Modern Building Services

30 MODERN BUILDING SERVICES OCTOBER 2022 FEATURE SMART BUILDINGS L ighting can be difficult to integrate, no matter the industry, yet it is an essential part of any building. Lighting used to be static and analogue, it did not pass data or communicate with other systems, yet with the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) and as technologies evolve, this has created problems for the industry that were not previously considered. Most challenges for smart buildings come from the lack of smart technology infrastructure in place, yet the explosive growth of the IoT and the connected device market means that buildings are now expected to implement smart technology. The rise of IoT has created an influx of smart, internet- connected devices entering the market, including sensors, security, and HVAC, which need control, monitoring and maintenance. Building Management Systems (BMS) aim to pull everything together and offer a single source where all data can be viewed and interacted with in one interface. Yet with BMS installation, lighting has historically been overlooked, and the lighting industry has developed its own communication protocols separate from other building systems. It can take too much time and cost to maintain these separate systems, especially if the data collected by each of these systems cannot interact. The initial cost of installing smart lighting can be off- putting without evidence of success and effectiveness to back it up. Interoperability A key focus for smart buildings is to improve interoperability to integrate systems across different vendors. As the industry works together, this creates opportunities through collaboration to yield greater results and improved outcomes, with reduced costs and greater energy savings. Nowadays, there are a collection of commonly used protocols and open standards that make integration easier, and these smart buildings are becoming increasingly connected assets that give energy managers detailed data on building performance. This data not only allows them to understand and improve energy performance, but also helps to make buildings more responsive to changing occupant requirements. Due to this change in technology and industry attitude, we now focus on connecting various systems and devices within buildings, collecting and aggregating data, and creating custom dashboards, allowing data to be utilised in real time either in the building or via the cloud. We are often the intelligence inside a building solution; we white-label our software to save clients such as MSIs or smart building platforms development costs, add additional value to their solutions, and help them overcome technical challenges. This allows the customer to have a building that contains solutions frommultiple vendors which work together. Smart lighting control and integration platform bring all the lighting sensor and data management functionality demanded by smart buildings to new levels of efficiency and interoperability. The software powers Emergency Lighting Control, Circadian Lighting, Facility Manager Tools, Energy Management Tools and Occupancy Management; whilst also simply bridging the gap between systems and devices, acting as a middleware integration layer in buildings. Data can be aggregated and sent to the cloud, a BMS, a UI, or another system. This kind of software can save a great deal of cost as it breaks down barriers that were previously only solved with expensive hardware-heavy solutions. The software can be adjusted and updated remotely, allowing data to be continuously monitored, and the solution is, therefore future-proofed. Through intelligent use of infrastructure, sensors and devices, it can provide end-users with total control over lighting, heating, security and more in any building. This gives clients full visibility of how energy is consumed, allowing them to adjust as required for maximum efficiency. This also allows for continuous adaptability as users can evolve how they use a space based on changing needs and tasks. The investment in smart connected lighting, therefore, becomes an investment in the whole building. It extends the life of assets by future-proofing themand lowering operating andmaintenance costs. Smart lighting can even support occupancy analytics, energy management, asset tracking and wayfinding by using lighting as a medium facilitating communication throughout the building by utilising a pre-existing, reliable network. Data and cybersecurity One of the key issues with smart buildings is the huge amount of data that is collected and the implications this has on cybersecurity. Data availability and privacy can cause concern, building owners and occupiers need to understand how their data will be stored and used in order to feel comfortable sharing it. This kind of data is extremely helpful as it can provide analytics to predict future maintenance failures or the efficiency of a building’s components to assist with building planning and maintenance. As smart buildings have evolved, there has been an overload of data frommultiple vendor’s products, with no clear communication protocols or strategy. This has an impact on project cost and also the environmental effects of the building. Phil Cross , CEO at amBX, says when smart building technology challenges and opportunities are considered, much more value can be added to create future-proofed solutions. The future of buildings is smart