Is IP everywhere the way ahead for building automation?

Abstract

Conventional wisdom suggests that the complete integration of building automation systems is the final outcome in the evolution of intelligent buildings. Security systems, energy managemen t systems, fire alarm systems are some of the automation systems that are converging to produce a single integrated environment for building automation. These systems can execute global strategies so that the building is able to function in harmony. But one question is starting to emerge from this seemingly inevitable convergence. Is the consolidation of a single building automation protocol actually precluding possibilities for communication beyond the building automation sphere? The organic nature of the modern built environmen t requires cooperation between organizationa l activities, means of production and the facility itself. This process of integration cannot be achieved whilst the building operation is seen to be independent from other communication and control systems. Argues that the process of integrating building systems may in fact isolate such systems from a much broader range of information technology systems. Describes the use of embedded Web servers, an area where open integration might be developed. Divergence rather than convergence appears to be the future for building automation systems.

Application of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in multi-criteria analysis of the selection of intelligent building systems

“…For example: 'compliance of protocol standard' for BAS systems [19,30,43,44]; 'OTTV and odour level requirement' for HVAC system [19,39]; 'noise pollution' for vertical transportation system [19], and building fac -ade systems [41]; and 'spatial flexibility' for interior layout system [19,39]. These sub-criteria were statistically considered as less important, and therefore their importance were declined.…”

Communication systems for building automation and control

“…Making use of the associated standard application-related protocols as well holds considerable potential for building integrated systems, including greatly facilitating remote connections via the Internet [14].…”

“…Its scope is the integration of a wide spectrum of control applications and the control and management aspects of other applications in and around homes and buildings, including the gateways to different transmission media and public networks. 14 Moreover it takes into account all matters of EMC and electrical and functional safety.…”

Projects for Special Purposes: A Progress Report

“…The first use of projects occurred from 1997 to 2000 in a three-year university English conversation program which used a task-based approach in years 1 and 2 (Finch & Hyun, 2000a) and projects in the 3 rd year of study (Finch & Hyun, 2000b). In-house course books were written for this program (Finch, 2001a;2010;Finch & Sampson, 2001) because of the unavailability of suitable, culturally appropriate and pedagogically sound texts for false-beginners.…”