For decades, technological innovation has been revolutionizing businesses, offering them innumerable long-term benefits and growth. Now, these technologies are set to transform structures that form the foundation of cities and their development. Comparing the buildings of the present to what they were even a few years ago will show massive changes. Modern buildings are more than just four walls and a roof. In fact, building walls now even have ears and eyes, all thanks to digital technologies. According to studies, the global smart building market is expected to reach 36 billion US dollars by 2020.
With pervasive wireless connectivity, buildings today generate tons of data that can be used to improve efficiency and sustainability. With substantial advancements in technologies, several new technologies are extending their helping hand to bring buildings to life. One such technology that is bringing in new waves of change is AI. AI and smart buildings are an ideal combination to streamline, optimize, and innovate the functioning of buildings. With AI and smart buildings combined together, building managers can ensure improved structural reliability and minimized harmful ecological impacts.
Smart buildings has been a buzzword for quite some time now. However, what’s it all about? Well, there isn’t any universally accepted definition that we can refer to. In simple terms, smart buildings can be referred to as automated structural modelscapable of responding to real-time events. The idea behind this concept is to provide a hassle-free experience to occupants while efficiently utilizing energy resources. Earlier, buildings deployed CCTV surveillance cameras, smoke detection sensors, and other light sensors for safety and efficiency. Today, several other smart sensors like temperature, humidity, CO2, and others are embedded in a building. Cameras and actuators are installed everywhere in a building. Data generated by these sources connect different building components and allow them to interact with each other. With such comprehensive data and intelligence, building managers have complete transparency and control of the buildings’ different systems. Keeping the comfort, safety, and security of occupants in mind, managers can fine-tune the operations for enhancing the tenants’ living experience.
Smart buildings not only take complete care of residents’ comfort and safety but also promote energy and financial savings. Now, combined with IoT, AI also contributes to making smart buildings even smarter and more intelligent than ever.
With the help of not-so-expensive, highly accessible, incredibly advanced IoT devices, large chunks of meaningful data are collected from every corner of a building. Data collected, if analyzed and processed effectively, has the potential to help managers with valuable, operational insights for making informed decisions. And to turn the raw data into actionable intelligence, AI plays a significant role. Without this incredible technology, the data gathered is futile or pointless. With AI, building managers can ensure operational efficiency to a larger extent, utilize assets reliably, and improve the comfort level of occupants. Let’s understand how AI is helping buildings become smarter.
We spend 90 percent of the time indoors. Imagine the amount of water that we consume on a daily basis for different purposes. There is a rough estimation that an average American family uses 300 gallons of water each day at home. Imagine the amount of water consumed on a global scale. Water resources are becoming scarce. Hence, it is important to consider our water consumption levels and take appropriate measures to reduce it. Building managers should, therefore, closely monitor the water usage levels of each family or office. However, manually keeping track of water usage is nearly impossible. Here’s where AI can be of great use.
