Science and Society Research Project

Title: What makes a commercial building intelligent and why businesses should invest in them.

(Final draft)

Student name: Abylay Kuanyshov Student number: 201045072

Tutor: Juan Van As Date of submission: 3 May 2011 Word Count: 2557

NU-Centre for Preparatory Studies, University Preparatory Course

Decades ago, discussions about intelligent buildings contained phrases such as we are not yet ready or even what it is. Now concept of an intelligent building really must be considered as replacement to traditional commercial buildings. Chan (2007, 27) defined that a commercial intelligent building is a functional and responsive architecture which maximizes operations performance of the building, minimizes financial expenses, effectively manages a resources and creates an environment that permits users to reach their business goals. It is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the backwardness of traditional buildings infrastructure and their failure to meet a changing needs of users in view of the rapid growth of technology development. The major problem with realizing this product is a lack of knowledge and experience. However, Everett (2008, 4) claims that the issue has grown in importance in the light of recent demonstrable advantages of investing in infrastructure of commercial intelligent buildings in UK. The objectives of this research are to compare commercial intelligent building and non-intelligent, then choose the best one that should be invested in the future. This essay points out the differences of these buildings in 4 aspects: processes, life-safety and security systems, technologies (lighting systems), management and services. The most notable difference between these types of buildings is processes. Derek and Clements-Croome (1997, 396) determined that there are a number of interacted with each other specific processes that ensure a building is intelligent: control, automation and systems. Every day newspapers, scientific magazines and television inform people about novelties of technologies with theirs astonishing abilities that can play an important role in modernization and improving of commercial buildings. A commercial intelligent building is a composite animal, which consists of a vast range of systems based on microprocessors which take control of various operations such as lighting, safety, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) and security (Turpin 2007, 3). These building systems unite into one IP (Internet Protocol) by using routers in the heart of the building, more precisely, they are transformed into IP by a centralized control system, which also can be integrated with any new technology that
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appears on the market (Madsen 2008, 38). This structure is identical to nervous system in our organism, which grants benefits to intelligent building. In contrast, traditional or non-intelligent commercial buildings usually do not have above-mentioned modern established processes. The first primary difference is that systems such as lighting, security, communications, safety, HVAC and others are controlled separately by multiple control environments (Madsen 2008, 39). It leads to some inconveniences in this structure in comparison with centralized IP network in intelligent commercial buildings (ibid). Such systems without an operation centre provide and share data information more slowly with departments that located outside the domain of building in comparison with intelligent buildings (Richter 2007, 25). More precisely, departments such as rating authority, construction and mounting organizations, law machineries and so on. It is considerable weakness in times of information and its transfer rate. In addition to this, lighting, security, safety, HVAC systems are installed and sustained separately, which leads to capital spending and running costs. For example, it is more difficult to install and maintain a considerable quantity of various cabling systems than an universal centralized infrastructure (Cowley 2008, 24). Nowadays systems and technologies of traditional buildings are out-of-date, and it is real a problem, therefore such technologies do not translate into a future development of our civilization. One of the distinguishing features of these buildings is life-safety and security systems. Intelligent buildings are also successful in this important sphere. Madsen (2008, 42) defined that integrated systems reveal all the best operating characteristics in fire situation: the alerts sound instantly begins to work, the IP system sends instructions to occupants and opens evacuation doors. Furthermore, occupants will know where emergency is occurring since cameras of Closed Circuit Television systems provide people with precise position of the fire (Everett 2008, 8). Life-safety systems are beneficial in other states of emergency such as earthquakes, since level of safe and stable protecting from earthquakes is important in preserving life-safety of people.
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According to Madsen (2008, 42), when this situation occurs, an earthquake signal is immediately received by a building sensor from the nearest seismological station that leads to automatic cutting off a gas lines, switching off a computers and informing residents. One of the security systems that is called access-control or card access system also plays an important role. It shows how many people in the building and precise location of them, or even who has left the building (Richter 2007, 26). Security systems have become flexible, because wireless surveillance cameras provide online video for computers and phones of occupants (Madsen 2008, 42). Moreover, this modern system compresses almost 1000 hours of continued video recordings of cameras into one 2-hour VHR tape (Cooper and DeGrazio 1995, 83). It excludes a storing of great number of VHR tapes. These measures are taken to feel more comfortable and confident during a work time of occupants and managers. The life-safety and security systems of traditional buildings have several disadvantages. Turpin (2006, 62) determined