The Impact of IoT on Smart Building
We live in an era of unprecedented technological advancements. Recent advancements in Information Technology and Computing have spurred software engineers into creating an Internet of Things that opens up new possibilities in business, transportation, and governance. As the lines between the digital and physical worlds continue to blur, intelligent buildings have emerged to reimagine the outlook on architecture, function, and tenant experience in residential and commercial settings.
This piece examines the hardly-talked-about, emerging use case of IoT and how it converges with the way we design, manage, and live in the built-up environment. There is much to unpack: from re-thought energy efficiency methods to safety measures, hitch-free automation to sustainable practices. Come with us on a journey to reveal the multi-pronged impact of IoT in emerging smart buildings.
Let's explore further to appreciate the profound influence of embedded systems on intelligent buildings.
Understanding smart buildings
A smart building is a building that uses IoT devices to improve resource utilization while ensuring the safety and comfort of occupants. These buildings may have existing technologies that can be tinkered with or retrofitted to adapt to future technological advancements. IoT devices are electronic sensors and building control systems that obtain physical data in real-time, and are interconnected via the internet and amongst one another to create a network. Oftentimes these devices are accessible via an app that enables management and occupant engagement with these devices. Smart buildings are becoming increasingly popular in the residential sub-segment of real estate, as home owners seek ways to make their houses more energy-efficient and livable.
The Role of IoT in Smart Buildings
Building energy control
IoT changes how contractors and homeowners manage ventilation, heating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in commercial and residential buildings. It allows for intelligent monitoring and control of HVAC system performance and conditions.
In buildings, IoT helps in:
- Detecting system inefficiencies, extreme power consumption, or equipment perturbations for preventive maintenance
- Enhancing energy efficiency by assessing usage trends over time and performing weather forecasts
- Performing problem diagnosis via remote system tracking
Intelligent water usage
Water efficiency is of crucial importance as populations surge amid pollution and climate change. To conserve freshwater and groundwater resources, innovative water management technologies are in high demand. For the small land mass, its residents occupy, the United Kingdom demands a lot of water. An average person uses 150 liters of water every day. This volume is generated by toilets, showers, hand basins, faucets, among others.
For example, the Danish brand, Aguardio creates water control innovations that encourage people to be smarter in the bathroom.
Aguardio digitizes today's bathrooms by:
- Deploying IoT devices to track toilet leaks and shower times.
- Publishing a web app that controls water use to stem wastage.
Aguardio employs IoT devices to monitor shower times and toilet leaks. Their web app, backed by cellular connectivity, encourages water reduction.
Pest removal
Critters, crawlers, and vermin such as rodents, moths, and roaches cause ruin that inflicts financial burdens on companies by defacing and contaminating buildings. They also spread disease, chew wires and damage inventory. Conventional pest control methods involve placing a large number of poison traps in strategic locations around the building. This method has proven to be largely inefficient because it involves using more traps and poisons than necessary. It also requires physical inspection from time to time, which can be daunting.
An IoT-equipped building for pest control can:
- Enable the setting of smart traps
- Allow the homeowner to check on set traps with just a few clicks via the web app
- Cost-effective pest control through scalable pricing and low-data use
Fire detection
Occupants are mindful of the risk of house fires. For a long period of time, sensors have been relied on for fire detection. Still, sensors cannot adequately gauge the intensity of the fire to notify emergency response departments.
But with the implementation of integrated detectors, IoT can help smart buildings control fire outbreaks. The integrated detectors can capture various elements such as smoke, heat and flames. The algorithm embedded in the sensor's software calculates the flame's potential and transmits the results to the homeowner or caretaker.
IoT-enabled fire detectors can:
- Send instant alerts to occupants, homeowners, emergency units, and law enforcement agencies, informing them of danger.
- Increase system dependability and lowering costs by reducing false alarms.
- Supply fire departments with real-time data for testing purposes without endangering tenants
Security and access
IoT powers and maintains robust security systems comprising intelligent locks, alarms, swipe cards, retina scans, and access control devices. It enables remote operation and real-time access control notifications.
IoT-driven security and access control solutions in smart buildings allow IoT companies and homeowners to:
- Configure software for both electronic and manual operations of locks and controllers.
- Access mechanisms through mobile apps and devices from any location in the world
- Receive alerts and notifications from your access dashboard in real time
Monitoring building structural Health
Even when most modern buildings are structurally sound, accidents are still commonplace. Buildings are fundamental for human endeavors. We need structures such as dams, bridges, and road networks to be safe and long-lasting because they age over time. IoT sensors in smart buildings make it possible to:
- Obtain and evaluate data to understand a building's structural depletion
- Identify structural defects before they degenerate
- Notify tenants and interest parties of the defects and impending risks
Softeq is leading the smart buildings revolution
The Internet of Things is changing the functional dynamics of commercial buildings, and it is giving a new lease of life to owners, managers, and occupants. Orchestrating these contemporary feats of engineering is Softeq. Softeq is an internationally acclaimed IoT development company, building software and hardware for clients in healthcare, construction, transportation, agriculture, real estate, among others. Our comprehensive suite spans app development, sensor integration, advanced business analytics, and after-service support. Rely on Softeq to craft cutting-edge smart building devices characterized by expansive coverage, low power consumption, low maintenance requirements, and efficient operability.