• • • SMART BUILDINGS & IOT • • •
Acknowledging the importance of data in smart buildings
Mark Bouldin, clean air expert at Johnson Controls, says the way offices has used since the pandemic has changed dramatically
is not shocking that we spend 90% of our time indoors. However, the very foundation of how our buildings work is dependent on the safety, security, and well-being of those who use them. Since the beginning of 2020, the way we use our
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offices has changed dramatically. We’ve become more adaptable, often only coming into the office when there’s a distinct goal and benefit to doing so. The building itself is not different; however, we must now transform the way our buildings operate to meet our new requirements. However, they are not performing as well as they should. According to McKinsey Global Institute
research, data and analytics could create value worth $9.5 trillion to $15.4 trillion per year if embedded at scale, illustrating the true impact that silos are having across industries. As a result, we must begin to value and analyse our data. Only then will we be able to improve occupant safety and comfort while also saving money and meeting sustainability goals.
The path to data value When we have data we can’t understand or contextualise, we may as well have no data at all. Siloed data is dumbing down our smart buildings, but the challenge is that we need to manage the
very building serves a purpose. Every day, the buildings we shop in, work in, or socialise in make a difference in our lives. It
combination of operating technology, bringing together multiple data sources and different systems together to drive value. Right now, the data from each of these point
solutions is siloed and disconnected. This is preventing building managers, developers, and owners from seeing the bigger picture, limiting them to small, incremental changes that don’t help realise the full potential of their investment in smart. From here, it is then possible to move up the
data value ladder, unlocking the true benefits of ‘smart’. On the surface level, data can be descriptive, telling us what is happening now. This insight then informs how we move up the levels; diagnostic, predictive, prescriptive and finally, the zenith of cognitive data where AI and automation come into their own. There needs to be a link between the building
and the data, as it provides invaluable insights into how the building is used. You can take a snapshot of the energy in a building and understand its performance, but this won’t help until you have the context of other data, and how that influences the building as well – it’s all interlinked. Understanding siloed data as a connected
network means we can approach each building differently, to make recommendations that are more energy efficient and cost saving. By connecting the siloes, we can enrich the data to
Johnson Controls has announced the acquisition of CDS Integrated Security Systems and Gem Security Services, a Welsh-born market-leading systems integrator delivering intelligent business protection solutions. The acquisition will further strengthen
Johnson Controls’ range of innovative and interconnected electronic security solutions designed to protect people, property and assets around the clock. Over the past 37 years, CDS Integrated
Security Systems and Gem Security Services have developed a reputation for the delivery of high-quality solutions. These solutions are designed to meet clients’
specific requirements in a variety of applications, including local authorities, universities, Blue Chip Enterprise clients and Critical National Infrastructure. Grant Avery, general manager at Johnson
Controls UK & Ireland, said: “We are excited to welcome CDS Integrated Security Systems and Gem Security Services to the Johnson Controls family. “This acquisition demonstrates the further
strengthening of our holistic security and safety services. This long-established UK business with a strong reputation in security technology integration is led by a world-class team experienced in complex security integrations. Together, we can cater to a wide range of customers across key industries, delivering innovative industry solutions.” Andrew Williams, managing director at CDS
said: “CDS Systems and Gem Security Systems are delighted to become part of Johnson Controls, providing an opportunity to build on our existing established reputation and deliver outstanding service to even more customers across the UK. “As the global leader in smart, healthy and
sustainable buildings, Johnson Controls represents the benchmark in next-generation building management. We are excited to bring our security expertise together and look forward to continued success.”
provide the diagnostic data as well as the descriptive data that will help climb the stairway to value. What’s more, many buildings house multiple
occupants, with various needs and expectations. This is especially true as we are working in a new hybrid world, with flexibility as the focus for many. Needs will vary from building to building, and data averages in the industry aren’t applicable because
24 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • DECEMBER 2022/JANUARY 2023
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
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