Critical reflection

Initially, when my instructor first told my class that we have to write peer feedback on our classmate’s blog, I was quite excited because it was a good opportunity for me to improve my English and I can learn from my peers and instructor.

I like the idea of having the peer and instructor feedback because it allows me to improve on my English language as well as to learn from my peers. As I needed to write feedbacks for my peers on their blog, it indirectly forces me to read through and understand their whole article. I have to think of how they can improve their use of language. There are times that I may be wrong at correcting their use of language, however, I am glad that my instructor also make it a point to leave a feedback for everyone, making it a much easier way for both my peers and me to learn.

There is also group feedbacks which enable my peers and me to work collaboratively, giving and receiving feedback and evaluating our own learning. From my point of view, peer learning is useful as I am able to develop my thinking and writing skills.

Besides giving and receiving feedback, I have learned a lot more on writing a proper citation. In the past, I do not know the proper way of doing a citation therefore, I used to copy and paste links of a certain website when I do my project. However, after I learn the ways of writing a proper citation, I am now able to cite the links and it is beneficial for my future work.

The best takeaway from this module will definitely be the improvement in my writing skills. Being constantly reminded of my tenses and run on sentence, I tend to be warier when it comes to the writing of reports now. I am glad that with this module, I can write a better report for my future projects.

Summary, Thesis and Reader Response Final draft

The article “The Concrete Advantage”, taken from the Green Rooftop website (n.d), provides readers with a deeper understanding of the benefits of having a water-proof concrete green roof. According to the article, concrete green roofs which incorporate “permanent built in water-proofing” will not be damaged. They will have higher sustainability and lower construction costs. The removal of membranes on developments will shorten the process of design, construction and maintenance. The article states that with fewer exposure risks for owners and designers, water-proof green roofs are more economical, which boosts return on investment and project value. It is also more cost effective for owners as there is no need for replacement of membranes thus lowering life-cycle cost. The website also mentions that the usage of “hydrophobic technology” removes dangerous components, making fewer contact risks for anyone who owns a green roof. When there is a crack on the concrete green roof, a simple inoculation from the bottom side will mend it without disrupting growing medium or plants. With these points in mind, the waterproof concrete green roof will make a more feasible choice as compared to the typical green roof as the benefits clearly outweigh the disadvantages.

The reason why concrete green roof makes a better choice is because of the benefits that it can provide. From the above-mentioned article, it  shows that besides being sustainable, the concrete green roof is very durable and is cost effective. It is durable and cost effective because the hydrophobic technology is backed by a proven track record of over forty years, reducing the liability of all parties and the technology is economical because of the initial cost/construction savings, as well as the significant long-term savings. The implementation of waterproof concrete green roof reduces the need of additional maintenance and will ease the jobs for the contractors and designers as they do not have to apply or specifically design any membranes. This will speed up the construction time and reduce the cost of developing and maintaining the roof. Apart from the stated advantages, I feel that choosing the right waterproofing method is important in the construction industry as it can affect the efficiency and the project’s timeline.

Most roofing systems fail from leaks, and the average roof needs to be replaced four times. (Waterproofing, n.d.). Compared with the waterproof concrete green roof, the typical green roofs are more inclined to wear and tear despite having a root barrier coating applied by the contractors. Plant roots can easily go through the waterproof membrane and can cause leaks in the roofs, which can lead to structural damage to the buildings. To get rid of leaks, frequent checks must be done and this can be costly. Contractors must also be cautious during the application of the membrane and designers have to come up with a detailed design of the membrane. All membranes become brittle over time and these are caused by exposure to heat, cold and UV rays from sunlight. Therefore, typical green roofs require additional maintenance and precise manufacturing to protect and develop the membranes. This increases the cost of the roofs.

In the article “Concrete that fears water no more” by Barista (2007), Jack Avery, SVP and Project Managing Director with Sellen Construction mentioned that the cost of waterproofing membrane is 40% more expensive than the waterproof concrete. This statement shows that waterproof concrete is a better choice as it is less costly compared to the waterproof membrane. The article also states that waterproofing membrane is applied to every square inch of the typical concrete in order to make the structure waterproof. This statement shows that it will be a tedious task to apply waterproofing membrane and it will increase costs due to labor requirements and additional waterproofing maintenance to ensure that the membrane does not wear out.

In conclusion, waterproof concrete green roof makes a better choice because of the advantages that are stated in the above-mentioned paragraphs. As cost is one of the most important deciding factors when it comes to choosing of a roof, companies or homeowners that have a bigger surface area of the roof will definitely choose the waterproof concrete green roof as it is more beneficial in the long run.

References

Barista, D. (2007). Concrete that fears water no more. Hycrete.com. Retrieved September 24, 2016, from   http://www.hycrete.com/concrete-that-fears-water-no-more/

Greenrooftops.org. (n.d.). The Concrete Advantage. Retrieved September 24, 2016, from   http://www.greenrooftops.org/advantage.html

Greenrooftops.org. (n.d.). Green Rooftops. Retrieved November 24, 2016, from http://www.greenrooftops.org/

Greenroofs.com (n.d.). Waterproofing. Retrieved November 24, 2016, from http://www.greenroofs.com/Greenroofs101/waterproofing.htm

Growinggreenguide.org. (n.d). Waterproofing Green Roofs. Retrieved September 24, 2016, from  http://www.growinggreenguide.org/technical-guide/construction-and-installation/green-roofs/waterproofing/

Home improvement remodeling foundationsocial.org. (n.d.). 4 Advantages and 4 Disadvantages of green roof systems. Retrieved September 24, 2016, from http://www.foundationsocial.org/128/4-advantages-and-4-disadvantages-of-green-roof-systems.html

Analytical Reflection: Oral presentation

My team Sensing Sensation which consists of Xian Jing, Wei Jun and myself did our presentation on the 10^th November, Thursday. It has been 2 years since I last did a presentation after graduating from polytechnic and it was nerve wrecking for me. Although the audience were familiar faces, I felt pressurized as this was a group presentation and I know I had to do my best as the weightage for this presentation was high.

