As technology continues to evolve, smart buildings have become a strong trend in today’s construction industry. And in the rise of smart buildings, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and Artificial Intelligence (AI) play a crucial role. Their combination is more than a simple application of technology; it is a complete disruption of the traditional concept of building, bringing us a smarter, more efficient and more comfortable built environment.
Over the past few years, and especially in the wake of the New Crown outbreak, the challenges facing building management have increased and evolved as expectations of facility managers have changed and the need for visibility has expanded.
In addition, the shift from an in-office work environment to a more mixed and flexible work environment has changed the way commercial buildings are used, requiring real-time visibility into building usage, occupant trends, etc. The changing landscape of building management demonstrates the critical need for solutions that can easily adapt to new flexible environments while also improving overall productivity and performance.
Smart buildings are also becoming a growing trend as building managers assess their facilities and opportunities for improvement, not only to streamline operations, but also to reduce costs and increase visibility for all.
Utilising technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation and more, smart buildings can help building management streamline operations, increase visibility and automate traditionally manual workflows to create seamless processes and efficient management practices that benefit not only facility managers, but also their customers. This digitisation, combined with an integrated technology stack that leverages such technologies, can enable facility managers to automate traditionally cumbersome workflows, ensure evidence of compliance, and effectively meet customer expectations and needs.
Firstly, the use of IoT sensors injects smart buildings with an intelligent DNA. These sensors can be widely deployed inside and outside the building to monitor a variety of data in real time, including temperature, humidity, light, air quality and more. This data is transmitted to a central system and analysed and processed by AI. By analysing sensor data, AI can enable intelligent management of building energy. For example, AI can automatically adjust the lighting and air-conditioning systems according to the real-time conditions inside and outside the building, minimising energy consumption and improving energy efficiency.
Secondly, the security of smart buildings is greatly enhanced.IoT sensors can monitor the security conditions inside and outside the building in real time, such as fire, leakage and intrusion. Once abnormalities are detected, the AI system will immediately issue an alarm and take appropriate measures to safeguard the lives of personnel and the safety of property.
In addition, smart buildings also enable personalised adjustment of the internal environment of the building. Through the cooperation of IoT sensors and AI systems, the building can automatically adjust environmental parameters such as lighting, temperature, humidity, etc. according to the preferences and behavioural habits of employees or residents, providing a more comfortable and personalised working and living environment.
In addition, the operation and maintenance of smart buildings has been greatly improved. ioT sensors can monitor the operational status of building equipment in real time, and AI systems can analyse this data to predict equipment failures and damages, and make corresponding maintenance recommendations. This predictive maintenance greatly reduces equipment downtime and repair costs, improving the reliability and longevity of building equipment.
While Artificial Intelligence has become a growing trend in almost all industries over the past few years due to its ability to automate simple tasks and workflows, IoT sensors are newer in the market and offer smart features that work in tandem with AI to generate workflows and alerts based on processed sensor data.
IoT sensors can be set up throughout a facility based on specific needs and respond to physical or environmental inputs such as light, heat or motion. As soon as an abnormal input occurs, the sensor captures the data, which is then processed and displayed in real time to managers. This data can provide simple status updates or, through integration with AI, it can trigger necessary workflows or tasks that can be completed without human intervention.
For example, in smart buildings, motion or temperature sensors can monitor desk occupancy or meeting space usage, giving building managers insight into room usage trends and patterns. With the growing trend toward more flexible or mixed work environments, room usage data and trends can help building managers determine how to maximise resources based on occupancy trends and automate related workflows to meet occupant needs.
In addition to providing real-time visibility into and out of facilities, sensor data can help building managers track and measure energy consumption and monitor trends to help their HVAC systems run more efficiently while maintaining target temperatures within the building.
IoT sensors can help conserve and prioritise resources, while helping to manage ongoing maintenance by tracking inputs such as room usage and automating necessary workflows such as cleaning when services are required. For example, by using IoT sensors on bathroom doors, building managers can measure bathroom usage and automatically send cleaning alerts when a bathroom reaches a certain usage threshold. This eliminates the need for strict cleaning schedules and ensures that facilities are cleaned only when needed, while still meeting customer expectations for cleanliness.
While IoT systems are not new to building management, the ability to integrate and utilise all IoT data, including inputs from sensors, is critical. Many IoT systems utilise only a small portion of the data at hand, so it’s critical to ensure full integration across the entire system so that all data is included in reports and dashboards to influence any decisions. By bringing sensors into facility systems and pushing data from them through AI, building management can automate operations and workflows based on real-world environmental inputs, while also monitoring compliance and implementing necessary actions.
While IoT sensors and AI can streamline operations, automate workflows and increase efficiency, the heart of a smart building is data. By leveraging process management applications, building management can not only integrate the entire IoT system, but also visualise the insights from that system for complete transparency into their operations.
With customised dashboards that update in real-time, building managers can quickly assess the state of their facilities, identifying the highest priority needs first and predicting future problem areas. With time-stamped insights and customisable templates, building managers can also monitor compliance from a bird’s-eye view and are able to drill down into evidence for each unique workflow.
As the needs of building management continue to change and evolve, the technology and solutions used to support those needs and their outputs should evolve as well. Smart buildings that utilise integrated systems and technologies such as IoT sensors and artificial intelligence can meet these needs while helping management cut costs and improve efficiency across the board. With enhanced operational visibility and streamlined workflows and processes, facility managers can rest assured knowing that their facilities are always aligned with the changing needs of their customers and are efficient and effective.
Overall, the combination of IoT sensors and AI technology has revolutionised smart buildings. Smart buildings are no longer simply buildings, but an ecosystem full of intelligence and life, providing us with a smarter, safer, and more comfortable living and working environment. With the continuous development and innovation of technology, it is believed that smart buildings will play an even more important role in the future and become one of the key pillars of urban development.