Your workplace already relies on technology for many day-to-day tasks. Behind the scenes, technology is also keeping your building operational and comfortable. How smart is your building and how smart does it really need to be? Workplace design and fit-out company Evoke Projects looks at the advances in building technology with advice for assessing the smarts!
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR) and the Internet of Things (IoT) are playing an important role in emerging technologies.
For example:
• Advanced HVAC systems can use AI and IoT sensors to control temperature, air quality and humidity, learning about people’s movements and preferences and checking the weather forecast.
• When undertaking a new office fit-out, VR can let the occupants experience their future building before it’s built.
• At a service level, “Smart buildings as a service” (SBaaS) is a growth area. Building managers subscribe to SBaaS in the same way we subscribe to office software products. A third-party expert provides the latest building management technology through the cloud at a fraction of the full investment cost.
• Security – Technology is objective and less prone to failure than the human eye. High security buildings may employ facial recognition, fingerprint scanners and microchipped ID cards to control entry. A building is smart enough when it finds the appropriate balance for the occupants between security and being welcoming and accessible.
• Health – A smart building provides the optimum environment for health. Air quality (particularly dust, pollens allergens and mould) and drinking water quality affect workers on a day-to-day basis. Sensors play a valuable role in measuring levels and warning about problems.
• Convenience – A smart building may welcome employees by name as they enter the car park or building. In a large, multi-storey car park, the system may even direct the worker to an empty spot closest to their office. Meeting / hot-desking software allows people to reserve a workspace or meeting room for tasks or collaboration. Building software can use occupancy and usage information to schedule cleaning / lighting / heating / cooling / security.
• Inclusion – People with disabilities find smart buildings easier to navigate. Smart speakers allow commands for lighting, heating and a whole lot more without leaving your seat. Screen readers can tell the visually impaired what is on a screen.
• Preventative maintenance – Most companies are familiar with software that alerts them to a PC or server issue. Building management software can similarly alert to problems with lifts or fire alarms etc. This allows preventative maintenance before the business is disrupted.
• Cost saving – Many aspects of a smart building such as automation have the potential to reduce wastage and lower operational costs.
• Security – This is probably the greatest risk. Securing your building management systems against hackers and viruses is the number one priority. Engage the experts for this!
• Outages – Ensure you have disaster recovery plans in place for critical systems such as power and internet.
• Privacy – Your staff and visitors may feel threatened by overt systems such as facial recognition. Explain the need for any technology that makes people feel uncomfortable and how you use / retain the data.
It depends on the business. Not all businesses need the latest facial recognition or car park allocation system.
The workplace design team at Evoke Projects recommend these steps for evaluating the smarts.
1. Define your objectives and goals. Try to be specific, e.g., if operational efficiency is an objective, what is your specific goal?
2. Research each technology option and evaluate how it will meet your objectives and goals. It may be useful to develop priorities and ranking criteria.
3. In addition to your business objectives, evaluate each technology for:
• ease of use
• security
• scalability
• flexibility
• user reviews
• supplier reputation
• tech support
• cost/benefit.
4. Develop a shortlist.
5. Invite staff, clients, visitors and third parties who will use the technology to undertake further evaluation of your shortlist.
6. Organise a trial of the technology before committing.
7. Implement the technology in a methodical way, ensuring staff are trained and supported in its use.
8. Once in use, evaluate the effectiveness of the technology against your objectives, adjusting its use as required.
Smart buildings have a lot to offer, but the design of the building and offices will really optimise the smarts. For example, partitions and walls need to be in the best place for smart sensors to work efficiently. Rooms can be configured to seamlessly integrate technology. Adaptable office design and modular furniture will allow you to adapt the layout according to the occupancy and usage data. An intelligent fit-out will also optimise energy efficiency to help realise the cost savings from a smart building.
To discuss the best fit-outs for smart buildings, please call Evoke Projects on 1300 720 692.