the problem that in USA the majority of fire alarm systems are unreliable and must be substituted for more modern equipment. There is evidence that such problem could be found in the majority of traditional buildings of the whole world, since the buildings infrastructure of USA is more developed than in other countries. It can hardly be said with confidence that the following signs of traditional fire systems will save occupants in emergency situations. For example, the signs could direct evacuee occupants straight into dangerous zones, because the system does not know where the fire has occurred (Everett 2008, 8). In that way, a number of victims will be more in comparison with the same situation in intelligent buildings. A majority of these buildings also do not have access-control or card access system and it has resulted in problems with forming the list of whos missing, which essentially will help to rescue teams in cases of emergency (Cowley 2008, 26). Security systems are also not effective. The rationale of not effectiveness is that some security issues were not considered during the design process of traditional buildings. For instance, the barricades and turnstiles in the New York Manhattan office tower create considerable discomfort to movement of people,
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therefore massive pedestrian jams form in the lobby of this building (Cooper and DeGrazio 1995, 80). In addition to this, security systems of non-intelligent buildings are based on physical security and not associated with IT systems that has watchdogs who literally have their eyes and ears open all the time (Richter 2007, 27). After looking at the aforementioned disadvantages of life-safety and security systems of typical commercial building, there is became apparent difference with smart buildings systems in level of reliability and effectiveness. Commercial intelligent buildings have a great number of technologies that make them smart and provide a favorable environment for occupants. Edwards (2006, 35) claims that Intelligent buildings are buildings that respond to conditions without human intervention. Before making project of some new product you must quite think about real needs of the consumers. Control systems of intelligent commercial buildings comply with these conditions and make building smart, since they are based on tiny and sensors which provide optimal atmosphere for staff (Turpin 2007, 4). For instance, daylight-harvesting system defines an amount of light on the outside and inside of building, at the same time sensors automatically establish ideal light level in the rooms, therefore it leads to economy of energy (Madsen 2008, 44). In addition to this, control systems have work occupancy sensors that switch the light on and off subject to the presence of people in the room (Edwards 2006, 35). Therefore, commercial intelligent building is a realizable energy-conserving project. According to Mawson (1994, 21), a great number of people are skeptical about the capabilities of technologies in the future. Nevertheless, it is possible with the help of the specialists from a different companies, which are working in this sphere and not only researching the future, but also realizing it (ibid.). They recognize distinguishable trends and count the influence of one field of technology on another (ibid.). Such technologies provide benefits to consumers, investors and managers and create a healthy and calm work environment for people. The building of Kajima Corporation in Tokyo is a remarkable example of this type of environment, since it provides an environment that sensitively takes care of the frequent circulation of occupants inner needs for freshness,
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concentration and recreation so as to establish efficient work conditions (Derek and ClementsCroome 1997, 396). That is why intelligent building will collect more revenue than traditional buildings, since people will work more productive. Traditional commercial buildings cannot boast of technologies and almost do not have automatic control systems. Firstly, lighting systems are not effective and have high power inputs. Approximately 70 percent of the lighting system produces heat, in other words, the greater share of energy is not directed to light (Richter 2007, 26). It could be agreed that energy consumption is the main aspect of building sustainability. According to Everett (2008, 6) such buildings have not been designed for differences between people or more precisely each of us is different. For example, some people are economical and tidy, while others are unpractical, and also some people turn the lights off when they leave the offices, while others do not (ibid.). Similar situations in heating and computers using. Approximately two-thirds of produced electricity in the USA is consumed by commercial buildings, however, these numbers can be decreased to 30 percent by lighting sensors (Cowley 2008, 26). In addition to this, occasionally poorly controlled HVAC system often does not satisfy users expectations by creating not quality air, cold or hot air temperature in building. In time of rapid increased energy consumption, such improvements will play a significant role in the future. So, traditional buildings have more detrimental impact on the environment than intelligent buildings. The next part of the comparison is services and their management in these types of buildings. Firstly, intelligent buildings have facilities management which determines needs of occupants, maximizes benefits, controls investment and performance of services (Derec and Clemensts-Croome 1997, 400). Furthermore, intelligent buildings play a significant role in reaching peoples health, welfare and ease by improving human resources and also by providing essential services which maintain the productive, inventive, mental and spiritual abilities of occupants (ibid). Nowadays, everyone wants more personal comfort controlling. That is why
