Through chain collaboration towards the building of the future

Source: Siemens/Dimensions

Partly due to Covid-19, we are thinking increasingly innovatively about buildings and how they can help us work productively and comfortably, but also maintain safe and responsible social contacts. Strengthening chain cooperation in the rapidly digitalizing construction sector can accelerate this development.

Where they used to be just 'a pile of bricks', buildings are becoming increasingly intelligent, partly due to the arrival of IoT sensors. “In the Netherlands we have known for years that buildings can support our comfort, but also our productivity and health,” says Paul de Backker, who works at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. “We no longer see buildings solely as rentable square meters, but as part of the team. The corona pandemic has made us think even more innovatively about the building of the future. I expect that this will lead to new housing concepts, in which the building knows more and more about the user, develops virtual empathy and uses energy more efficiently.”

From insight to optimization
Smart sensors that communicate directly with the cloud can give us more insight into building use. “Based on this data, you can optimally heat, ventilate and illuminate a building,” De Backker explains. “If you know how many people are on a certain floor, you can specifically apply the right indoor climate strategy. It is a complete waste of resources that many office buildings are still unnecessarily heated and illuminated all day long. This can be prevented by dealing differently with the workplace occupancy in the building. For example, you can aim to make certain parts of the building available and fill them optimally first, before allowing employees into other parts of the building. This not only promotes social interaction and collaboration, but also has an impact on reducing costs. Not only costs for lighting and heating, but also costs for printers, coffee corners and other energy consumers and, not to forget, cleaning costs. Smart workplace occupancy saves megawatts without compromising the well-being of building users. After all, they are dry, warm and safe.”

To the office: a party
There are sensors that detect presence and regulate light intensity in general areas and at workplace level. By linking data from these sensors, heating, cooling and ventilation can also be controlled. Desks reserved with sensors can also be released again when they have not been used for a certain period of time. “By combining data from sensors, calendar data from users and new technical installations, the building can think along,” says De Backker. “This makes new and existing buildings more flexible and energy efficient.” He does not rule out that this will happen on an increasing scale in the coming years, partly because after the corona pandemic we will probably continue to work from home more often and office buildings are increasingly becoming 'meeting places'. “Employees should be able to easily access their company's IT systems from home, but also be able to book a desk or meeting room at the office. In the office you want to be able to move around the building safely and comfortably. For example, it is not convenient if the desk you booked is on a different floor than the meeting room. Smart apps linked to building management systems take this into account. They know what your day looks like and help you organize it optimally. For example, you can be asked if you are going to have lunch in the company restaurant. This information can be taken into account when purchasing, which reduces waste. In order not to exceed the safe maximum number of building users, the
app are linked to the access control system, so that only people who have registered can enter the building. As a public transport user, you receive the most optimal travel schedule on your smartphone. The same applies to traffic information on the road and reserving a parking space for your car, with or without an e-charging station. If the parking spaces are occupied, the app will advise you in advance to use public transport or to move your meeting. If we can go to the office again for a day, let's have a party. The technology for this already exists.”

Save costs and energy
The trend that De Backker describes also has an effect on (the passing on of) costs. Instead of paying annually for a fixed number of work and parking spaces, companies may pay for their use in the future. Insight into expected and actual energy consumption leads to smart load management. As soon as energy consumption threatens to become too high, pre-selected large consumers can be disconnected from energy. Consider cooling installations or charging stations for cars. “For example, you could switch off the cooling machine based on the occupancy sensor data and determine that the offices can function with little or no cooling during the lunch break. You can temporarily switch off charging stations during peak loads by making smart use of the driver's travel schedule. This of course not only applies to office buildings, but also to industry, hospitals, educational institutions and campuses. With the latter two, the playing field itself is often even larger than with a single office building.”

Chain collaboration
But 'sec building automation' is only one piece of the puzzle, according to De Backker. “The world of smart buildings consists of several building blocks. First of all, the building or campus. They must be flexible to use and easily rentable, with the right technical infrastructure. Secondly, the handling of energy. How do you automate this so that buildings comply with increasingly strict energy legislation? Thirdly, people, who want to be productive in the building safely and comfortably. All this requires cooperation in the chain from the design phase to the dismantling of the building. The Digital Twin or Building Twin is gaining ground and can gain more and more content through chain collaboration. You have to think together about essential (pre)conditions. As our infrastructure landscape becomes more digital and we use large amounts of data and store it externally in the cloud, cyber security becomes increasingly important. This takes on an extra dimension when you realize how many different types of devices are in play that provide data. It is of utmost importance to know who you are talking to. After all, you don't want to communicate with a troll that pretends to be a sensor but isn't one.”

Sharing information
In addition to smart new construction, how can we also transform existing buildings into smart buildings? To answer that question, De Backker actively strives to connect with players in the chain. Not just from his role at Siemens. Since September 2020, he has been chairman of the Building Automation trade association (GA) within FHI, the Federation of Technology Industries. “Broadening the association and working more closely with other parties is one of the spearheads. These could be other associations in the industry such as KNX Nederland, TVVL, FME or Techniek Nederland, but also the Technical Universities/Universities of Applied Sciences. These organizations develop a vision about healthy buildings from their own perspective. I therefore regularly make room in my agenda to talk to each other and share information. Collaboration as a basis for a healthy future. Covid-19 also offers opportunities. If we act now, we will make our building landscape more sustainable, flexible and comfortable. With the positive effects on the people who work there and their productivity.”