Across all industries and processes, there is an apparent transformation happening. The change is greatly influenced by technology, between the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality, plus other systems. The transformation is encouraging a new wave of the industrial revolution, and construction and maintenance are not left behind.
In recent years, the construction of smart buildings has taken shape all over the world. It is a development supported by the need for sustenance and very importantly, environmental change. A smart building uses technology to communicate across all its systems to not only offer sustainability and improve productivity but also to observe ecological impacts. Smart buildings will not only provide shelter but make life better for all occupants.
These smart technologies can now be used to construct new buildings, but old buildings are also being converted into intelligent buildings. This kind of building technology is significantly shaping the future of construction, and enabling the evolution of smart cities of the future that will use technology to control aspects of water quality, air quality, and transportation. But getting there is hard. The world first needs to evolve buildings. Within the next ten years, the number of smart cities in North America and Europe will account for half of the world.
What are the Features of a Smart Building?
An intelligent building operates in three steps. First, the software in use manages variables in the building’s operation. These are different variables, like temperature and lighting. Second, sensors are employed to detect any changes that occur to these variables. When the sensors detect changes needing attention, the software then tweaks the required adjustments to make the building fit for occupancy.
The building shares information about what is going on through technology. With the shared data, various processes are automated, including air conditioning and ventilation, thermal comfort, security, illumination, and more of the likes.
These are some of the features of this type of building.
Connected systems. This is what makes a building smart, from power lighting, meters, fire alarms, water, pumps, and all others. This means that all core systems of the building are linked and able to talk to each other.
Sensors. A smart building uses sensors to collect data to inform decisions about where and how to allocate resources around the building.
Automation. These buildings gather and analyze information in real-time, which allows for automated adjustments to be made.
What are the Benefits of this Type of Building?
Improved productivity for occupants. The building encourages better performance and better quality of life for occupants. With the data collection and automation happening in real-time, the most critical aspects of the building are delivered at an optimum level. These include space availability, air quality, heating, physical security, lighting, sanitization, and general physical comfort.
The building is cost-efficient, energy-efficient, and generally environmentally friendly. Intelligent buildings not only help the owner save on costs, but they also help reduce wastage and fluctuated demands for governments. If a power grid sends a near-capacity alert, a digital building can reduce its energy consumption. They are sustainable.
Through the collection of data, intelligent buildings can showcase where improvements have been made and how well the building has performed and where further improvements could be made. This lays the foundation for better building performance and efficiency.
How to Make a Building Smart?
One step in building an intelligent building is through having a robust building technology systems assessment.
Of importance, also, is having a clear vision and plan for the building. Knowing the purpose and occupant of the building is an essential factor in choosing and integrating intelligent protocols.
After assessing and planning, the next most critical phase is designing. This stage makes theoretical discussions a reality and involves conscientious research and consultation with experts. This is where in-depth technical analysis and review happens, and technologies to use are tested for compatibility with the master plan.
For a smart building to perform effectively, some issues need to be addressed. The most important aspect of the building is data collection, and as such, the building needs to ensure its quality, availability, and security. Another point is data transmission speed and latency. In this case, high standards are to be met if the sensors in the building are to work and provide information in real-time, and as well if the building is to react to make expected changes.
Materials Used in the Construction of Intelligent Buildings
In a world where most resources are quickly getting depleted by the day, the most crucial move is to transform energy-wasting buildings into energy-producing buildings. Applying Nanotechnology-based materials is one way to do this. Nanoscience balances aesthetic needs with the architectural requirements of a building on matters like insulation. Nanotechnology yields improved levels of energy efficiency and the integration of renewable energy.
These are some of the materials used in the construction of new intelligent buildings; concrete, straw, transparent wood, steel/metal, and sensors. In the case of metals, the common choice is steel that can even be reused. It is feasible for use in roofing, building facade, and also as structural support.
Why Use Steel for Smart Buildings?
Compared to traditional building materials like concrete, steel is much more reliable and durable with a higher strength-to-weight ratio. Steel buildings are metal structures fabricated with steel for internal support and external cladding.
They are known to be perfect hosts for intelligent buildings. As a building material, steel is also very flexible in design, readily available, lightweight, sustainable, and safe, all essential features of intelligent buildings.
Steel Support for Intelligent Buildings
Design.
The flexibility of steel designs makes it one of the most preferred materials for intelligent buildings. The buildings can be designed into any shape without compromising on interior spaces for cables, HVAC, and plumbing, among other building systems.
Illumination.
The use of steel frames ensures flexibility in using information technology. In a smart building, there is improved illumination. With the use of steel, designing the building into any shape becomes possible. The numerous options available when framing windows, skylights, among others, enable natural light transmission. An intelligent building must be capable of dimming or enhancing the natural light.
Ventilation.
