siliconindia | | November 20189can be personalized to their individ-ual preferences, while real-time data and predictive analytics work togeth-er to optimize his/her workspace all year round. It can also track and im-prove occupant health, performance, and productivity which is imperative for any business considering em-ployees are the biggest asset of any growing company.At the same time, in a smart build-ing, the Building Intelligence Sys-tem helps sustain optimal levels of performance, thereby making them highly efficient and improving the Operational Efficiency (OE) of the building. New sensors and controls have succeeded in creating dynam-ic, grid-integrated buildings which are now operating at minimal energy consumption levels. Smart buildings respond to real-time operating condi-tions--whether that means automat-ically turning off the lights when a conference room is empty, lowering the thermostat when the temperature outside rises, or even diagnosing a system malfunction and rectifying it immediately to enable buildings to operate at peak efficiency.Smart Buildings Make Cities SmarterSmart Buildings are flexible enough to adapt to the ever-chang-ing occupant needs, intelligent enough to factor in external & in-ternal conditions, proactive in course-correcting to bring efficiencies and at the same time, are highly efficient to meet the energy sav-ing targets. The promise of smart buildings is incredible--made pos-sible by robust, reliable technology. Here are the top four trends in Smart Build-ings, brought on by the integration of technology, that make Smart Build-ings integral to the development of smart cities. First, Interoperability is Becoming the New Nor-mal in Smart BuildingsThanks to IoT simple, ubiquitous connectivity of all devices in the building is possible. The myriad de-vices and systems in a building func-tion in harmony, whereas big data an-alytics and cloud computing, enable these devices to predict, monitor, course-correct and control the behav-ior of the building. New connections are happening, not just between de-vices in a system, but among systems in a building and buildings in a port-folio. The avalanche of data coming in from buildings is being converted into useful, actionable information with the help of smart algorithms and big data analytics.Second, the Information Loop - From the Grid to PlugThe ability to get truly granular is now possible with Smart Buildings. Deployment of IoT, makes operations in a building visible and trans-parent ­ from the performance of the grid where energy losses are usually high to the end application, even deter-mining how and where energy can be saved. Facility managers are able to visualize bet-ter what's happening across their footprint and make educated decisions to cor-rect and improve conditions. Today's Smart grids allow en-ergy distribution to be managed in real-time based on immediate data rather than historical patterns of power usage as was done earli-er. Together with smart meters, it could noticeably reduce a business's energy costs and improve their sustainability credentials. Third, Building Management Goes MobileAn integrated system where devices are in constant conversation with each other means simplicity, flexibility and improved control. While mobile apps that provide `monitoring alerts' for in-dividual devices in the buildings have been around for a few years, IoT takes it to the next level. A facility manager can now not only monitor and manage various devices in a single view but can control them all from his mobile. Fourth, Buildings are Becoming More People-centricSmart buildings enable flexible, adapt-able, and efficiently managed spaces. The demands and comforts of the oc-cupants become the prime focus there-by improving occupant well-being and productivity. In fact, a study by Sodexo estimates that the impact of a comfort-able indoor environment on employee productivity is as high as 15 percent as it affects employee health, cognitive abilities, problem-solving capabilities, concentration, and ability to innovate.Smart buildings hold profound potential, and there is no denying that technology like IoT and edge comput-ing are breathing new life into build-ings, whether new or old. The impact of buildings on the everyday lives of people is being redefined. They are no longer mere physical structures but are slowly starting to define the quality of life of the citizens and the entire city. Gaurav Burman
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