MIT researchers developed a computational technique for designing buildings, bridges, and other structures that can easily be built on time and budget while also using less material.
    • clucose@lemmy.mlEnglish
      2 days

      Must be a slow news day. We did this in our studies at university 20 years ago.

    • kboos1@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2 days

      I’ve never heard a good engineer ever say “let’s use an unnecessary amount of material”, usually engineers say “this is what you need to achieve the goal and this is why…”. Then management adds contingency while trying to also cut cost, then the project manager orders material too early to drive revenue and it expires or get lost, then the crew always has waste, the list goes on.

      Efficient engineering is rarely the problem, but if there’s a tool that reliably makes my job easier and faster then sure, bring it on

      • clucose@lemmy.mlEnglish
        2 days

        You have safety margins which could be excess material.

      • P03 Locke@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        2 days

        Then management adds contingency while trying to also cut cost,

        No, they just cut cost, beyond what the engineering was designed for. Then they end up as a mini-documentary on some channel like Plainly Difficult.

  • muhyb@programming.devEnglish
    2 days

    Don’t mention this to building contractors here. Some of them already use less materials than regulations.

  • technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    2 days

    Are they sure there isn’t any “AI” in there?

    Seriously though I vastly prefer the term “computer model”. Props to everyone involved for honest journalism and honest science. Refreshing.