During the preparation of the slides, I took Garr Reynold presentation tips as my reference and designed the slides to keep it simple and interesting by limiting the bullet points and having more graphics. My group rehearsed a few times the day before our presentation to ensure that we are all familiar with the content and language use.

On the day of the presentation, I was afraid that I will tend to forget what I needed to say when I am feeling nervous. Therefore, I tried my best to speak slowly as it allows me to have more time to think of what I needed to say next. I was the second presenter of my group and I had to present the contents of our project to the audience, I was glad that my slides manage to catch the audience attention as it consists mostly images, which indirectly forces the audience to listen to me presenting.

Overall, I felt that I did averagely well for the presentation, however, there is always room for improvements. It was a pleasure to receive feedbacks from my peers and professor as I am able to take note of my flaws and improve. For my future presentation, I feel that I can improve on my facial expression, tone as well as eye contact.

 Commented on 10/12/2016
commented on Xianjing and Camille blog

Technical Report- Letter of Transmittal

Letter of Transmittal

Sensing Sensation – Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering Programme

Singapore Institute of Technology

10 Dover Drive

Singapore 138683

25 October 2016

Chin Kee Onn

Deputy Director

Estate Division

Dear Mr. Chin,

Re: Proposal for the Implementation of Sensors in the new SIT campus at Punggol

Enclosed for your kind consideration is the proposal for the implementation of sensors in the new SIT campus at Punggol. This proposal has been developed as our group often come across lights and air conditioners switched on in classrooms and lecture theaters even when there is no users inside. Our team’s intention is to save costs and also to reduce energy consumption for lights and air conditioners.

The report comprises of the current problems, solutions, benefits and a comprehensive summary of all the related research.

We would like to express our gratitude to you for taking the time to read through our

proposal. Your considerations of our proposal for making SIT more conducive and environmentally friendly is greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Yours Sincerely,

Cherlyn Tei

On behalf of Sensing Sensation

Technical Report- Email Writing

Dear Mr. Chin

Good day to you. My name is Cherlyn and I am a first-year SIE (Building Services) student. As I am currently in Brad Blackstone’s Effective Communication class, I have been assigned to a group of three including myself and was tasked to identify a problem in school and propose a solution. Our project focuses on sensor devices and as you oversee facilities development and hold a great deal of knowledge in this aspect, we would like to seek your advice regarding our project.

From what we know, lights and air-conditioners are used to illuminate and cool the surrounding for the occupants in the classroom, laboratory etc. As students usually stay back after school to complete their assignments, it is common for them to use the school facilities such as lights and air conditioners. The problem that we realized in school was that not many people have the tendency to switch the air conditioners and lights off before they leave the classrooms and lecture theaters, and this may result in unnecessary cost incurred and electricity will be wasted. To solve this problem, our group propose to come up with a solution which is to install sensors in classrooms and lecture theaters in the new SIT campus located at Punggol.

Our group would like to consult you and obtain some background information regarding the new SIT campus so that we can have a better understanding before we prepare our proposal. The main items that we require clarification for are as follows:

1. May I have more background information on the sensors installed in the current toilets?
2. Are there any plans to install sensors in the new classrooms or lecture theaters?
3. The type of motion sensors that you would recommend? E.g. Vacancy or Occupancy sensor?
4. May I know who will be in charge for the installation of sensor and designing in the new SIT campus in Punggol?
May I know when will be a suitable timing for us to consult you? Thank you and hope to hear from you soon.

Yours sincerely,
Cherlyn
On behalf of Sensing Sensation

Executive summary for proposal report

In this proposal, the concerns regarding lights and air conditioners not switched off in classrooms, lecture theaters and laboratories, resulting in higher energy usage are addressed. The group proposes to install sensors in places such as the classrooms, laboratories and lecture theaters in the new Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) at Punggol. In line with SIT President, Dr. Tan Thiam Soon, he mentioned that the new SIT will be a "smart and green campus" that will be consistent with Punggol becoming the first eco-town in Singapore.

The proposal describes the various types of occupancy sensors along with their advantages and disadvantages. The purpose is to evaluate the effectiveness of each type of sensor to determine the most suitable one to be installed in the new SIT campus. Interviews were conducted to obtain more information on the development of the new SIT campus however, the team realized that there was no plan to install sensors in classrooms and lecture theaters. On the other hand, the management team in SIT is planning to conduct tests with regards to installing sensors in SIT classrooms at Nanyang Polytechnic.

With this proposal in place, the team hopes to reduce energy consumption, electrical costs incurred and at the same time bring the new SIT closer to being a smart and green campus.  

Problem statement and purpose statement

Problem Statement

Lights and air-conditioners are usually switched off when students or staff members leave the school premises which includes offices, classroom and lecture theatres. However, there are times when they forget to switch them off before leaving.  Not Implementing an automatic system will result in higher energy usage and unnecessary costs.  

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this proposal is to propose the implementation of sensors in the new SIT at Punggol. These places include offices, classrooms and lecture theatres. By implementing such sensor device, SIT will be able to save significantly on cost as well as being energy efficient.