technology in building

Future proofing the school infrastructure

Advances in technology are occurring so rapidly that there is a real risk modern building projects will be outdated before they are finished. One thing that is certain is society’s increasing need to accommodate, integrate and rely on information technology. RAY HARDING, md of IVC Media reports.

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HERE WILL BE a continued requirement for IT networks to manage more diverse applications at

faster speeds. These applications will undoubtedly include: high speed internet, VoIP telephony, analogue telephony, high definition TV, cable/satellite TV and video- on-demand, and of course all the learning and teaching applications that interact with the students locally and globally. However, what about less glamorous applications such as door access, security, CCTV and fire alarms?

Energy saving

A single high-speed network platform can now be created to link up all the electrical components within multiple buildings. The network’s upgrade capability is designed to see it well into the future whilst day- to-day management is kept simple for non-technical staff, through a logical graphical user interface. Furthermore, such networks have the potential to cut energy usage by up to 90% compared with more traditional network infrastructures. Today, IVC is installing these systems, through the use of a gigabit passive optical network (GPON), which is a point-to-multipoint, fibre to the end-point network architecture. Fibre technology has long been used in the telephony industry for example, but

only now we are seeing how its advantages can be integrated into modern building projects. This is because many, electrical and electronic devices in buildings are now Internet Protocol (IP) addressable. In other words, many of the

a single high-speed network platform can link up all electrical components within multiple buildings

telephony systems, door entry systems, fire detection, broadband and TV for example, have the capability to integrate on the network using simple IP addresses. This, combined with advances in end point multiplexers used to transfer the digital information down a tiny strand of fibre, means that fibre networks can be easily and cost effectively incorporated into multi building sites like schools or university campuses.

Optical splitters

Passive optical splitters eliminate the traditional power requirements of

network switches and of course using fibre allows transmission distances running in kilometres rather than the standard copper “digital cliff” of 90 metres. This means less power, with significant environmental benefits. The GPON configuration also drastically

reduces the amount of fibre required and removes the need to install multiple copper cables to each room by multiplexing all the technical services required over a single fibre cable network. Downstream and upstream signals are broadcast to each room sharing a single fibre. Encryption is used to provide any necessary security. The GPON has the ability to achieve

far higher bandwidth speeds and efficiencies than any traditional network infrastructures. Less central office space, hardware, cabling, power and efficient use of a single fibre, all make the GPON an attractive and feasible architecture for multiple site educational building projects. With a little bit of joined up thinking before a project commences, the GPON approach can integrate many services, keeping projects simple, cost effective, and manageable.

www.ivcmedia.co.uk

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