POSSIBILITIES
TWO EXPERTS: ONE BELIEVER – ONE SCEPTIC
Xfiles:
Will building intelligence dominate the next decade?
The believer.
STEPHEN WREFORD
Spaces around us are changing, from our homes, to our workplaces, leisure destinations and cities in general. Technology is offering a unique opportunity to improve our user experience in buildings and help us better design and operate our real estate assets. As modern lives increasingly interweave with cyberspace, there are calls for systems to open up to share information, and for people to build a closer connection with physical space. By helping our buildings become more intelligent, we unlock opportunities that open new ways to experience life, improve efficiency, and achieve business excellence.
Different users, different uses
Building intelligence will allow us to enjoy an increased feeling of wellbeing as building users, not only by providing a comfortable environment, but also by simplifying interaction with the building touch points so everyone can focus on doing what they need to do. Imagine a future where we all have more control over our environment, are able to gain useful insights, and plan ahead for daily activities (e.g. reserving parking spots, booking meeting rooms, getting notifications etc).
For building operators, it means improved and streamlined building maintenance processes. Systems are enhanced by the sharing and analysis of data, creating an environment that is constantly learning, adapting and evolving. They’ll have a new generation of connected systems with a high level of information granularity to allow meaningful decision making, thanks to automatic tracking against energy performance benchmarks, and building usage analytics.
Meanwhile, smart technology can give building owners more transparency over their portfolio’s performance and building managers have the opportunity to be more data intelligent when it comes to decision making. With the decade’s biggest challenge being climate-centric, the data gathered can support wider business drivers such as sustainability.
Ultimately, the built environment is a complex organism. Enabling intelligent buildings to continuously learn during the next decade and beyond will make our environments more liveable, workable, and sustainable.
The sceptic.
FREYA YANG
Before building intelligence can reach its full potential, there are perceptions around risk and opportunity that need to be addressed. For decades within the building industry, systems have been operating in silos. There have been many attempts for more connected and open systems, but with very limited success. The main concerns are over the higher costs for unnecessary equipment, when the current systems do an adequate job. The transition to more connected built-environment ecosystems is not only restricted by cost, but also people’s perception – the fear of a short-lived enthusiasm for technology that will fade away when no concrete benefits are realised.
Obstacles and opportunities
When it comes to public perception of smart IoT products, people often go straight to ideas such as “an internet-connected fridge that orders beers for you”. Smart products can often be conceived as gimmicky or novel, and the design of smart products and services were often centred around technology, with the human application being merely secondary. However, the industry is becoming increasingly aware of the tangible benefits that technology can bring, and the shift from technology for technology’s sake to a human-centric design is proving to be a game-changer. The appropriate design, tailored to the needs of the users, and a proven Return of Investment case are key to a great technological deployment.
There are also challenges to overcome in terms of typical ways of working within our industry. Intelligent elements are often brought in at a later stage of the project, with stakeholders struggling to fulfil their requirements within the design, making the implementation process laborious and costly. A more streamlined process, with stakeholders and manufacturers on board, is needed to lower the complexity for integration, and consequently bring down the cost over time.
As we get better at tackling the challenges brought by the implementation of smart technologies, we’re also discovering new opportunities they can bring. We’re just starting to see the benefits that a more connected built environment can bring… so the future of building intelligence is certainly looking bright.