Week Nine

Today in lab, we split up the work we have left to do.
Gabe and Walter are working on the poster.
Elvira and Jordan are working on the powerpoint.

By dividing up the work this way and switching between both for the other group to check, by the end of today's lab we will have finished most if not all of the poster and powerpoint. Then, all we will have left is the final report, which we can work on after lab.

Week Eight Outside Lab

This week we were notified that our group was selected to represent Section 63 at the Freshman Poster Competition. We have to create a poster to prove that we are the best candidates to participate in a bigger poster competition. So now we are working on completing our poster, finishing our powerpoint, and updating our final report.

Within our final report, we need to

• update the list of materials to reflect more precise prices and measurements
• format figures and tables properly and remove unnecessary information

We already have a basic outline for the powerpoint, all that is left is to insert a few lines and pictures per slide.

We also completed the details on the 3D model including window drawings and building names.

Week Eight

This week we discussed what we need to accomplish in the weeks to follow:

1. Color the 3-D printed model
2. Revise our final report
3. Create a powerpoint presentation 

Jordan worked on a little bit of the presentation, Walter completed some finishing touches on the design of the bridge in Inventor software (Figure 1), and Elvira and Gabe worked on the 3-D model (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Updated Inventor Software Model with Rooftop Features

 Figure 2: 3D Model with Color

It seems that we are right on track and will definitely be able to complete everything with time to spare.

Week Seven Outside Lab

After many weeks of trying to secure a slot to 3D print in the studio, I was finally able to begin printing. The model itself was hollow on the inside and had a extrusion of 0.3 millimeters (Figure 1). We chose the white filament so that it would be easier to paint and add details. We also decided to print not just the model of the pedestrian bridge, but also the surrounding buildings in one run.

Figure 1: 3D Model of the Skyway over Chestnut Street

The printer ran into trouble when creating the tops of the buildings because it could not get the filament to stay in place and stay firm on the edges of the buildings' walls, so many of the buildings have holes in the roofs. We decided that we would add some white cardstock or construction paper to the roofs to cover the holes. Then we plan to add more details in terms of color and bridge finishing touches.

Because the bridge is truly quite small, we are in the process of building a section of the skyway that showcases the rooftop garden, the overhead lights, and the material of the walkway. We also contacted the head of the 3D printers too see if we can use the largest 3D printer to create a bigger scale model of the bridge while also utilizing the dissolvable filament supports. Hopefully we will hear from him soon. 

Week 8 will consist of more 3D printing (if we are granted access to the larger printer), working on and adding detail to the existing 3D model, finishing up the larger section of the skyway, and revising the final report.

Week Seven

Today we decided exactly what deliverables we will have at the end of the project. Because we were able to get our hands on a 3-D printer today, we printed a very small model of the bridge and surrounding buildings (Figure 1). It should be ready for pick up by Wednesday morning. In addition to the 3-D model, we are building a section of the bridge out of wood and other materials so that smaller details on the bridge are more easily seen. These details include working light fixtures, clear "glass" paneling as a railing, and plants on the roof of the skyway, to name a few.

Figure 1: Model without bridge

Week Six Outside Lab

This week outside of lab, a basic Bill of Materials was created to reflect the price of all the materials and design additions, excluding the services, permits, and labor (Figure 1). Additionally, a list of permits required was compiled into an easy-to-read visual (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Bill of Materials (excluding labor, services, permits)

Figure 2: Permits required for bridge completion

Also, Jordan and Walter began working on a 1'=(1/2)" scale model of an 36' section of the bridge. Our deliverables continue to be a physical model of the bridge and surrounding buildings, however, we may now build a scale bridge ourselves out of wood instead of 3-D printing because of the lack of available printers in the studio.

Week Six Lab

To start 3-D printing, we needed to break up our original model into pieces to print because we wanted to have a bigger model. We started with the buildings surrounding the bridge on Chesnut Street:

Figure 1: Shake Shack entrance and every

             building East until 32nd Street

Figure 2: Papadakis Integrated Sciences Building

Figure 3: Stratton Hall and Disque Hall

The three figures above, plus one figure of the Handschumacher Dining Hall, MacAlister Hall and bookstore, are to be printed separately as large as possible. We started to print today, but a few of them had already been taken and the rest were not working or cooperating. We plan to visit the Innovation Studio as often as possible outside of lab to see when the printers are available and functioning. Each group member has access to the model files.

Week Five Outside Lab

This week is 3-D printing week! The model of Chestnut Street and surrounding buildings is completed in AutoCAD (figure 2) , so during lab time Elvira and Jordan are going to transfer files from AutoCAD to the 3-D software. The official measurements of the 3-D model deliverable will be posted tomorrow. As for the bridge itself, Gabe and Walter are working together to put the finishing touches, such as rooftop gardens and specific light fixtures, in AutoCAD. Then, either this week out of lab or next week during lab, they will begin 3-D printing the bridge base.

When the models are completed, we plan to add some color, texture, and real shrubbery and plants to make the final product look professional and realistic. We as a team believe that this bridge has the potential to actually be built and we want to see it through completely.

Figure 1: Korman Quad and Chestnut Square (North Iso CAD Model)

Figure 2: 33nd to 32nd St. Block (South East Iso Cad Model)

Week Five Lab

Today's class was very productive. Each group member was actively working on some aspect of the project. Gabe completed a street view of surrounding buildings around Chestnut Street in AutoCAD. Walter finalized measurements of the bridge and cross referenced them once again with ADA codes and state and city regulations. Elvira worked on our first neat sketch drawn to scale (Figure 1). Jordan researched building materials for prices as we made lists of what materials we plan to use.

