Ask "On the day that you move into the completed project, what has to have happened for you to feel that it is a success?"  
  
• Find out what is known already regarding size, restrictions (codes, process, approvals, etc.), context/neighborhood/location, budget (and method of funding), and schedule
  
• Consider alternatives that solve their needs
  
• Get clarity on what is driving the needs - pent-up growth, change, anticipated growth
  
• Determine if there are systems that they want to replace or that they need - security, networking, building management
  
• Get their reaction to a preliminary report stating what you have learned so far including any lack of 'fit' 
  
• Interview key staff to arrive at a verified size that is needed
  
• Check codes, zoning, and other restrictions
  
• Gather record drawings, surveys and GIS information
  
• Prepare a preliminary budget making it clear what it includes and what it doesn't (there is a tendency to think everything is included as though this is a bid to do the project)
  
• Prepare a preliminary schedule for the project
  

For small or simple projects this may satisfy the planning that is needed. For larger and more complex projects you may need to revisit each issue in terms of the others until you can jointly lay out a coherent plan for how they can achieve their goals for the project. Resist the temptation to draw floor plans, 3D models and so on. It is important that the Building Committee understands and buys into this plan. 'Selling' is not a part of this. In a perfect world this planning is something that they would have done on their own.

orig post date Nov2012

Here is List “B” of Software Tools.


As I said when introducing List "A", my favorite articles in Architekwiki are usually about “Tools”. I like gadgets. Although these are not tools in the traditional sense of physical objects, they serve the same purpose. They are tools of the Knowledge Age.



The Best Calculator
Scalar is really useful - part calculator and part spreadsheet. 


Small Firm Accounting - Part 6 - Software Comparison
We compare 14 accounting systems to help Kickstart your search. 


You Probably Need Trello - Lucky Its Free
Trello offers a lot of the features you will find in Basecamp, but free.


How To Hack Basecamp Personal
If you have a Basecamp account, even an old free one, 37signals’ new offering is a really useful project management tool. 


Vittle The Presentation App
This App is a little hard to explain but its features are in a new class.


Note Taking Apps Inkflow Plus VS Notability
Note taking on the iPad is much more powerful than it used to be.


If you missed it, here is List “A”.

My favorite articles in Architekwiki are usually about “Tools”. 


(I like gadgets.) 

Although these are not tools in the traditional sense of physical objects, they serve the same purpose. They are tools of the Knowledge Age.


Here is List “A” of Software Tools.

Gmail Tasks Revisited
A tool you may already have with some unique features.


Useful Mobile Apps Updated
A list of apps that make things easier - better - funner.


Field Measuring Theres An App For That
Field measuring just got more interesting.


Lucidchart Diagrams
When you need a bubble diagram, org chart, or process flow chart, Lucidchart has you covered. Free.


Basecamp - Nozbe Comparison
Two great ways to manage all the projects and their tasks.


Five Handy Photo Apps
It is absolutely amazing what you can do with these apps and your phone’s camera.


Favorite Sticky Note Apps For iPad
There are a million uses for sticky notes. Now coming to your tablet.

Every project needs a building permit. Jurisdiction doesn't change the code that you must comply with, but it often changes the process of obtaining a building permit. I like to apply for the permit before going out for bids so that any changes that are required by the plan review can be included before the bids are received.

The components of a permit application are jurisdiction, the application paperwork, the printing of sets of drawings / specifications, delivery, and the response to the inevitable corrections letter.

Jurisdiction

• Make a confirmed determination of jurisdiction as early as possible in the design process.
  
• Determine the city in which the project will be located.
  
• If the building has an occupant load UNDER 100, then the city where the project is proposed is usually the authority having jurisdiction. Verify this by calling the city’s building official. 
  
• If the building has an occupant load OVER 100, then the authority having jurisdiction may be a larger government body - the county, or state.
  
• Determine how long the review will take before we are notified of approval or conditions.
• [This is a good place to store the circumstances that you normally find, so that you learn as you go.]
  

Building Permit Application

• Research the application requirements of the jurisdiction
  
• Obtain/print the application forms
  
• Pencil-in the information for the application that is known
  
• Gather unknown info for application
  
• Determine who has to sign and how the signature will be obtained
  
• Complete the final application form
  
• Save a PDF for the file
  

Drawings

• Determine the number of sets of drawings required.
  
• Building permit may be phased, in which case just the applicable drawings are needed.
  
• Final permit requires all drawings of all disciplines.
  

Printing

1. Order loose sets of just their discipline delivered to consultants.
   
2. Consultants sign and stamp drawings.
   
3. Place a second order that includes first picking up the consultants' loose sealed sets.
   
4. The architectural sets are then printed and bound with the already signed/stamped consultant sets.
   
5. Have the sets delivered to the architect for signing and stamping and local delivery.
   
6. End here unless delivery will be by shipping the drawings. 
7. If the sets of drawings need to be shipped, then the architect's process is like the consultants' process.
   
8. Final step is to have printer pick up all loose drawings, cover letter, application and check.
   
9. Printer binds sets and ships for us.
   
10. Confirm this last step with blueprint house.
    

Local Delivery

• Hand deliver drawings with application if local.
  
• Use office credit card or a check to pay application fee.
  

Corrections Letter Response

• Once the plans have been reviewed, there is often a need to clarify or change the documents based on a Corrections Letter from the authority having jurisdiction. 
  
• The letter will list the needed corrections for, or conditions of, approval.
  
• Share the letter with our consultants and get their responses or corrected documents that address the issues under their control.
  
• Document how we plan to comply as demonstrated in the example letter. Use this example as a model to start the response to the Corrections Letter.
  

You will almost certainly want to modify this process for your circumstances. But the point is to have a plan that you work toward implementing while you are completing the drawings and preparing to go out for bids. We have found in recent years new code-related requirements are cropping up. Two that come to mind are:

1. showing documentation on the drawings of how special inspections (IBC requirement that jurisdictions interpret differently) will be completed and by whom, and
   
2. showing occupant loads, and exit capacities on the drawings.
   

Having a documented process makes it easier to hit all the compliance bases without losing your momentum or encountering delays.