We are at an unprecedented inflection point within the tech sector, especially within AEC, from the much-needed federal funding for infrastructure to the confluence of exponential technological growth. Within AEC, we can now access multiple services and leverage AI, visualization, and data science. Here is an example I bring together: design, artificial intelligence, GIS, and visualization. An engineer can access all this from within a design environment of their choosing and view the results in a web browser. I connect Google Maps, Google Street View, Google’s experimental 3D tiles, and OpenAI’s Chat GPT here. All these services are accessible within the design environment.
Category: research
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AI as Copilot, not pilot
Data are everywhere these days, right? But sometimes, it’s like having all this data with no real way to make sense of it. It’s like being out at sea and not having any water to drink! Well, here’s where things get interesting! In this cool Proof of Concept, I connect a bunch of different Map Application Programming Interfaces (API) APIs with OpenAI’s Large Language Model. What does that mean? It means that engineers like you can now access a whole bunch of different data sources right within your preferred design software. And hey, I even get the Street Views from Google Maps! Check out the video below to see just how powerful this combination can be!
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ESR23 Day 7
It’s a wrap! We rode more than 70 miles in torrential downpour. Final three miles were amazing as we rode together: patients and survivors, followed by premier donors and the rest of us. More than 300 of us rolled in with support of police escort.
ESR23 mileage: D1 = 62.78; D2 = 79.84; D3 = 77.25; D4 = 100.36; D5 = 84.14; D6 = 83.79; D7 = 72.98, 2.77 — total of almost 564 miles/ 903kms
Thank you all for your support!
Pictures from Day 7…
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ESR23 Day 6
Final stretch day 6 of 7. Nothing major to report. Rode through 90 degree heat for about 85 miles all for a great cause. And yeah got stung by a bee with 30 miles to go!
Pictures from Day 6…
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ESR23 Day 5
Day 5 was a very interesting and difficult 85 miles of pedaling. However, it was a story of human spirit!
As the rolled out of the campsite, it started to rain —- in fact it started to rain before 4 am. Throughout the day we had the experience of riding through rain, thunderstorms, strong crosswinds and blistering heat. But all that does not say anything about today.
Around mile 37, I stopped at an optional rest stop — the only restaurant we stopped at so far. Typically, I keep to myself. A older gentleman, part of the ride stopped asked if he could sit next to me. I said of course.
We started talking and exchanging life stories. His name is Rick and is about 67. He told me it’s been four months since his chemotherapy for cancer. And that he is happy to ride 550 miles.
Then somehow we started talking about hospitals. I shared that I was in a near fatal car crash about 25 years back. As I was telling him I was airlifted to the hospital and that saved my life. He went on to say he was a medvac helicopter pilot in Maryland for 18 years. Rick had saved many lives like mine in his career! And now riding to raise money for cancer research a mere four months after his chemotherapy. A serendipitous encounter.
Triumph of the human spirit!
Pictures of Rick!
Rick as Medvac helicopter pilot 
Rick and me Sharing a few pictures from day 5!
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ESR23 Day 4
So this was my second imperial century of the year. This one, however, was with a damaged knee. Anyways I made it to finish line honoring all those who struggled with cancer.
Sharing a few pictures from day 4!
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ESR23 Day 3
The goal for today was about 80 miles to get to Albany. The start was great. Then about mile 10 my right knee started to hurt.
I couldn’t pedal uphill while seated on the saddle. So for next 10 miles, I put only about 10 percent effort with my right knee. At mile 20 was the first rest stop, an athletic trainer wrapped my knee and gave me some pain killers and topical pain spray.
For miles 20 to 40, the second rest stop I was able to use about 40 percent of my right leg. At the 40 mile rest stop, a doctor part of the medical team took care of me. A mechanic adjusted the bike. And a total stranger gave me his topical pain spray. For the rest of the ride, I made it using about 70 percent of my right leg.
Papa Newton and Baby Ammachi (Joan) were my inspiration today to keep going. Not only did cancer take them too soon, it did so in a painful way.
Sharing some pictures from day 3:
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ESR23 Day 2
We set off early to ride 80 miles from Somers to Rhinebeck in NY. We rode through sweltering heat and thunderstorms, all for a great cause — funding cancer research!
Sharing a few pictures from day 2!
Infrastructure Tales 