Figure 1: Bridge Sketch to Scale

The bridge, shown above, currently has two different scales: 1 block = 1 foot for the height (y-axis) and 1 block = 5 feet for the length (x-axis). This was to fit the bridge in its entirety (it spans approximately 250 feet) onto one page. Because of this, the bridge seems a little disproportionate, with very large slopes. However, a same scale model and a 3-D model will show a less augmented view.

Now that our sketch is completed and all measurements are confirmed, we can begin sketching more views and the 3-D model can be completed.

Week Four Outside Lab

This week we plan on starting to 3-D print our model. The specifications such as exact measurements and details are almost completed and we believe we can start printing in sections starting by the end of week five.

Design and measurements to be completed are for:

• base
• roof
• columns
• supports
• ramps
• stairs
• length
• height
• width of walkway
• designs
• lights
• plants
• railings
• glass
• ramp material to reduce slip
• drains for rainwater

Week Four Lab

Today in lab, we finalized the point system to determine the best location for the bridge (Figure 1):

Figure 1: Decision Analysis

A point system from 1 to 3 was used to rank each topic, with 1 being the worst score and 3 being the best score. For instance, the area with the highest price received a score of 1, while the area with the highest volume of pedestrians received a score of 3.

We also started our Bill of Materials while researching not only the types of materials we plan to use, but the prices of those materials and the time it would take to reach campus. 

Week Three Outside Lab

This week, we finalized all traffic surveys and will come up with a point system to determine the best location for the skyway during lab Week 4. We also completed a Work Breakdown Structure system that we started during week one but had been updating over the course of these past few weeks (Figure 1):

Figure 1: Work Breakdown Structure 

Traffic analyses and counts of how many cars cross 33rd Street, how many people cross 33rd and Chestnut Street at the crosswalk, how many people jaywalk, etc. are put into an updated graph (Figure 2):

Figure 2: Chestnut Street Crossing Count

We also plan to research more design ideas, such as materials used, lighting fixtures needed, drainage systems, etc. We also plan on spending the next couple of weeks finalizing the exact measurements for where the bridge will start and end, how high it will be according to standards, and the slope of the handicap accessibility ramp. As soon as we determine which materials need to be used and the technical measurements, we can begin to put together a basic budget, where we may need to adjust our materials as needed.

Week Three Lab

Today in lab, we determined what we still need to do in terms of research and drafting.
Traffic analyses will be completed by the end of Week Three with these requirements:

• Survey Requirements:

-20 minutes

-Count Cars passing from 33rd to 32nd

-People crossing crossing 33rd & Chestnut

-People crossing 32nd & Chestnut

-Jaywalkers across Chestnut

In addition, we worked out what specifics we need to measure for our bridge design, including:

-Handicap Accessibility

-Guardrails

-Support Columns

-Roof

-Glass siding

-Garden along the sides

-Start and End

-Drainage

-Lighting

-Roof Support

In terms of technical constraints, we need to determine:

-Budget

-Materials

-Time

-Permits

-Stress Test

Week Two Outside Lab

This week we wrapped up our outside research on clearances and restrictions on building. Some useful sources were the American Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines that explained the maximum slope of any ramps attached to the skyway and other specific measurements that need to be followed and the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration clearances for minimum height above the street level the bridge must be.

The culmination of all surveys and additional traffic analyses will be recorded and updated during Week Three lab and by the end of Week Three.

Week Two Lab

Results for

• surveys taken from students on Drexel's campus → students were asked which location of the bridge they preferred (Chart 2)
• analyses of traffic and pedestrian patterns → the number of cars passing and students crossing were measured (Chart 1)

Today, we researched all lawful regulations and clearances in terms of building codes and American Disabilities Act (ADA) codes. We began drafting our bridge once more, but now with measurements for span and ramp angle. 

We also plan to conduct more surveys of students at a variety of locations around campus and more traffic information for every day of the week and different times of day.

This week we plan on researching more information regarding strength of materials and tensile tests. We also plan on surveying the land around the Korman Quad, provided we receive access to that equipment. 

Week One Outside Lab

This week, we finalized our Chestnut Street pedestrian walkway idea. We decided, based on surveys and other data, that the best place for the bridge would be through the middle of Chestnut Street between 32nd and 33rd Streets. It will connect the Korman Quad area with the Handschumacher and Creese Student Center area.

The data we used to come up with this decision were:

• surveys taken from students on Drexel's campus → students were asked which location of the bridge they preferred
• analyses of traffic and pedestrian patterns → the number of cars passing and students crossing were measured

A side view of the bridge was drafted (Figure 1):

Figure 1: Side View of Bridge Design

The Design Proposal for our project is in the process of being completed.

Week One Lab

Week one consisted of forming our groups and coming up with three ideas for skyways around Drexel. To start our planning, we thought of the locations on campus which are in need of better accessibility.

After picking between a bridge across Market Street, a bridge across 33rd Street, and a bridge across Chestnut Street, we landed on the idea for a walkway across Chestnut because we felt that there is a lot of pedestrian traffic across Chestnut Street across from the Handschumacher Dining Hall and into the Quad area between Papadakis Integrated Sciences Center, Korman Center, and Stratton Hall (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Rough Sketch of Bridge and Surrounding Area

We plan on conducting surveys with other students to determine whether or not they would benefit from this plan or another. The surveys would be online and conducted in person around campus, targeting students in the Handschumacher Dining Hall, the library, and around Chestnut Street.