BMS, big data and controls

Building management systems are vital for HVAC performance and efficiency, but if they’re poorly designed or maintained, they can cause serious problems. Chris Stamatis, M.AIRAH, and Trevor Smith, Affil.AIRAH, showed Nick Johns-Wickberg and Mark Vender how these complex systems work in practice.

Recognising the growing role of data and analytics in our buildings, AIRAH has published the Big Data Guideline, a free resource to support building owners, facility managers, consultants and service providers embarking on their big data journey. 

Building automation control products that can only be serviced by one contractor can present significant risk. Open protocols make much more sense, writes Jason Duncan.

Recent professional opinions on the use of AI in real–world building applications have raised some concerns with Alan Obrart, L.AIRAH.

Desiring to use actionable data from our buildings is undoubtedly a good thing. To effectively do this, however, defining terms and allocating responsibility for tasks is essential – especially when the “smarts” from our edifices exist in the space between systems.

What role does data play in the electrification of buildings? With a focus on machine learning, artificial intelligence and the interaction with the electricity grid, a panel at AIRAH’s recent Building Date Forum explored this fascinating topic.

The hot topic in the world of big data analytics right now is validation. We ask members of AIRAH’s Big Data and Analytics STG: What exactly is it, and why is it so important?

The Data-Driven Smart Buildings Symposium was held at the University of New South Wales earlier this year. Dr Stephen White, L.AIRAH, reports.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is an area of computer science that emphasises the creation of intelligent agents, which are systems that can learn and act autonomously. AI deals with the question of how to create computers that are capable of intelligent behaviour.

The development of a sophisticated control system for an iconic home in Melbourne’s leafy suburbs has not only provided greater comfort to its occupants but broken new ground in predictive climate control systems. Sean McGowan reports on a house that has been home to four generations of the Featherston extended family, having evolved every step of the way.

Over the past decade the HVAC industry has experienced a maturity in fault- detection diagnostics. From a technical standpoint this has resulted in historical analytics, streaming analytics, forecasting, modelling, and a welter of other innovations changing the way to figure out what’s wrong with our buildings. Ideally this data can be used to radically change the way things are done, make BMS professionals more efficient, and actually generate some outcomes for facility owners and building owners.

CSIRO energy leader Dr Stephen White, F.AIRAH, is one of the founders of i-Hub.

There is strong demand for HVAC&R monitoring and metering solutions that incorporate cloud data collection and real-time or near-real-time cloud-based control. This is enabled by reductions in the cost of sensors and meters, advances in communication technologies, the development of the Internet of Things (IoT) as a lower-cost alternative to traditionally vertically integrated systems, and the move to more frequent data collection.