Aspects of Smart Building Management Systems - Term Paper Example

Title: Intelligent Building Management system Name: Subject: Institution: Date: 1.0. INTRODUTION Introduction A building management system is a computer control system that is installed in buildings to enable easier monitoring and controlling of the building’s electrical and mechanical equipment such as security systems, fire systems, power systems, lighting systems and ventilation systems. An intelligent building management system consists of both hardware and software programs that are manipulated to control a buildings electrical and mechanical equipment (Zhang, 2010). An intelligent building is a building installed with innovative technology that has information and control services which fulfil the needs and wants of the occupants. Intelligent buildings use communication technologies that integrate and centralize monitoring, control, management and operation of building (s) services. Intelligent buildings are installed with software, electronic devices and hardware that manipulate building automation functions and telecommunications(International Foundation for Protection Officers, 2010). An intelligent building provides an effective, supportive and responsive environment within which an organization can achieve its objectives and goals. The main goal of an intelligent building is to provide easier building management, space management, and business management. Building management by intelligent building is done through automation of both the building and physical environment around the building. Space management involves management of the building operational and internal space by analysing the flexibility and capabilities of the building to accommodate connectivity personal moves, and rapid environmental changes (Kim & Chung, 2013). Elements of an Intelligent Building Intelligent buildings and building management systems originated from the industrial revolution of 1970’s in Europe. The idea emanated from controls and systems used by industries to automate and optimise plant processes and performances. The applications and concepts were modularised, developed and adapted in the late 1980’s allowing transferability of systems and technologies to commercial and residential sectors (Tsacoumis, 2010). An intelligent building is composed of various building systems such as: Energy management system, lighting management system, security and fire safety, telecommunications and office automation, local area networks (LANS), cabling management, intelligent maintenance management system (IMMS) and computer aided facility management (CAFM) (Benantar, 2006). Figure 1.0 shows major elements/systems of an intelligent building. Fire system Lighting Security Lifts Access control communication 24/7 monitoring Power and control (energy) HVAC (Source:Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA), www.caba.org) Characteristics of an Intelligent Building Management System Intelligent building management systems are mostly common in large projects which have extensive electrical systems, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. All the elements of an intelligent building system are linked together and use up to seventy per cent (70%) of building energy use. Intelligent building management system is critical in managing energy use. The intelligent building management system is interlinked with several building automation systems. Table 1.0 provides examples of intelligent building automation systems 1) plumbing 9)structured cabling system 2)Alarm response 10)intercom 3)Patient monitoring 11)Data network 4)Infant Control 12)fire alarm safety system 5)CCTV(security video) 13)medical gas alarms safety 6)Power monitoring and control 14)staff emergency alarms 7)Access control (door security) 15)Master synchronous lock 8)Light/ power control 16)HVAC control (Source: Jackson & National Institute of Justice (U.S.), 2015). Intelligent Buildings Control Theory The essence of intelligent buildings and building management system is in the control process. The control process allows for optimisation, automation and integration of all the equipment and services that provide services. The control technologies also help to manage the environment of the building in concern. Intelligent building management system uses Programmable Logic Controllers to form the basis for control technology. Residential intelligent buildings use intelligence microprocessors for control technologies. The use of control technologies allows the building management to optimise building services that help in saving energy and operational costs. There are two methods of controlling building services using an intelligent building management technology that is, time based method that provides lighting and heating services only when required and parameter optimiser, which utilises a representative of a service such as illuminance for lighting and temperature for heating. Time based control technologies can be used to turn on and off the heating system at selected periods. Parameter based optimisers use temperature control to run the heating system of a building. The heating system usually turns on and off when certain temperatures reach a set level such as 0 degrees Celsius. Lighting Control methods Lighting control methods in intelligent building management system is done through use of optimiser parameter and time based control aspects. The control aspects determine the level of illuminance that is required in a particular room. For example, lighting in an intelligent building can be done by zoning various areas in a building. There are four methods of controlling lighting in a building. The first method is zoning. Zoning allows lights to switch on and off depending on the area in use. In zoning lights are used according to the size of area being used. Time control is the second method used lighting control in building management. In time based control lights gets switched on and off according to time zone set for