What is smart building automation?

Today’s buildings require solutions that make them efficient and safe spaces. Building automation and controls systems aim to make buildings smart by converging all services into one easy to use platform.

There is a demand for smarter, more efficient and sustainable buildings throughout the construction industry, with safety being key. People who design, build and manage these buildings increasingly rely on data-insights about building performance to achieve their goals.

Buildings are increasingly becoming part of the digital realm, offering new capabilities that make our lives easier and healthier and allow us to make better decisions. Building Automation Systems (BAS) are becoming part of IoT as there is a growing need for connectivity and data aggregation, meaning they become smart buildings.

The core functionality of a BAS is to maintain the climate of a building, meeting predefined parameters. The facilities controlled include: Mechanical systems, plumbing, electrical systems, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC), lighting control, security and surveillance, alarms and lifts.

Previously, all of these facilities were siloed systems and required multiple people to manage them. Roger Woodward, Smart Buildings Consultant, explains that this was referred to as an intelligent building; it provided insight that wasn’t previously available; however, it was still quite a laborious process. Today is the age of smart buildings that not only converge all of this data into one platform on site. This data is also available off-site in the cloud. This improves efficiencies, allowing facility managers to make quick value judgments based on their building's health.

Modern systems rely on standards-based protocol-agnostic software. IP-based networking can utilise existing wiring within a building, making it ideal for retrofits, keeping costs down; this includes existing AC circuits and PoE low power DC circuits. However, smart systems can also integrate with high-bandwidth wireless networks; this advanced interoperability allows users to mix and match technologies to create the best, most cost-effective solution.

 

Interoperability is key

For a building to become automated, it is essential to have a system that can talk to all aspects of it, whether other systems, devices or protocols. Protocols are languages that different devices, e.g. lights, communicate in; there can be various protocols within a building; some are more traditional and historically have not lent themselves to this open, interconnected solution, which has hindered progress. However, there are now more solutions that begin to break down these barriers (such as SmartCore).

Having an open standard solution means that users are not tied to using proprietary hardware from specific manufacturers, offering additional choice and allowing users to select the very best of breed components. This is also a huge advantage for designers and architects as it does not limit their creative potential.

 

Impact on occupants

Having an autonomous building creates a safer, healthier environment which allows occupants to be more productive. Improved wellbeing is now a core requirement of smart buildings; therefore, being able to automate things like air quality and create human-centric lighting to ensure occupants receive the best levels is essential for improved comfort and better decision making.  


Preventative Maintenance

Automating preventative maintenance is going to save building owners a huge amount of time, effort and cost. Also termed “one-touch maintenance”, a building or facility manager would go to the light fitting once, change the driver or the associated components, and ensure full service is maintained within a building. The system will continuously monitor the device and then send a notification if any fault or predicted maintenance is due. This avoids having to go to the product 2 or 3 times to work out what the fault is, order the part and then go back to fix it; it is now a one visit scenario. Of course, that really means big cost savings in the future because you will be able to predict when things will need maintenance and take action immediately.

Andre Jutel, Business Development Manager, states, “It’s all about future-proofing your building – ensuring your building is used to its full potential and energy isn’t wasted, it should be the perfect environment for the people within it and the tasks that are being carried out”.


What makes SmartCore unique? Intelligent lighting control and more…

SmartCore can seamlessly integrate with BMS and BAS adding extra functionality and acting as a gateway to connect proprietary and open technologies, allowing everything within a building to communicate. The SmartCore system can be operated as a standalone solution too.

  • The flexible architecture allows for single and multiple building use.

  • Users have full access to data collected from lights, sensors and devices via our dashboard or via a third-party system.

  • SmartCore runs a virtual model or digital twin of every space it controls. It uses this unique technical architecture to make control adjustments in real-time - ensuring the real-world space always performs correctly.

  • The technology includes a dynamic engine and SensorBrain, which creates sophisticated lighting (and other experiences) without the need for complex programming or specialist engineers to install and configure.

  • Recurring and bespoke experiences can be easily scheduled to maximise energy efficiency or to enhance user experience. E.g., an office can be told to go into ‘night time mode’ after 6 pm if no occupants are present.

  • Smart scheduling can take projects of all sizes to new levels of capability. SmartCore also allows you to set events; these can react to external cues. By integrating with other systems, the lighting can enhance the occupant experience, e.g. lighting can turn red and flash on and off when the fire alarm sounds.

 

SmartCore’s Commissioning Tool allows Integrators to install the software with ease, whether on or off-site. (To see the full suite of SmartCore tools, click here).

As the demand increases for improved occupant wellbeing in buildings of all types, circadian lighting is the ideal solution – to discover more about circadian lighting, click here.

Or check out our YouTube channel for some short, bite-sized videos explaining topics such as the advantages of IoT, circadian lighting, preventative maintenance, sensors, sustainable buildings and more - click here.

amBX Ltd