IoT and Big Data for Buildings
In recent years, the term “smart building” has been gaining popularity. Smart buildings integrate sensor technologies, Internet of Things, and big data analytics to collect information about the functions of the building. According to a blog post by Senseware, there are 10 increasingly popular trends in the smart buildings space: AI/big data, asset digitization, real-time cloud-visualizations, energy efficiency, indoor air quality monitoring, virtual BAS, operational technology, workplace management, horizontal platforms, and subject matter experts [1].
The most important of these trends, in my opinion, is leveraging big data to improve energy efficiency in buildings. By collecting information about the functions of the building such as energy usage, temperature, and humidity, building managers and owners can understand exactly what is happening with the building in real-time. For example, the data can inform building facilities if any systems are running inefficiently and wasting energy by overheating or overcooling a space. Additionally, these technologies save the building owners and stakeholders a lot of money [2].
Building engineers can also benefit from the data because it can serve as feedback for whether or not the building is working as designed. The data can also be used to inform future designs of energy efficient buildings.
