No matter how amazing a workplace, without the right tools and technology, attaining peak efficiency and performance in FM just isn’t possible. Today, it’s not enough for buildings to merely function as independent entities. Right from energy and space management to resource consumption, each factor has implications on its sustainability quotient. Though the term “smart buildings” is commonly used, the full potential of technology, AI- and IoT-based tools are yet to be reaped. This goes beyond collating mere data. It’s when all systems are equipped to communicate with each other and work in tandem in a building automation system, that owners and managers get widespread perspective on structural performance.
Automation, a necessity
Professionals throughout the commercial real estate world are tuning in ever more closely to smart building trends.
“Constant innovation is key for success as always. We are continually working towards integrating new wireless technology that’ll help our workforce become more mobile and accessible. As an organisation, we seek ways to reduce workspace allocation per person, in order to reduce operation and maintenance costs. We are working on simplifying FM with intelligent controls, automation IOT, mobile and user-friendly technology solutions to manage, service and report on all equipment. This will help us significantly save on energy, water and all facets of building FM as well as reducing the carbon footprint towards a greener tomorrow.”
— Advait Pandya, head, Facilities, Administration & Infrastructure – Real Estate, Aegon Life
“About 40-50% of the cost of a building’s operations is related to energy usage. So, several innovative and best practices are focused on reducing energy usage, using technology to monitor its consumption. This is achieved with the use of WiFi-enabled smart meters that allow facility managers to track locations that can be optimised.”
— Aneesh Kadyan, executive director, Operations, Asset Services, CBRE South Asia
“A worker is only as good as his tools. The undercurrents necessitate that the workforce stays abreast by appropriately using technology and equipment. The deft manager keeps a track of training schedules and keeps modifying this in consonance with the environment. FM software are a boon in this changing landscape with support in the form of asset controls and storage, inventory management, documentation and reporting, invoicing and issuing work orders, etc.”
— Ashok Prabhakar, VP, Commercial Services, NIIT Technologies
Industry challenges
— Energy costs and demand for smart buildings are on the rise
— Companies are facing aggressive energy reduction targets
— Increasing IoT adoption is leading to data overload
— Many enterprises use disparate tracking systems across multiple buildings
— Increasing pressure to address environmental concerns
Tools at hand
Several companies that have developed advanced smart systems, tools and applications that aid development of highperforming, efficient buildings. IBM TRIRIGA Building Insights is one such offering that uses (AI) Augmented Intelligence to optimise buildings operations.
The management and operation of buildings are traditionally reliant on after-thefact reporting. Such an approach typically analyses historical data from siloed systems, ranging from energy use to occupancy statistics, in the hope that greater efficiencies can be introduced over time. However, with more IoT devices being introduced into buildings and equipment, the challenge of gleaning in-time operational insights is even further compounded by this new deluge of data,” explains Geetha Adinarayanan, chief architect for IBM TRIRIGA Building Insights at IBM Labs. Such challenges present a prime opportunity for building operators to invest in augmented intelligence (AI).
IBM TRIRIGA Building Insights uses (AI) Augmented Intelligence to optimise buildings operations.
IBM TRIRIGA Building Insights enables structures to continually monitor,learn, and predict patterns autonomously. The ROI can help yield cost savings, improvements in control, greater occupant comfort and optimal efficiency. “A common goal of facilities managers is to run buildings with high service levels, yet also deliver cost savings and environmental benefits through reduced power consumption,” states Praveen Vasudeva, director, Workplace Resources, Cisco. Given this, the company’s Cisco Digital Building Solution helps different building systems such as lighting, HVAC, security, etc, converge on a single IP network. They can be monitored and managed together by the enterprise network management system and also allows users to personalise their environment with a smartphone app. As digitisation is gaining traction so is the popularity of open platform systems.
Third-party devices using proprietary protocols can also be integrated through Siemen’s Desigo CC drivers.
Siemen’s Desigo CC is based on global communications standards such as BACnet, OPC, Modbus, IEC 61850, SNMP and ONVIF, allowing external applications to read and write real-time data via a REST web service interface. Third-party devices using proprietary protocols can also be integrated through Desigo CC drivers. This open platform enables a global community of developer partners, solution partners, independent system integrators, facility managers and OEMs to ensure a dynamic and creative incremental development of building management.
Synco is a building automation and control system, by Siemens, for small and medium-size buildings.
“Today, facilities have a diverse set of solutions for diverse functions — apps for maintenance, traditional building management systems, environmental sensors at server rooms, systems for security and a lot more. But, typically, these tools were designed to operate independently, stretching facility professionals to get real work done like tracking information, exchanging redundant paper notes as well as going through energyconsumption charts and spreadsheets,” states Prabhu Ramachandran, CEO and co-founder, Facilio. Addressing this problem, Facilio, a maintenance, asset, and sustainability management web application, provides a platform that harnesses IoT to connect and unify teams, systems and equipment across multiple facilities. It allows one access data on building operations, maintenance and sustainability from anywhere.