Author: bldgcontrols

Over the last few years there has been an abundance of discussion, debate, hype and confusion regarding the meaning and significance of “Internet of Things”, rather than rehash the past, I’d rather jump in and spend a few minutes talking about the future of the Internet of Things.  Throughout my career in technology I’ve found it extremely useful to look ahead and identify the obvious and not-so-obvious developments that are going to significantly change the path and pace of adoption by different market sectors and user segments.

Internet of Things is quite often described using examples of consumer goods and “things” that are in homes or cars, but I am frankly much more interested in the “things” that are found in places where we work, learn, meet, eat, shop and build.  The fact that most the innovations, development and early product launches have been in the consumer space is actually turning out to be quite beneficial because they (consumer IoT innovators) are beginning to solve the long list of challenges, hurdles and kinks that are inevitable in the emergence of any technology.

The potential for increased efficiency along with greater visibility and control that will be enabled by IoT for Commercial Buildings is my primary interest.  Right now, only a small percentage of all commercial buildings are truly being operated at optimal efficiency.  It takes months (or years) to find out dampers or valves are stuck.  It costs hundreds (or thousands) of dollars to send a skilled worker to a remote site to diagnose and cure something as simple as a loose wire.   Tenant complaints (and move outs) mount up while operations staff desperately tries to figure out how to make the building behave properly.

IoT innovations for buildings will likely reduce total cost of operations in our commercial and industrial spaces by 10 to 15%.  That’s conservative.  2016 has been a turning point for the pace of innovations being announced and released by the tech community.  IoT has been a “thing” for a long time, but we are really only just now seeing the tip of the ice-berg.

In an attempt to put the future of IoT into some relevant context, it’s important to point out that there is a long list of “things” that have already been successfully connected to the internet.  That’s not news.  But I like to point out that those things have several common attributes; they are expensive things, they have mostly all been invented in the last 15 years, they are things that need to be at least occasionally within six feet of a wall outlet, they are things that can afford to be paying a monthly data-plan and can run some version of unix (preferably with a Chrome Browser).

That list of attributes is a good place to start when thinking about the future of IoT.   Let’s pick a few of them apart, in no particular order:

Software

As you know, connecting a phone or a computer to the internet for the first time requires several deliberate steps involving multiple layers of software and tricky combinations of alpha-numeric keystrokes.  It has proven to be remarkably difficult to delete very many of the layers and steps needed to make a secure and reliable connection of a much simpler “thing” to that same internet.  Even if the “thing” has nothing more complicated to communicate than a temperature or humidity reading, the steps and layers are not much different than if that “thing” was trying to login into a Netflix account.

Companies like Google, SalesForce, as well as open-source communities are rapidly releasing IoT software development tools and platforms that allow things to connect and communicate with far fewer lines of code.  The significance cannot be overstated.   Fewer lines of code equates to a reduction in resources needed to make communications happen; less processor cycles, less memory, less time, less electricity, less heat.  The pace of future IoT development (more things get connected, sooner) is greatly enhanced by the reduction of code required for connections.

Communications

The future of IoT is highly dependent on advancements in cellular, wi-fi and blue-tooth radio technologies.  The physical realities of sending and receiving electronic signals is ridiculously complicated, but fundamentally comes down to the fact that there are a limited number of spectrum slices (channels) in which to arrange coordinated communication links.  Cellular connections hold the most promise, and we are beginning to see companies like Verizon wake up to the potential role they can play in the explosive growth of IoT.

In the last few months we’ve also seen the commercial release of chip-sets from Intel (and their competitors) that have 4G, 3G, Wifi, and BLE (blue-tooth-low-energy) all integrated with a processor and memory at a price point that will conceivable get under $20 (not yet, but soon).  These chip-sets were originally being designed to be the brains and radios for tablets, laptops and e-readers, but are now finding their way into the labs where street lights, chillers, and solar inverters are being designed.

