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10<br />
Panorama<br />
ALL SYSTEMS<br />
UNDER CONTROL<br />
EcoLibrium spoke to several end users of building automation control systems<br />
to determine what the key components of a good system are, and what<br />
directions the industry might be taking in the future. How effective are these<br />
systems, and are end users actually getting good value? Adam Carey reports.<br />
Unless you are a hermit<br />
who has renounced<br />
modern technology and<br />
moved into a cave half<br />
way up a mountain, you<br />
will regularly encounter<br />
an automated control system of some<br />
form whilst engaged in daily life. It could<br />
be a thermostat or a movement sensitive<br />
light. Such technology is all around as we<br />
strive to turn our indoor environment into<br />
one that makes life easier, more<br />
convenient, more comfortable. This<br />
technology is automated for the simple<br />
reason that people don't want to have to<br />
think about these things a great deal.<br />
They just want them to work. Whether you<br />
are a worker or student simply using a<br />
building in daily life, or whether<br />
automated control systems is your line of<br />
work, simplicity is the key to user-friendly<br />
technology.<br />
It came as no surprise to discover that<br />
ease of use was repeatedly identified as<br />
the most desirable feature in automated<br />
control systems. In many cases, systems<br />
are being navigated by people who lack<br />
technical expertise with building<br />
automation. Reliability was also identified<br />
as being of major importance, as well as<br />
an efficient and thorough support<br />
structure supplied by the service provider<br />
when things do go wrong. It follows that<br />
a system should be easy to maintain, so<br />
that such problems do not arise<br />
frequently.<br />
One emerging issue in the field of<br />
automated control systems is the<br />
developing technology of internetoperated<br />
systems. These systems are<br />
starting to provide an alternative to the<br />
THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF AIRAH - February 2003<br />
Whether you are a worker or student<br />
simply using a building in daily life,<br />
or whether automated control<br />
systems is your line of work,<br />
simplicity is the key to user-friendly<br />
technology.<br />
general internal networks that are in<br />
operation, and much has been made of<br />
the possibilities here, but as yet, any real<br />
change towards this form of technology is<br />
in a very early stage of development.<br />
Ian Adams of Honeywell, one of<br />
Australia's major suppliers of control<br />
systems, says they are beginning to offer<br />
web-based systems as an option, but thus<br />
far there has been almost no demand. He<br />
says control systems are lagging behind<br />
the rest of the world a little in terms of<br />
incorporating web technology, but that<br />
this may change in the near future.<br />
Laurie Reeves, a consultant with Reeves &<br />
Associates, situates the internet-operated<br />
forms of control systems this way:<br />
"The internet has provided users with<br />
options, rather than overhauling the<br />
entire way building automation systems<br />
are used. Not everybody has confidence in<br />
web-based technology. A user with a<br />
series of properties may favour an<br />
internet-run system, while a single<br />
building, for example a hospital, would<br />
continue to use a network system. There<br />
is a trust and risk factor involved in using<br />
the internet."<br />
This particularly applies to hospitals and<br />
universities, institutions that are highly
Panorama<br />
concerned with privacy, and therefore favour a network system.<br />
Andrew Luk, Technical Facilities Manager of Vodafone Australia,<br />
says Vodafone is considering the shift to an internet-based<br />
control system, as they do not currently have a main system,<br />
and feel the need to acquire a system that is integrated.<br />
According to Mr Luk, an internet-operated system would be an<br />
excellent tool for universal access, however, this is far from the<br />
only consideration when selecting a system.<br />
"Cost effectiveness and reliability for critical operations are<br />
greater considerations, and a good technical support facility,<br />
access to necessary parts and so forth", says Mr Luk.<br />
Nathan Atkinson, of Griffith University in Brisbane, says of the<br />
system in place there:<br />
"Griffith University's system is linked to all buildings via a<br />
wide-area network, operated internally, linked to each other via<br />
fibre, while other campuses are linked via microwave.<br />
Ease of use is the key criterion, a system that can be easily<br />
navigated by those who don't use it regularly."<br />
Interestingly, Atkinson played down the significance of cost<br />
effectiveness.<br />
"All systems are expensive", he said. "The systems are not quite<br />
there yet in terms of cost effectiveness. But overall our system<br />
is fantastic."<br />
"The internet has provided users with<br />
options, rather than overhauling the entire<br />
way building automation systems are used.<br />
Not everybody has confidence in web-based<br />
technology.<br />
A paper published by AIRAH in January 2001, Facilities<br />
Management in the 21st Century, anticipated an internet-led<br />
revolution in building control systems, but it would be fair to<br />
say that this has not happened yet.<br />
"Recent developments in open communication standards for<br />
building automation systems, as well as the pervasive use of<br />
internet and intranet technologies, have created a flood of new<br />
options for owners and operators of distributed facilities…<br />
These advances will provide better controls capability and help<br />
enhance automated remote diagnostics, preventative<br />
maintenance and monitoring of performance contracts."<br />
The technology is in place for control systems to enter the<br />
internet age, but presently, and perhaps permanently, the<br />
significance of this is that it provides one more option for<br />
operators, rather than a complete change in how control<br />
systems work.<br />
There are several benefits of good integrated systems<br />
automation for building owners and operators that are worth<br />
mentioning. Lower energy expenses are one straightforward<br />
benefit, as well as speedier resolution of any system glitches.<br />
Avoidance of litigation brought about by illness caused by<br />
indoor air quality problems is another bonus, as well as less<br />
tenant turnover, higher rents, and improved performance, all<br />
due to better quality air.<br />
THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF AIRAH - February 2003<br />
11