Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1472963
July/August/September 2022 I 5 From the Board President, Carol Everett Oliver, RCDD, DCDC, ESS KEEPING A SMART EYE ON INTELLIGENT BUILDINGS Intelligent building technology is one of my favorite topics as it is one of the biggest moving and evolving targets for the ICT industry. I have been talking about this, contributing to standards, writing articles, and giving presentations since the first IP security camera was attached to the data network more than two decades ago. Adding more and more disparate building applications to the network creates more low-voltage opportunities for ICT designers, contractors, and installers. Putting IP cameras on the network through balanced twisted-pair and fiber cabling opened the floodgates for additional devices to jump on the network by adding power over Ethernet (PoE), which allows both data and DC power over the same cabling. PoE devices now include wireless access points (WAPs), security systems, audiovisual (AV), lighting, and of course, heating, venti- lation, and air-conditioning (HVAC). Planning for an intelligent building involves more than just connecting the various systems. It includes integrating the systems onto a unified management system to gather, monitor, and aggregate data from multiple subsystems. Intelligent buildings actually evolved from building automation, which was a centrally controlled electrical system used to monitor building systems, such as HVAC. By the mid-1990s, the central controller began to communicate through IP addressing, which created more interoperability between applications. Auto- mation control moved from being retained locally in hardware-based systems to software IP-based appli- cations stored offsite in the "cloud," allowing accessi- bility through the Web. Today, building systems and IoT devices are integrated though Ethernet and can be monitored from remote locations through computers or mobile devices. The advantages of intelligent buildings are boundless, from reducing energy consumption, which contributes to sustainability and a greener planet, to increasing productivity and comfort of building tenants. Zero carbon is one of the most important potential achieve- ments for an intelligent building. The energy efficiency with the goal of "Net Zero" can be gauged from the fact that some of them have their own sources of power generation (e.g., solar) that at times generate more power than they consume. This not only helps save costs but also gets rid of frequent power failures. In addition, building management systems can provide analytics to accurately forecast and budget utility consumption and expenses. A connected infrastructure for an intelligent building must be planned with five main considerations: • Performance • Space • Budget (Opex and Capex) • Growth • Sustainability The key to overall reliability of an intelligent building depends on the design of the network and includes the careful selection of the infrastructure components, path- ways, spaces, and cable management systems that suit the applications. A high-performance cabling system creates an intelligent building that is able to handle the growing demand for power and data and to reduce bandwidth bottlenecks and latency issues, as well as supporting the migration toward future IoT demands. Preplanning involves collaborative design and staying on top of the many resources available. This includes being "in-the-know" by expanding your education through standards' updates, as well as attending webi- nars, conferences, and reading articles in ICT Today that involve the experts immersed in the field. The BICSI standard for intelligent buildings, ANSI/BICSI 007-2020, Information Communication Technology Design and Implementation Practices for Intelligent Buildings and Premises, provides a comprehensive design guide for system designers, integrators, contractors, and architects. Also, this issue of ICT Today presents a variety of intelligent building topics written by top subject matter experts and thought leaders. Gain further insight into our industry best practices, as these articles include many details and examples you can implement at work immediately. Next month, I will be doing a site visit at one of the first certified net zero facilities. Stay tuned for more information. Creating an intelligent building is a win-win for BICSI credentialed ICT professionals. Keep believing in "Kulia I ka Nu'u"—Strive for the Highest