Once the street light has it’s own stripped-down cell phone, it then will need to figure out how to read and sign the paperwork necessary to set up an account at the T-Mobile store.  I can’t wait to stand in line waiting for a HVAC system to decide whether to go with the 5gig or unlimited data-plan.  I won’t need to worry for long.  Rates and service options for connecting IoT devices to cell towers is a huge problem today, but is being solved by innovators like LynxSpring that are creating virtual and physically private networks using the towers that Verizon already has in place.

BLE and “beacon” technologies are also tremendously important and timely innovations that are coming to market (probably worth of an entire blog post by itself).  Simply put; product designers are beginning to see options for embedding secure internet communications functionality into more and more products and devices.

Power

Being weighed down by batteries or tethered to ac power source has been an unfortunate reality for anything that has wanted to transmit or receive internet protocols (especially wirelessly).  Ultra efficient processors, communication chips, and sensors are finally coming to market at prices that allow them to be considered for inclusion in more devices.

Battery technology evolution is frustratingly slow (just ask Elon Musk), but the billions of cell phone users that are seemingly all standing in line for that one open charging pole in LAX are driving significant investment in battery technology.  Energy harvesting technologies, and the re-emergence of DC power distribution systems will also eventually enable more IoT deployments.  I’m trying to be patient.

Interoperability

The battle for attention (market share) in the consumer technology IoT space is being dominated by companies that apparently have absolutely no intention of working peacefully with competitors.  Samsung, Google, Apple, LG and others have all adopted an all-or-nothing approach to marketing IoT products.  Each company has aggressively released a limited set of IoT products that are designed to entice consumers to become addicted to the rest of the limited set of IoT products that the vendor is offering.  IoT for commercial buildings will need to have standards and protocols that allow for multiple brands to work together in a system-of-systems type of environment.

While it is conceivable that a consumer may opt for an All-Samsung-House, or an All-Apple-Condo, it is almost impossible for me to believe that commercial building owners will ever settle for that sort of locked-in confinement.

API’s, pub-sub protocols, tagging schemes and coding languages are tilting toward open interoperability that wasn’t easy until now.  IoT products of the near-future can be built with a multi-brand, multi-vendor reality in mind.  Also important is the growing number of IoT software and platforms from companies like Yonomi and Initial State that allow orchestration and analysis of disparate devices from multiple brands.

Yes, the future of IoT is tremendously complicated.  Yes, the future of IoT will deliver extraordinary benefits.  And yes, we are just barely scratching the surface.  Stay tuned.

When it comes to data, it is one thing to have access to it; it’s another to make it actionable.

With more data available than ever before the industry is presented with a new challenge. Device data is stored and communicated in many different formats. It has inconsistent, non-standard naming conventions, and provides very limited descriptors to enable us to understand its meaning. Simply put, the operational data from smart devices and equipment systems lacks information to describe its own meaning. Without meaning, a time consuming manual effort is required before that data can be used effectively to generate value. The result is that the data from today’s devices, while technically “available”, is hard to use, thus limiting the ability for building operators to fully benefit from the value contained in the data.

Standardize what you call things. A multi-building campus with buildings built at different times with different contractors is likely to have multiple names and tags for similar pieces of equipment. You don’t want to end up with ten different names for air handlers or pumps. Multiple naming conventions in an existing building or portfolio of existing buildings is the largest and most time consuming issue involved with implementing an integrated building management system.

One naming convention to look at is Project Haystack (www.project-haystack.org).Project Haystack is open-source community utilizing tags and semantic data models to define and describe the meaning of data from smart devices of all types and enables software applications to automatically consume, analyze and present data from devices and equipment systems.

There’s no point in collecting inaccurate data. This is why Performance Solutions partnered with Lynxspring and Connexx Energy. To get the most accurate information you’ll need to ‘tune-up” the building systems and check the calibration of sensors and meters regularly. The building systems themselves should be regularly re-commissioned.

Data is a corporate asset and empowering companies to seek and make good fact-based decisions that drive better outcomes. Connecting to it; collecting it, storing it, insuring its integrity; analyzing it, and using it to make business decisions and develop strategy. Determining who controls and who owns the data and what is done with it will lead us down some interesting paths. Furthermore, as data velocity is on the rise, companies must be able to rapidly analyze it and get actionable advice instantaneously. It is not about more data, but rather asking the right questions to get the right data, understand it and help solve specific problems and address specific issues.

