The rapid development of big data and the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies have not only made smart buildings possible but are also driving a new generation of innovative smart buildings. Fulfilling the integration requirements of users, facility managers, owners, designers, and builders, the revolution is creating an all-win situation that optimizes user experience, building maintenance and operations efficiency, and the investment returns of owners.
Incorporating Machine Learning Mechanisms, BIM Broadens Smart Building Control Concepts
Green building projects are emphasizing post-occupancy evaluation. Since building maintenance fees far exceed construction costs in developed countries, more buildings draw upon digital elements in the initial design phase, using Building Information Modeling (BIM) to simulate different aspects of design and effects. As technologies and applications advance, there is an issue of integrating smoothly assembled information at the initial design stage with the building or facilities management systems later in a building's lifecycle to create synergies for owners and users. A solution is to establish an effective feedback process involving steps in design simulation, implementation, verification, revising designs, and optimizing management.
As digital technologies offer more capabilities, world-class public buildings, such as Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Sydney Opera House in Australia, and Denver Airport in the United States, have turned their traditional building designs, construction planning, and equipment documents on paper into a digital description of every aspect of the built asset for the digital management of the building lifecycle. Use of BIM in combination with facilities management platforms enables owners to bring together and update information about every component of the building into a single database. Administrators can access it any time via mobile devices, such as cell phones or tablets, for equipment maintenance and repairs as well as planning and scheduling, thus shortening inventory time.
Expounding on the benefits digital tools provide when integrated throughout a building's lifecycle, Business Manager Morris Lin from Taiwan Architecture & Building Center stated: A BIM documents in detail all the data of a built asset since inception from the materials and construction, to equipment or products. After the building is utilized, a BIM continues documenting its interrelationship with the systems, environment, and spaces, serving as a central point of building reference with all information vital to the upkeep of the building that is readily available to all facility managers. If an IoT-based building control system can input into a BIM system actual occupant behavior patterns in built environments, it will facilitate a Digital Twin learning mechanism for better identifying elements connecting real worlds and virtual models. The data of the identified elements can then be input into virtual models via sensors to identify factors related to desired environment control. Such data input, when included in building control systems as important parameters, will create greater investment values for smart buildings.
For example, a BIM contains detailed building design information ranging from space planning and construction materials, to lists of warranty expiration dates of equipment and devices. When the building is occupied and utilized, data on actual occupant interaction with the building environment, as well as external climate and other information can be fed to the BIM. This allows reexamination of the original design and adjustment to the designer's initial building control strategy, making the smart building control management more human-oriented and accommodating to actual needs.
Building control systems can extend to integrate a third system, such as one managing the building's space rental and availability status. This allows BIM-enabled facilities maintenance to serve beyond managing facilities deployed inside the space. Drawing on actual occupant behaviors, the practice can be further applied to routine inspection, repairs, or asset management, making possible integrated management across systems and platforms to extend the lifecycle of a building.
Chief Engineer Bruce Lee from Taiwan Architecture & Building Center pointed out that the big data database from the Digital Twins learning mechanism's BIM building control integration can become an asset to the owner for planning a new project or renovating existing buildings. It can lower investment in initial stages and minimize discrepancies and abortive costs in equipment.
Despite the rosy prospects stated above, experts voice concern that digital building management is still an expensive approach to investment. It requires more experience for a BIM, building management, and general facilities management to be integrated as one so that trendy tech terms as big data, digitalization, and AI translate into realistic value for all building users and managers. This is a serious issue for all those with smart building aspirations.