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BUILDING CONTROLS BSEE
Working towards a smarter future for our cities I
Malcolm Anson, President of the BCIA (Building Controls Industry Association) discusses the rise of smart cities and why we need such forward‐thinking methods for cities in the UK.
t comes as no surprise, that with the rapid rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), the focus in the built environment is no longer just on intelligent buildings. We are now looking at a future of smart cities, a concept that is being embraced by major cities worldwide. Research presented by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) states there will be at least 88 fully developed smart cities across the world in the next ten years. So, what exactly is a smart city? Definitions of the term vary widely, but one organisation that I feel hits the nail on the head is IBM. They interpret a smart city as “one that makes optimal use of all the interconnected information available today, to better understand and control its operations and optimise the use of limited resources”.
In smart city projects across the world, governments and stakeholders are investing in smart grids, open data platforms, smart interconnected transport and lighting systems. This I feel, is just the start of what is to come.
Operational efficiency
So why is there a need for cities to think smarter? The driving force behind smart cities is operational efficiency, cost saving, energy efficiency and environmental
sustainability; in short creating better cities for all. According to the United Nations, in 2016 an estimated 54.5% of the world’s population lived in urban cities. This is expected to rise to 70% by 2050.
Here in the UK, more than eight out of ten of us already live in cities. With more people occupying urban areas, there comes an increase in economic and environmental challenges to cities, including pressures on public finances, aging populations and resource constraints.
Smart buildings as we know, are high achievers thanks to the latest building control innovations and the introduction of new IoT solutions. The increasing intelligence and automation of buildings will play a key role in the smart cities of the future.
Challenges
If we are to respond to the many challenges faced by the built environment and look to a better connected and healthier future, we must develop forward thinking methods for smart buildings to evolve into smart cities.
There is no quick fix, or as we often say in the building controls world, no one size fits all solution. Well the same applies to smart cities, the UK has a long way to go…
In today’s world, technology is
ubiquitous and the ability to collect and analyse data is easier than ever before. We must however utilise this data and technology to our advantage to enhance the development of smart cities. Furthermore, it is important to remember that collaboration plays a key role in achieving smart outcomes. Everyone involved in the design, construction and engineering process in the built environment needs to have a connected way of thinking, as these are the individuals who will put smart cities into fruition.
With innovative solutions in place, our buildings and cities are capable of working in unison. Furthermore, we must manage sustainability, energy efficiency and the wellbeing of occupants who are living and working in urban environments. This of course is the ultimate goal for a smarter future.
www.bcia.co.uk ‘ Smart buildings
as we know, are high achievers thanks to the latest building control innovations and the introduction of new IoT solutions. The increasing intelligence and automation of buildings will play a key role in the smart cities of the future.
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VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
www.bsee.co.uk
BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER OCTOBER 2017 13
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