Buildings made with steel have ventilation systems easily installed in the frame, leaving more space for equipment than would have in traditional constructions. In intelligent building designs, there should be more room for ventilation, insulation, and sound-absorbing materials that reduce the noise made by ventilation shafts, making steel the ideal material.
Smart architecture.
Intelligent buildings are made for comfort. Comfort can come through design. With angles like color and acoustics, glare, and reverberation, a steel structure is ideal for bringing more comfort. Steel panels feature many colors and textures that, coupled with perfect lighting, produce a peaceful and productive ambiance for occupants. A steel structure will also soften sounds and prevent them from echoing.
Exterior.
While the inside of an intelligent building relies heavily on technology, the outside can be finished with steel to match the ambiance of the interior. The use of titanium dioxide tiles will enhance environmental care by filtering pollutants from the outside world. Another way steel can be used in the exterior is by using thermal bimetal shades to make the building responsive to environmental changes. They are self-activated and expand when there is much heat, in return, allowing more air to tome through inside.
Benefits of Steel Buildings
Steel is a building material that supports intelligent buildings. Here is why. It is accommodative. Steel can be reused without further processing; it is 100% recyclable. Steel can also be used for many functions, more or less frigidly made to accommodate use. It is a very flexible material that can be made to look; however, the building needs it can even be coated with colors and textures for this effect.
When used as a material for a building, careful holes can be cut into steel members to accommodate wiring, piping, and cabling to run underneath a floor system. Steel is safe and durable, and as needed by intelligent buildings, can be designed into any shape for a building design.
Metal or steel buildings leave more space, a building design’s maximum usable space as they eliminate the need for large columns as needed in traditional building materials. This works in tandem with the requirements of an intelligence building that requires more space.
A building made of steel is cost-effective. Compared to wood construction, metal or steel construction is 50% cheaper. Along with saving money, buildings made with steel are constructed faster. Compared to concrete structures, steel/ metal buildings are completed in 30% less time. The buildings also require less maintenance as the materials are expertly made, and buildings professionally installed to withstand even the most adverse conditions.
Factors that Affect the Construction of a Metal Building
There are various factors to consider and steps to follow when choosing steel as the preferred building material.
Design. The design greatly affects the time, cost, and outcome of a building. When designing, it is crucial to consider factors that affect buildings, like wind load, dimensions, seismic ratings, as well as the area of construction.
Price. Prices of steel are known to fluctuate more often than other building materials because steel is the world’s most valuable building commodity. This means that the cost of steel greatly influences a building’s construction and the entire cost of the project.
How Digital Buildings are Shaping the Future
The Internet of Things has encouraged a step in the right direction when it comes to building construction and all aspects connected to it. The injection of technology in planning, development, and investment ensures commercial, residential, education, industrial, and healthcare buildings can enjoy the energy and operational efficiency, comfort, and sustainability.
Most buildings, even traditional ones, have always had a level of intelligence. With the new technologies coming out every year, collected building data will undoubtedly influence better decisions to help shape future decisions regarding construction and management.
The partnership between Infosys and Microsoft to develop solutions for intelligent buildings.
Recently, a digital consultancy firm, Infosys, teamed up with software stalwart Microsoft to develop intelligent buildings and spaces solutions. These will be solutions to construction, engineering, architecture, facilities management, and real estate markets. Along with Infosys worldwide network of innovation hubs, the collaboration will significantly benefit from Microsoft’s Azure and sensor technology to develop solutions for SB&S. They will leverage on current digital technologies to improve the lifecycle of the construction of a building.
Through IoT, Azure, edge, and intelligent cloud, intelligent buildings’ solutions will be immense. These are system monitoring, space utilization analytics and building occupancy, analysis, predictive maintenance, and improved experiences for building owners, tenants, and operators.
Speaking about the collaboration, Infosys’ Vice President and Head of Strategic Design Consulting, Corey Glickman, said the firm is excited to partner with Microsoft and use their technologies to develop solutions for real estate management and services. They expect to accelerate sustainable solutions that will bring about operational efficiencies for customers.
Rimes Mortimer, general manager of Applied Innovation at Microsoft, also added the company’s excitement in joining forces with Infosys. Mortimer said it combines the great efforts Microsoft has made with intelligent buildings and space optimization and planning with Infosys’ knowledge in solution design and systems integration to unlock business value for customers.
The Microsoft Azure IoT features new spatial intelligence capabilities like relationship modeling through topologies, ontologies, and improved sensor processing. Infosys has, for three decades, immensely invested in artificial intelligence to fulfill digital transformation strategies. The collaboration of the two big tech companies is a significant acknowledgment of the new world of intelligent buildings. The innovations that come from them will drive more growth to the sector in the coming years.
Article originally appeared on technologymagazine.com
