INGENIEUR
Among the other interesting aspects of
cloud computing is the ability to interact with
data from different systems, for example, using
the card access system data to control the air-
conditioning and lighting systems. Other than that,
programming the rule-based engine to instruct
the building to generate its own work orders and
assign it to the respective technicians brings it
one-step closer to building artificial intelligence.
FUTURE OF BUILDINGS
A ubiquitous building is said to have ambient
intelligence, which enables it to recognise its
tenant, whether by way of long-range RFID,
Bluetooth low energy, or even facial recognition
through video analytics. The building is then able
to greet the tenant by playing his preferred music
or displaying the tenant’s name on the electronic
signage. As the tenant walks over the auto-gate it
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automatically opens while the lift is called down to
the lobby. As he enters the lift, his floor is button
automatically activated and the lift takes him to
his floor. As he arrives, the auto door opens for
him while his room air-conditioning and lighting
are switched on to his preferred setting. As this
happens, a message is sent to deliver his morning
coffee to his room.
Given the current trend of ‘personalisation’
and a focus on the customer experience, an air-
conditioning service could evolve into providing
comfort-as-a-service, and a fire fighting system
could become a safety-as-a-service while cleaning
services could become hygiene-as-a-service.
Thus, a building-as-a-service, as described above,
would take building services to another level
altogether.
The 4th industrial revolution has accelerated
the evolution of buildings. Given that vehicles are
going autonomous, a building AI shouldn’t be that
far-fetched in the not-too-distant future.