Review of The Future of Buildings, Transportation and Power
Posted: 14 Jan 2024, 02:56
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Future of Buildings, Transportation and Power" by Roger Duncan and Michael E. Webber.]
"The Future of Buildings, Transportation, and Power" stands out as a non-fiction piece by Roger Duncan and Michael E. Webber. At some point, most individuals have daydreamed about glimpsing into the future, even if only for a brief moment. Would flying cars become a reality? Would buildings exude a sleek, smart, and clean aura, or would they become another dysfunctional cog in a decaying infrastructure? Could robots become ubiquitous?
As we recognize, everything revolves around energy. Energy serves as the fuel for our cars, embodied in gasoline, and powers the lights and computers through electricity. Buildings, notably, consume energy at a high rate. Looking ahead, structures are anticipated to attain greater self-sufficiency in power, employing solar and on-site generation technologies. Presently, dematerialization is a recurring theme, with new materials progressively gaining strength and lightness. Additionally, there is a noticeable reduction in material usage in both construction and manufacturing. In various sectors, improving conversion efficiency is foreseen by amplifying the information intensity of technology, particularly in AI and automation. Robots are expected to permeate all stages, commencing from design and engineering, persisting through construction, and concluding with the operation and maintenance of buildings. While buildings with sentient appearances might not materialize in the near future, the intelligence of these structures is poised to evolve through an extensive array of sensors and intelligent appliances.
My appreciation for the book stems from several factors. Firstly, the amalgamation of intriguing topics - the future of building, transportation, and energy - encompasses the three major streams capturing everyone's interest. Secondly, the book impresses with a robust foundation for future predictions, incorporating scientific theorems, historical inventions, and current models and applications. This robust base is diligently utilized by the author. The third aspect is the impeccably organized flow of information, enabling readers to effortlessly choose their area of interest from the diverse sections. Finally, the book captivates readers by posing thought-provoking questions, encouraging contemplation on the significance of smart devices, smart houses, and more in the future. Furthermore, the book is perfectly edited, with no errors.
I am delighted to award the book a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. There was nothing to critique from the commencement to the conclusion.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to individuals intrigued by the scientific underpinnings of future technologies. It is a valuable resource for engineers and innovative minds in the realms of construction, automation, and energy. Personally, the book broadened my knowledge horizons, offering insights into what once seemed like unattainable dreams and how these aspirations can become a reality, along with the significant challenges humanity must overcome along the way.
******
The Future of Buildings, Transportation and Power
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
"The Future of Buildings, Transportation, and Power" stands out as a non-fiction piece by Roger Duncan and Michael E. Webber. At some point, most individuals have daydreamed about glimpsing into the future, even if only for a brief moment. Would flying cars become a reality? Would buildings exude a sleek, smart, and clean aura, or would they become another dysfunctional cog in a decaying infrastructure? Could robots become ubiquitous?
As we recognize, everything revolves around energy. Energy serves as the fuel for our cars, embodied in gasoline, and powers the lights and computers through electricity. Buildings, notably, consume energy at a high rate. Looking ahead, structures are anticipated to attain greater self-sufficiency in power, employing solar and on-site generation technologies. Presently, dematerialization is a recurring theme, with new materials progressively gaining strength and lightness. Additionally, there is a noticeable reduction in material usage in both construction and manufacturing. In various sectors, improving conversion efficiency is foreseen by amplifying the information intensity of technology, particularly in AI and automation. Robots are expected to permeate all stages, commencing from design and engineering, persisting through construction, and concluding with the operation and maintenance of buildings. While buildings with sentient appearances might not materialize in the near future, the intelligence of these structures is poised to evolve through an extensive array of sensors and intelligent appliances.
My appreciation for the book stems from several factors. Firstly, the amalgamation of intriguing topics - the future of building, transportation, and energy - encompasses the three major streams capturing everyone's interest. Secondly, the book impresses with a robust foundation for future predictions, incorporating scientific theorems, historical inventions, and current models and applications. This robust base is diligently utilized by the author. The third aspect is the impeccably organized flow of information, enabling readers to effortlessly choose their area of interest from the diverse sections. Finally, the book captivates readers by posing thought-provoking questions, encouraging contemplation on the significance of smart devices, smart houses, and more in the future. Furthermore, the book is perfectly edited, with no errors.
I am delighted to award the book a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. There was nothing to critique from the commencement to the conclusion.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to individuals intrigued by the scientific underpinnings of future technologies. It is a valuable resource for engineers and innovative minds in the realms of construction, automation, and energy. Personally, the book broadened my knowledge horizons, offering insights into what once seemed like unattainable dreams and how these aspirations can become a reality, along with the significant challenges humanity must overcome along the way.
******
The Future of Buildings, Transportation and Power
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon