Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1472963
42 I ICT TODAY FIGURE 3: The value of a governed approach to adopting smart building technology. Without new approaches to network infrastructure, these technologies and applications are only a pipe dream for smart buildings. This makes the job of an ICT professional unique, blurring the lines between construction and IT. This distinctive combination is what helps smart buildings achieve their ideal end-state. First, an ICT professional must realize how structured cabling enables the technologies that drive expected business outcomes, whether those outcomes involve reaching more students across the country, saving lives, improving health, or optimizing the work environment to attract new talent. THE IDEAL END-STATE FOR A SMART BUILDING For each smart building project, an evolutionary path must always be defined. Every project has a different pace, path, approach, and responsibility assignments. Just because systems can be connected does not mean they should be connected. To make the right decisions, it is important to ask the right questions, such as: • What needs to be observed? • What needs to be managed and controlled? • How should systems communicate? • Which systems take priority and in which instance? Regardless of whether it is a greenfield or brown- field smart building project, an ideal smart building's end-state exists—one where multiple systems work in harmony to produce the value and outcomes needed. To accomplish this, a smart building ideally uses similar architecture, building blocks, and skill sets. These can be managed through defined methods, materials, and processes. No two smart building projects will be alike. HOW IS THE IDEAL SMART BUILDING END-STATE REACHED? To support the technologies and applications needed for smart buildings—such as PoE, IoT, distributed antenna systems (DAS), 5G, and Wi-Fi—new cabling and connectivity require- ments are emerging. Structured cabling is a true companion to a smart building. When and where appropriate and practical, it can add value to business outcomes for the end user (Figure 3). ICT professionals enable enterprises to do what they need to do by supporting the IT industry, net- working teams, and application and software teams. But also, ICT professionals must work closely with the architects, consultants, and engineers (ACE) commu- nity as a specialty in and of itself, as well as the other skilled trades that may require ICT connectivity for their systems. A good example is monitoring indoor air quality. This will likely be a mechanical responsibility, but it also requires ICT support, regardless of installation trade jurisdictions and relationships.