PropTech Trends – Smart Buildings

There are many trends within the proptech industry, including drones, 3D modelling, augmented reality, robotics and more. All of which have their place within the industry, driving innovation, efficiency and sustainability. However, we wanted to touch on some of today's most relevant and widely adopted trends in active smart buildings. 

AI is fast becoming the norm in many industries, including CRE. 

One of the application areas of AI in buildings is through biometrics; these are body measurements and calculations related to human characteristics. Biometric authentication is used as a form of identification and access control. Technology like voice commands and facial recognition improve security and provide contactless access in buildings. 

IoT has accelerated over the last 10 years.

Internet-connected devices play a huge role in smart buildings; sensors are embedded that can read and translate vast amounts and varying types of data. One of the issues in many buildings is a lack of data to be able to gauge how efficient or inefficient a building is; therefore, being able to add cost-effective sensors with ease helps Facility Managers and Building Owners run their buildings more accurately.     

The rise of Digital Twins.

With the masses of data collected by IoT devices, it is important to have a single source of truth for this data to feed into. A digital twin is a digital replica of a building; it can improve efficiency occupant experience, identify issues and provide predictive maintenance. The digital twin can be used to control physical assets or gather information and simulate changes.

In addition, this can be done automatically; AI can make decisions. It can decide to turn the AC on in a certain area and the lights off in another.

We interviewed Dogu Taskiran, a software developer; a smart city thought leader and the CEO of Stambol Studios, based in Canada. He shared his thoughts on digital twins...

"For example, if a boiler in a shopping mall is going to break down in the next couple of weeks, the Facility Manager will know because of the sensor data being analysed by AI and machine learning. They will know who maintained it last, the warranty, maintenance records etc. It will act as a single source of truth—a common database for everything that happens within the lifecycle of the building. In addition, this can all be monitored remotely by the Facility Manager". – Ream more, here.

Direct Digital Engagement has been used more in commercial buildings in the last few years due to COVID. 

This refers to digital engagement with users of the building, e.g., apps on our personal devices that allow access, control of services or information updates based on real-time data. An example of this could be an occupant using the app to find an area of the building that is less busy or somewhere there is a workspace that is also close to a coffee making facility. Direct Digital Engagement aims to empower occupants whilst also making them feel safer. 

Data is king in smart buildings, but it is no use without analytics. 

Smart buildings continuously collect data; hence quality reliable analytics are very important. It would be impossible for a Facility Manager to review all of the data and make effective decisions. Machine learning and AI are used to interpret data and only present what is important. Some decisions can even be automated if they require no human intervention.  

Many of the trends discussed feed into one another; a smart building requires connectivity and seamless communication, which many of these themes aim to facilitate. The industry is still very fragmented and is rapidly evolving, having expert control and integration partners can mitigate issues. At amBX, we offer smart lighting control and building integration software, SmartCore. Become a partner today; click here.