CE6011
Smart Buildings and Automation
2013-2014
2. Basic concepts and
definitions
Dr. Benny Raphael
Assoc. Professor
Civil Engineering Department
IIT Madras
1
This lecture
Introduces you to some basic concepts
that are covered in this module. All the
topics covered in this lecture are covered
in depth in subsequent lectures
We start with the notion of intelligence,
then discuss the features that are
expected of an intelligent building and
finally examine some formal definitions
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When do we say that something or
someone is behaving intelligently?
Artificial Intelligence
An area of computer science that aims to
mimic human intelligence in computer
systems
Results from AI research will eventually percolate down to
building systems so that they exhibit intelligent behaviour
like some AI programs!
Important concepts in AI
System should learn from experience knowledge
should not be static. The system should have
mechanisms built into it that allows accumulation of
knowledge throughout its life
The performance of the system should improve with
time. The system should be able to adapt its behaviour
using new knowledge accumulated through experience
The system should exhibit autonomous behaviour. It
should be able to take decisions by itself instead of
relying on human beings
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Example of an Intelligent System
ALVINN an autonomous driving system
developed at the Carnegie Mellon
University. It drives by itself at speeds of
100 Kmph on highways without causing
accidents
Larry Page on Autonomous driving:
There are energy savings (traffic would flow more
efficiently) and productivity gains (commuting hours
reclaimed). There will be cost savings too - in the
millions of dollars at Google alone. The Googleplex, he
says, is short on parking, and quotes for new garages
have come in at $40,000 per car. Why not let the car
drop you off and go park itself offsite? Page asks.
"Whenever you need it," he adds, "your phone notices
that you're walking out of the building, and your car is
there immediately by the time you get downstairs.
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2013/01/03/google-larry-page/?iid=HP_LN&hpt=hp_bn1
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Intelligent buildings: Historical
perspective
Originated in the 1980s
Denoted buildings with sophisticated
telecommunications, building management
and networked services
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/01/07/internet.connected.appliances/
Exercise-1
Discuss whether your home (the apartment
where you live) is an intelligent building
according to the concept introduced in the
previous slide
Early applications of the concept
Monitoring and control of building services
HVAC, Lighting, lifts, fire alarms, access,
security, electric power
Deliver optimum service
Reduction in energy use
Maximize comfort conditions (maintain a
steady temperature, relative humidity, etc.)
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Exercise-2
Discuss if you have come across any
commercial building in Chennai which has
the features listed in the previous slide.
Can you say that intelligent buildings are
commonly found in Chennai?
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Intelligent facilities: What it
means today
Clients are increasingly demanding smart buildings. They want buildings
to be energy smart, behave intelligently, etc.
http://www.fastcompany.com/1711771/smart-building-managementbusiness-ballooning-to-24-billion
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Exercise-3
Write down five things that you expect to
see in an intelligent building
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Building services control
Coordinated response from various
systems to problems as they arise
All services operated from a single point of
control
Eg. Aircon shut down when there is a fire,
alarms sound, exit lights blink, etc.
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Facilities management:
maintenance management
Detect failures in equipment
Predict maintenance needs
Control stocks of spares
Issue job sheets for work to be undertaken
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Exercise
Discuss why a good facilities management
system is important for an intelligent
building
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Automation
Performing tasks without manual
intervention
Switching on lightings, AC, cooker, etc.
Opening doors, access control
Security and monitoring
Auto-diagnosis
Use of portable and mobile devices to
accomplish the above
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Building automation systems
The concept of building automation came
from industrial automation, where the
operation of large industrial plants were
automated using sensors and actuators.
Consequently usage of many terms were
historically derived from industrial
engineering.
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Office automation, workflow
automation
Office automation refers to computerisation of
information generation, storage and processing
Workflow refers to the flow of information through
various stages in performing a task (which is part of a
business process)
Building operations should be seamlessly integrated into
the workflow of an organisation for better effectiveness
(eg. Booking a meeting room)
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Telecommunications
Exchange of information across different
systems and people
Establish data network
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Intelligent facilities: Limited
definition
Facilities with computerised operating and
management system
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Better definitions
An intelligent building is one that creates an environment
that maximises the efficiency of the occupants of the
building while at the same time allowing effective
management of resources with minimum life-time costs
An intelligent building is one which provides a productive
and cost-effective environment through optimisation of
its four basic elements structure, systems, services
and management and the inter-relationships between
them
(Robathan, 1989), Intelligent buildings guide.
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Another definition
Where information and communication
systems work together with building
systems to enhance the effectiveness of
the resident organisation
Boyd (Intelligent buildings, 1994)
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Implementation problems
Integration of equipments and computers
not easy
Non-reliability of components
Capabilities of automated systems do not
match users requirements
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A guided tour through an intelligent
building
You have a job interview at Intelligent Building
Consultants, Chennai
At the entrance
Doors open automatically
Electronic display of map and directory
Lift moves down as soon as you walk towards it.
You can select the floor by speaking to a voice
recognition system
Lights turn on automatically as you enter the
lobby
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A guided tour through an intelligent
building
Blinds are closed on the west side because
there is direct solar radiation coming from this
side
The main door at the entrance of the office
opens automatically because an image
recognition system has identified you and is
expecting you
The HR manager is informed automatically that
you have arrived
A voice message greets you and asks you to
wait for a while
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A guided tour through an intelligent
building
The TV is turned on for you at the reception. Lights and
aircon are turned on to comfortable settings.
An LCD display shows the energy consumption of the
building
The HR Manager takes you to the meeting room which is
ready for your meeting. It has been booked through a
facilities management system
You take part in a video conference with the CEO who is
based in a foreign country. You are impressed with the
clarity of video and audio
When you leave, you want to join the organization just
for the pleasure of working in that building
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Current usage of terms
BAS Building Automation System
Refers to systems that control lighting, fire alarms, access control, etc.
It is mostly device-centric and supplied by control system vendors
BMS Building Management System
A software that coordinates the operations of different building systems.
Usually stores data in a central database and have at least one operator
workstation connected through the communications network to integrate
electronic systems that control building services.
It is mostly centred around building systems
Facilities Management Software
Sofware that records location and details of equipments and assets,
keeps track of their maintenance and related issues
It places emphasis on management activities
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Layered view of BMS
Facilities Management System
BMS
Building Automation
System
Maintenance
Inventory, assets
Rooms, usage
Occupancy
schedule
Lighting
control
Equipments
Chiller
Features shown are only representative, not exhaustive.
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