each are where light is in use. Passive infra-red occupancy sensor is the third method used to control lighting in building management. Lights get switched on and off wherever they sense a person’s presence in a room. Finally, light level monitoring is fourth method used to use to dim or switch off the lights whenever artificial lighting is present. Light level monitoring uses a technology known as photocell to measure the amount of artificial lighting available. Benefits of Intelligent Building Management Systems The main benefits of a good intelligent building management system includes effective targeting and monitoring of energy consumption, improved plant and building life and reliability, effective of internal comfort control and improving safety. Improving energy efficiency A poorly installed building management system can cause an increase of up to 20% in energy consumption. On the other hand, a well installed intelligent building management system can save up to 7% of energy consumption in a building. A good intelligent building management system helps to promote and manage optimal energy use. The use of energy saving lights can help to reduce energy consumption in the building. An intelligent building management system helps to detect problems within the system early for quick repair. It is easier to track and analyse energy consumption in a building and detect areas that have excess energy consumption. Energy saving practices includes room temperature regulation in empty rooms and automatic switching off of lights in empty rooms. On the other hand, it is important to ensure that IBMS does not interfere with customer/occupant satisfaction. Customer satisfaction is achieved when temperatures and lighting in a room are adapted according to the customer’s preference. Intelligent building management systems helps to save operating costs of a building by ensuring that all systems in the building are programed to start and stop in case of an anticipated event occurs, load scheduling, and automatic resetting and adjustment of various systems such as air conditioning and alarm systems. Lighting can be substituted with the natural light. Natural lighting is used to reduce electric light. This can increase savings used to light up electric lights. Almost all commercial buildings have a design to utilize natural light. Electric lighting can be designed to dim lights whenever natural light is available. In addition, most intelligent building systems are integrated with a solar system that substitutes electric lighting (International Foundation for Protection Officers, 2009). Indoor comfort improvement Comfort is defined as the mental and physical sensation of complete wellbeing. A good Intelligent Building Management system provides thermal neutrality that is neither too cold nor too warm. Factors that affect indoor comfort of a person include clothing and activity, air velocity, air humidity and air temperature. Good indoor comfort is provided through a well-designed HVAC system and continuous maintenance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems use good cleaning products, and reduction of indoor air pollution. An intelligent management system helps to regulate heat in occupant rooms depending on the customer’s preferences. An individual can reduce the amount of heat he/she wants in a room by clicking a socked or using a remoteto adjust room temperatures. Reliability improvement of the building systems Intelligent building systems management allows close monitoring of various systems that ensures that there is continuity in running the system without unnecessary interruptions. Power grid varies in quality and continuity depending on a zone area. Businesses are becoming more reliant on digital communication and information technology where enough power supply and minimal power interruption is vital (Norman, 2011). Increased occupant safety According to the World Congress on Medical Physics et al (2013), an intelligent building management system ensures that safety is observed at all times. Due to interconnection of systems such as fire control systems and alarms, it is easy to detect fire, raise the alarm and dampen the fire using fire fighting strategies installed in the fire system. An intelligent fire system consists of fire doors, fire dampers, smoke extraction fans, fire extinguishers and emergency fire escape doors that ensure calamities such as fire are quickly dealt with within the shortest time possible (Ferrari, 2010). Additional benefits of using an intelligent building management system includes collection of data in a central location that can be used to improve decision making, information management and reporting. Managing and integrating the life safety, video, digital security, and energy and HVAC applications from a single location enables a better performance in management of an intelligent building. A central building management system increases operational savings that ensure resources are well deployed by simplifying staff trainings, empowering operators and decreasing false alarms. A good building management system provides a room for expansion and growth of the automation systems for the future. Building management system helps to reduce or mitigate human risks through systems such as access control and alarm system sensors in case of a tragedy such as fire detection (ICT-EURASIA (CONFERENCE) et al 2013). 