The Value of Intelligent Embedded Sensors to Contemporary Building Automation System
Most modern buildings are like modern women—they possess a sophistication not only externally, but also internally. But this may be farfetched comparison. The important thing however is that the inner beauty of modern buildings lies in the great manageability of their functionalities, habitability, and efficiency. Moreover, most modern buildings usually incorporate a building automation system that allows the efficient use of the building’s facilities. The bms system is designed to monitor and control the building’s heating, ventilation, HVAC, electric power control, lighting, fire alarms, security and surveillance systems, communications, public address or PA system, plumbing, and lifts and elevators. The monitoring and controlling of these facilities is designed to reduce the building’s operating and power consumption costs.
Edge-Computing Platform and Internet of Things
Contemporary building automation systems utilize existing and emerging technologies to make buildings highly automated. BMS usually uses a variety of powerful sensors like thermostat, pressure, light, and motion detectors to enhance building automation. Aside from the use of powerful sensors, BMS also employs the use of programmable logic controllers or PLCs that act as actuators to switches. Moreover, BMS makes use of intelligent sensors with embedded analytics that are capable of detecting, calculating, and analyzing human movement within the building. These intelligent sensors can sense the level of illumination, temperature, CO2 emission, humidity, and pressure within a building.
The embedded analytics enables a sensor to analyze and perform basic calculations, transforming the sensor into an edge-computing platform. Every intelligent sensor is connected to a mainframe computer and to one another either by LAN or Wi-Fi. Furthermore, each sensor is capable of communicating and exchanging data with one another.
The Increasing Number of Intelligent Buildings
There is an increasing number of smart buildings being built around the world. In these smart buildings, both machines and the human occupants are monitored by the intelligent sensors. These sensors usually gather information on the occupant’s movements within the facility without intruding into the privacy and the anonymity of the occupants.
Sensors are usually equipped with powerful microprocessors that can engender actionable analytics. Sensors likewise can warn building managers on any peculiar change in the occupant’s movement. Aside from tracking the movements of the inhabitants, BMS sensors also monitor the building’s habitability and functionalities as well. When the weather permits it, for example, sunlight can be allowed into the building to provide good illumination inside the building. When the sun’s glare is harsh, on the other hand, the BMS can let electronically-controlled blinds to drop down to prevent sunlight from entering the building. Likewise, when the room temperature rises due to the onslaught of sunlight, the sensors can readily detect this change and can occasion the adjustment of the room’s temperature by sending actionable analytics to the HVAC units of the building. The sensors moreover can occasion the turning off and on of the lighting system of a room, and all these processes usually happen without human intervention. However, since the ideal illumination and temperature within a room is usually relative to an occupant’s preference, the occupant can override the settings of the room temperature and lighting via the use of the local temperature control switch or by accessing the main control using a computer or a smartphone with BMS apps. The PLC and sensors are definitely notified of these changes.