Systems Analytics

Smart Buildings

Smart Building Systems Analytics is at the heart of modern building management, transforming traditional buildings into intelligent, responsive environments that are efficient, sustainable, and comfortable.

Smart Building Systems Analytics uses advanced data analytics and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to monitor, manage, and optimise various systems within a building. These systems include HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), lighting, security, energy management, and more. The goal is to improve efficiency, reduce costs, enhance occupant comfort, and ensure sustainability.

Legacy buildings

Legacy buildings with siloed systems suffer from inefficiencies due to the lack of communication and coordination between disparate systems, leading to higher operational costs and energy waste. Maintenance becomes more challenging and costly as each system requires individual attention and updates, while data accessibility is limited, hindering the ability to extract meaningful insights for optimisation. Security vulnerabilities are heightened with decentralised security protocols, posing risks of unauthorised access and data breaches.

Smart buildings must begin with smart planning

Assessment of Current Systems and Requirements

Infrastructure Audit: Evaluate existing building management systems (BMS), energy meters, HVAC, lighting, and other building systems.
Data Availability: Assess what data is currently available and what additional data is required (e.g., energy usage, occupancy, temperature, etc.).
Stakeholder Identification: Determine who will use the analytics system (facility managers, IT teams, occupants) and define their requirements.

Goal Setting

Define Objectives: Clarify the goals, such as energy efficiency, predictive maintenance, improved occupant comfort, or compliance with sustainability regulations.
KPIs Establishment: Identify the key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor (e.g., energy savings, carbon emissions, equipment uptime).

Selection of IoT Sensors and Data Sources

Sensor Deployment: Identify and install IoT devices to capture real-time data from various building systems (e.g., occupancy sensors, temperature sensors, air quality sensors).
Integrate Existing Systems: Ensure existing systems (e.g., BMS, lighting, HVAC) are compatible with the analytics platform.

Data Collection and Integration

Create a Data Infrastructure: Set up cloud or on-premise storage for data collection, ensuring scalable data pipelines.
Data Integration: Connect the analytics platform to all relevant data sources—BMS, IoT sensors, weather data, and external systems.
Ensure Data Interoperability: Implement open protocols and standards like BACnet, Modbus, or Zigbee for seamless data integration.

Analytics Platform Selection

Select a Smart Building Analytics Platform: Choose a suitable platform that offers features like real-time monitoring, data analytics, and visualization (e.g., SkySpark, Siemens Desigo CC, Honeywell Forge).
Custom Analytics: Depending on specific needs, you may need to develop custom algorithms for analytics like predictive maintenance or space optimization.

Data Analytics and AI/ML Integration

Real-time Monitoring: Implement dashboards for real-time data visualization (e.g., energy consumption, indoor air quality, occupancy).
Machine Learning Models: Utilize AI/ML models for predictive analytics, anomaly detection (for equipment failures), or optimization algorithms (for energy savings).
Automated Control Systems: Integrate with building systems to automatically adjust settings (e.g., HVAC or lighting) based on occupancy patterns and environmental conditions.

Pilot Testing and Calibration

Test the Analytics System: Deploy the system in a pilot environment or a small portion of the building.
Calibrate and Fine-tune: Adjust system settings, sensor data thresholds, and analytics models based on feedback and data from the pilot phase.

Full-Scale Implementation

Deploy Across the Building or Portfolio: Roll out the system across the entire building or multiple buildings, based on the pilot test’s success.
System Integration: Ensure integration with existing building management processes for seamless operations.

Training and Support

Staff Training: Train facility managers, maintenance staff, and other stakeholders on how to use the system and interpret analytics data.
Ongoing Support: Provide technical support, system upgrades, and feature updates to ensure the system remains effective and up-to-date.

Continuous Monitoring and Optimization

Performance Tracking: Continuously monitor the system to track progress against KPIs, identify areas for improvement, and adjust models.
Feedback Loop: Gather user feedback and incorporate it into system enhancements, refining algorithms and controls based on real-world usage.

Reporting and Compliance

Energy and Sustainability Reporting: Automatically generate reports for energy consumption, carbon emissions, and compliance with environmental regulations.
Insights for Decision Making: Use the data to inform long-term decisions on building upgrades, retrofits, or investments in further automation.

Benefits

Smart Building Systems Analytics offer numerous benefits, focusing on optimizing building performance, enhancing occupant comfort, and improving operational efficiency

Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings

Smart building analytics optimize energy consumption by adjusting HVAC, lighting, and other systems based on real-time data and occupancy. This reduces energy waste and ensures that systems are only used when necessary, leading to substantial cost savings on utility bills. Additionally, insights from the data can help identify long-term energy-saving opportunities, further lowering operational expenses.

Predictive Maintenance

With continuous monitoring, smart analytics can predict equipment issues before they escalate into failures, enabling timely repairs and preventing system downtime. This proactive approach helps reduce costly emergency repairs and minimizes disruptions in building operations. By keeping systems in peak condition, predictive maintenance extends the lifespan of expensive equipment like HVAC units and elevators.

Enhanced Occupant Comfort

Smart systems automatically adjust environmental conditions such as temperature, lighting, and ventilation to match occupancy and personal preferences. This ensures that building occupants always experience a comfortable atmosphere tailored to their needs, whether they are working, studying, or living in the space. Over time, the system learns user preferences, further enhancing the personalization and overall comfort.

Operational Efficiency

Automation of critical building functions such as lighting and climate control reduces the need for manual oversight, freeing up building management staff to focus on more complex tasks. Smart analytics provide real-time monitoring across various systems, offering a centralized platform for managing operations, which streamlines decision-making and boosts efficiency. Additionally, automated reporting and notifications ensure quicker response times to potential issues, enhancing day-to-day operational flow.

Sustainability

By optimizing energy use and minimizing resource waste, smart systems help reduce the building’s carbon footprint, contributing to broader environmental goals. These systems also ensure sustainable use of resources like water and electricity, aligning with green building certifications such as LEED. Over time, data-driven insights help facility managers make informed decisions to further enhance sustainability, setting a standard for eco-friendly operations.

Improved Security and Safety

Smart buildings integrate advanced security systems, including real-time monitoring of access points, cameras, and alarms, to enhance building security. Analytics can detect unusual activity or potential security breaches, sending alerts to the management team for immediate action. In emergency situations, such as a fire or evacuation, the system provides optimized routes and real-time information to ensure occupant safety.

Data-Driven Decision Making

The analytics generated by smart systems allow facility managers to make informed decisions based on trends and real-time performance data. This helps optimize resource allocation, improve operational strategies, and set actionable goals. Over time, the data can be used to benchmark building performance, compare with industry standards, and ensure continuous improvement.

Scalability and Flexibility

Smart systems are designed to adapt to the evolving needs of the building, allowing for easy expansion or modifications as requirements change. Whether upgrading systems, adding new functionalities, or integrating with emerging technologies, these analytics platforms offer flexibility without significant disruptions. Furthermore, they can seamlessly integrate with IoT devices, AI, and other technologies to future-proof building operations.

Case Studies

Office, Retrofit, Smart Buildings, Smart Buildings MSI

Smart Retrofit Fit-Out of Edinburgh Office Building

Overview: This project involved a retrofit fit-out of an existing two-floor office building in Edinburgh. The goal was to integrate new smart systems while ensuring seamless compatibility with existing building systems, such as HVAC and lighting controls. Solution Overview: We delivered a comprehensive solution that met all customer requirements, focusing