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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

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