Marc Petock is Vice President, Marketing at Lynxspring and Connexx Energy where he leads corporate and product marketing strategy and execution, brand management, public relations and communications to support both companies strategic and growth initiatives. Marc is a contributing author, noted speaker and recognized industry leader having earned several industry accolades. Marc serves on the board of directors of Connexx Energy and Project Haystack; is an advisor to the Realcomm Organization and a Contributing Editor to Automatedbuildings.com.

This past week Dave Mosby spoke as the keynote speaker at the kick off of

the Kansas Independent College Association’s Leadership Academy. Dave

shared with the emerging leaders 3 strategies to help them steer through

any emergency situation.

As a leader you need to be aware of the storms on the horizon and risks ahead. It is inevitable that you will experience a crisis at some point of your leadership. It’s your great responsibility to have thought through your process before something happens. What do you do when a crisis arises?  The key is to be prepared.

Here are Dave’s 3 strategies:

1. Fly the Plane

Stay calm and take a deep breath. Focus on your #1 job – whether it’s running your facilities or taking care of your staff. Many people have the tendency to try and solve the problem immediately, this is when other things get missed and the situation often worsens.

2. Analyze the Situation and Take the Proper Action

After you have kicked off your emergency process the next crucial piece is gathering information. The media, key stakeholders, or members of the community will come to you with many questions in a crisis. You need to organize your team and collect the data first. Once you have the data, you can communicate clearly the facts of the situation. This creates credibility and shows the strength of your team.

3. Land as Soon as Conditions Permit

Many think this should be the first step. In an emergency our gut says, “solve the situation” or “get that aircraft landed!” However, you don’t need to land; you can land later when everything is taken care of.  Follow your checklist and carry your process to execution. This is especially crucial in crisis since many people are watching your every move as if you were under a microscope. If you believe you have the solution run through the next steps with your team to ensure you will reach the desired outcome.

As a leader you have a really important job of investing in people. By knowing your assets you will be a leader that is prepared. You could encounter floods, fires, tornadoes, and even chandeliers crashing but by focusing on flying the plane, analyzing the situation and landing as soon as conditions permit you can steer through any emergency situation.

To see Dave’s full presentation, click here.

In the 21^st century school there are ever changing regulations.

Data is used to make informed dec

isions on nearly all district matters: curriculum, hiring, onboarding, staff dismissal, professional development, and student services. What data is used for facility management and capital planning?

The Challenge

With demographics growing every year and facility purposes changing, it’s important to review facilities on a regular basis. However, many schools are working with a lean maintenance staff and a tight budget. This can create the perfect storm for remaining reactive, rather than becoming proactive about maintenance issues.

Where to Start?

Many firms believe replacing equipment to install newer technology is the first and best option. The alternative:  taking the time to analyze equipment is time intensive, and requires a unique set of skills. However, it is possible to take an approach where you first analyze equipment and prioritize what is critical to repair and then evaluate what needs to be replaced.

Taking a Closer Look

In order to know what recommendation to make for replacing and repairing equipment, a thorough walk through should occur. A few critical questions will arise:

• What are the current district facility conditions?
• What are the operational and energy costs?
• Are the district buildings still being used for what they were originally intended?
• Where are district facilities out of compliance?

This assessment creates a baseline and helps you understand the current state of your district facilities. With these data points, not only can you prioritize the issues, but also create a long term plan of how they will be funded.

Results

By taking a holistic approach to evaluate the needs of your district facilities, you can get ahead of deferred maintenance. Taking time to analyze equipment and make proper prioritization is a strategy that will lead to the best use of your district’s resources and lay the foundation for successful long term capital planning. Other benefits include:

• Lessening the burden of potential downtime in critical campus buildings.
• Reducing the number of emergency calls from teachers and staff to address comfort issues.
• Producing ROI. With a baseline and goals, you can put metrics to the facility improvements. Showing ROI on facility improvements is something your School Board will understand and respect.

Click here to learn more about what we do and what makes our approach unique.