2. Security Considerations of Intelligent Building Management System An intelligent building management system is managed by various managers such as ICT manager, security manager among others. A security manager is responsible for protecting people and assets by developing, documenting and implementing procedures and policies aimed at protecting life and assets.Benantar (2006) discusses the following as the security considerations for a sound intelligent building management system: a) The system should be responsive and flexible to different environmental contexts and usages such as home, industry and office as well as different kinds of building systems, people and nature. b) The intelligent building management system should be able to change states in respect to user demands and functions over time. The management system should be easy to reprogram and program when in use. c) The intelligent building management system should be able to support human communication that is communication between individuals as well as groups. The system should not isolate people from each other despite the occupant comfort provided. d) The system should be easy to use and well equipped with sensors both mobile and stationery for indirect or direct input of signal from the building structure, systems and users for easy access to various locations. e) The intelligent building management system should be able to exhibit the intelligent behaviour by carrying out self-diagnosis and in case of any problem trigger actions such as raising alarms that call for response from the security managers.According to(Ferrari, 2010), the following consideration need to be taken into account when designing an intelligent building management system: What happens when the fire alarm system gets activated? Local authorities require a building or premises to have fire alarm systems which get activated in case of a fire breakout. Door control devices should have magnetic locks which are connected to a fire alarm system. When fire breaks out the alarm gets activated and people are able to open and exit the building through allocated doors. Can people in the premises exit the premises through allocated exit doors without using a card or keys? In cases of emergencies, people usually leave their wallets and purses at their work area due to hurry in order to escape. An audible alarm should sound when the door is opened due to unauthorised access. Despite the alarm sounding, people should be able to open the door and get out. When there is failure in power supply, can people be able to open the doors when an emergency occurs? Can people be able to go out the door during a power supply failure or power outage? f) The system should be well documented with functional descriptions of the building in a 3 D film, which should be available with physical structure overlay. g)Ferrari (2010) insists that an efficient and effective buildingsystem management is necessary in ensuring that the access control system is always operational. The following are the main management elements that should be taken into consideration when designing an access control system in building management system: Backups An online backup drive is considered in case future references in cases where hardware fails or malfunctions. Back up is developed by connecting the access control system to a backup device of the server. Resilience All door controllers need to be backed up by batteries .The batteries ensure that the controlled doors function continuously in cases of power outage. The batteries also ensure that an audit trail is maintained in case of power failure. Token Management Management of cards or token is essential in ensuring that access control system is efficient. The security of access control system should have a password protection that enables programmers to add and delete cards without interfering with the operations of the system. Reporting Regular reports should be generated and presented to the security management to ensure that the system remains effective and efficient. The security management should also conduct tests such as unauthorised access challenges and fire emergency drills to determine the efficiency of the access control system. Data Protection An organization needs a confidential clause or policy that ensures that personal information is protected. Information documented for access control system should be kept confidential and access to such data should be restricted. Information Security Access to servers and terminals used to run the access control system need to be secured from unauthorized personnel. The security management should have a service maintenance team that regularly conducts maintenance services to the server and terminals to ensure continuous operation of the servers and terminals. References Benantar, M. (2006). Access control systems: Security, identity management and trust models. New York: Springer Science + Business Media. Ferrari, E. (2010). Access control in data management systems. San Rafael, California: Morgan & Claypool. ICT-EURASIA (CONFERENCE), Mustofa, K., Neuhold, E. J., Tjoa, A. M., Weippl, E. R., & You, I. (2013). Information and communication technology: International Conference, ICT-EurAsia 2013, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, March 25-29, 2013. Proceedings. Berlin, Springer. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36818-9. International Foundation for Protection Officers. (2009). Protection officer training manual. Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann. International Foundation for Protection Officers. (2010). The professional protection officer: Practical security strategies and emerging trends. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Jackson, B. A., & National Institute of Justice (U.S.). (2015). Fostering innovation in community and institutional corrections: Identifying high-priority technology and other needs for the U.S. corrections sector. Kim, K. J., & Chung, K.-Y. (2013). IT convergence and security 2012. Dordrecht: Springer. Norman, T. L. (2011). Electronic Access Control. Burlington: Elsevier Science. Tsacoumis, T. P. (2010). Access security screening: Challenges and solutions ; [Symposium on Access Security Screening, presented at New Orleans, Louisiana, on 28-30 March 2010]. Philadelphia, Pa. World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, & Long, M. (2013). World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering May 26-31, 2012, Beijing, China. Berlin: Springer. Zhang, P. (2010). Advanced industrial control technology. Amsterdam: William Andrew/Elsevier. Read More