As components within building management systems, embedded smart sensors are beginning to show their worth. Here, the findings of a study by UCE help to show the extent to which FM has embraced ESS technology in the workplace
It is evident that embedded smart sensors (ESS) were introduced among many other technologies in tandem with the new workplace patterns. Its raison d’être is to enhance individual performance and increase productivity. Much of the emphasis of incorporating ESS technologies centres on intelligent or smart buildings by facilitating these processes and aiming at optimising the operation, management and maintenance of the building via greater building systems integration. This article summarises the findings of the empirical study that we have conducted in the School of Property, Construction and Planning at the University of Central England (UCE) in an endeavour to assess facilities managers’ awareness of embedded smart sensors (ESS) in the workplace.
But what do we mean by intelligent buildings and embedded smart sensors? What impact do ESS have upon current workplace environment and the current practices? The Swiss philosopher Jean Piaget defined intelligence not as an attribute, but as a complex hierarchy of information processing skills, underlying an adaptive equilibrium between the individual and their environment. There are many polemic issues raised about intelligence but Piaget has defined something that can be extended to understanding how people work or live in buildings and interact with their environment, the building fabric and the external environment (Clement-Croome, 2005)
Maximisation
ESS can be defined as complex automated tools or devices that can be used to support buildings, organisations and end users’ needs including human, environmental and physiological, towards maximising overall comfort.
The whole idea of incorporating ESS in buildings centres on combining all different operational functions including sensing, monitoring and controlling of a building into a single easy to use management system (Rubin, 1999). This is synonymous to system integration via integrated wiring: a single cabling system that handles all information traffic including voice, video, data, security, power consumption, lighting, fire safety, vertical transportation and building management systems among many others.
However, incorporating sensors in a building and establishing network for connecting them is not a guarantee for reliability and robust operation. ESS have been shown to have their own limitations in terms of operations and communication, susceptibility to error and failure due to incompatibility of components and low capacity for computation among many others (Bowen, 2005)
Investigation
Our research has attempted to assess some of these issues of concerns. Several issues have been identified and investigated including the following:
- awareness, prior knowledge and past experience of embedded smart sensors
- awareness of the purpose of using ESS
- ease of use and operation
- effectiveness of monitoring environmental services systems (eg,lighting, ventilation, air-con and heating)
- effectiveness of monitoring air quality (eg, air temperature, odours, carbon dioxide, dust mite and VOC levels). This might prove to be beneficial in ameliorating SBS symptoms in office buildings
- effectiveness of monitoring safety and security systems
- interchangeability and adaptability to match varying space layouts
- ease of adopting new sensors technologies and ease of operation
- compatibility of sensors’ components to avoid/minimise the likelihood of failure
Awareness
When facilities managers were asked about their awareness of ESS in any of the buildings in their portfolio, 64 per cent indicated that they are fully aware of ESS and have indicated some familiarity with their whereabouts.
Similar response regarding ease of operation and use has been highlighted. Almost two-thirds of FMs questioned have indicated that they can manage ESS technology in their own buildings without having to relay on experts to deal with technical issues. Around 41 per cent reported that they have some basic knowledge and experience in dealing with and handling of embedded smart sensors.
Not many FMs are aware of the effectiveness of monitoring air quality (eg, air temperature, odours, carbon dioxide, dust mite and VOC levels) which might be beneficial in ameliorating SBS symptoms in office buildings as compared to energy use and energy efficiency.
When FMs were asked about which of the services systems do they have access and control as a facilities manager 84 per cent have indicated energy efficiency monitoring, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, electrical supply systems and telecommunication. The latter including fibre optics, cabling, TCV and video-conferencing.
When FMs were asked about which services systems have incorporated ESS the overwhelming majority highlighted heating systems, lighting control and motion sensors and individual temperature and air quality control; obviously they were not fully aware of other specialised services like water leakage detection sensors and other specialised services.
As for compatibility of sensors components to avoid or minimise the likelihood of failure the about 46 per cent of FMs indicated that this was the case given a higher level of technological depreciation associated with sensors.
The study concluded that in today’s immense challenges with uncertainty and unpredictability characterising many business organisations, embedded smart sensors are vital tools—the sine qua non of the 21st century that will have wide-ranging ramifications to varying property stakeholders including clients, owners, facilities managers and end-users of the office building.
Applications of smart buildings driven by propriety, central control management and expensive gateways systems will be costly and might lead to dissatisfaction among users and customers alike and will be doomed to extinction. Contarilarly ESS will be of a paramount importance in optimising the operational efficiency of office buildings as much as it will provide a robust approach for facilities and property management; an ambitious management vision and the cornerstone in today’s property and FM approach.
Apart from creating new value-added services to meet changing users/customers’ needs it will be contributing to further reduction in the time consumed in operating the buildings which will significantly contribute to business success on the long-term.
No matter how efficient ESS are new mobile technologies, rapid technological obsolescence remain the main threat to business success and hence an open-minded approach is needed to deal with such higher level of depreciation.
Dr Ghasson Shabha is the facilities management course director at the UCE’s School of Property, Construction and Planning
References
Bowen (2005); Overly Smart Building
Clements-Croome (2004); Intelligent Buildings: Design, Management & Operation
Rubin (1999); The Need for a Responsive Workplace Intelligent and Responsive Buildings Conference