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individual aims are considered in a considerable importance, since if people are not motivated or do not have opportunities to accomplish some activities, their work executions will be deficient. Such economically not profitable work executions are prevented by commercial intelligent buildings with appropriate services and convenient management. One of the important types of services is communication services. Such services help facilities to answer questions, and problems of occupants are recognized quickly and solved instantly by using high-speed Internet (Madsen 2008, 42). Students and staff of Ave Maria University in USA have already used capabilities of this modern communication service (ibid.). For instance, they go to the one fixed place (shop) in order to renew lost or broken ID (smart) card, refit laptops and other electronic devices, solve problems with Internet access and other necessary operations (ibid). That is why students save precious time and direct it to studying and other interesting activities which significantly lead to improving of education quality and students life. Moreover, consequences of that could affect to other universities. Management in commercial intelligent buildings is also created with aim of reducing some redundant operations which in that way curtail operational costs. For example, only eight persons of management group of Ave Maria University control voice and data network, CCTV, access management, two data cores with nearly 75 servers and other systems (Madsen 2008, 42). Functional abilities of services and management prove the progressive development of commercial intelligent buildings. Traditional commercial buildings do not have above-mentioned advantages of services and management of intelligent buildings. Madsen (2008, 42) said that communication services of non-intelligent buildings basically perform their responsibilities, but slower than such service in intelligent buildings. For instance, typical Internet communication is 60-times slower than optical network with 100 megabit per second bandwidth (ibid). This disadvantage leads to inconveniences of communication between occupants and services. In sphere of management in commercial non-intelligent buildings, there is used more staff and paper work in comparison with Ave Maria University. According to Madsens research it can be agreed that in traditional
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buildings operational costs are higher and the management structure is more complicated than in intelligent buildings. Moreover, in the future services and management of non-intelligent commercial buildings will not properly realize the main functions in view of inability to integration with new innovative technology. Now the question is emerging: which building should be invested in the future. Nowadays, the moment has arrived to think about an environment situation in the world: global warming, water crisis, climate change and air pollution. That is why it can be agreed that commercial intelligent buildings have less impact on environment than traditional buildings. Everett (2008, 17) claims that world annual carbon emissions can be decreased to 15 percent by 2020 through putting into operation intelligent buildings. It proves real abilities of these buildings since industrial and transport spheres have liberal shares in carbon emissions and 15 percent is significant number. The second considerable advantage of commercial intelligent buildings over traditional buildings is less financial costs and more return on investment. Ehrlich (2006, 8) stated that commercial intelligent buildings provide returns through improved occupant experience and lowered operating expenditures. Purpose of occupants experience improving is ameliorating work productivity by creating safe and comfortable environment for them, because more than 20 percent of occupants are not pleased with present-day situation of their working atmosphere (ibid). The lowered operating expenditures also allow saving more money as mentioned earlier by reduction of energy consumption and required labour to manage a building. The annualized UK building cost is about 200/m2 (stated as cost per square meter), energy is nearly 10/m2 and occupants costs are 15000/m2 per year (Everett 2008, 14). So financial expenses of a building mainly spend on wage payment of staff. It seems clear that even the smallest increase of occupants productivity could considerably increase profit of a commercial building. Such significant aspects of commercial intelligent buildings provide reasons for businesses to invest in them.

The present study was designed to define the aspects that make a commercial building intelligent and differences between traditional and intelligent buildings. The conclusions can be drawn that commercial intelligent building could adapt to changing of user needs and appearance of new technologies, since it has more effective and modern components such as processes, security, life-safety, lighting systems, management and services than in non-intelligent building. The results of this study indicate that businesses should invest in the development and exploitation of commercial intelligent buildings in which it is better to study and work. Nowadays the question is how to improve a life quality of people and at the same time take into account the natural resources, that is why current findings add substantially to our understanding of an impact of building on environment and people. Further research in this field would be a great help in development of the young country such as Kazakhstan especially its capital Astana, since this city is political and business centre of the country. Astana has opportunities to realize this significant project by support of foreign professionals in that sphere and subsequent training. In particular, some aspects of intelligent building can be provided in Nazarbayev University. For example, new smart lighting systems which will decrease energy consumption of the university. The findings of these applications could have a number of important implications for the whole world in the future. The most of difficulties on the way of realizing intelligent buildings are solved, the one question remains: are we ready to accept the changes which are required to reach goals?

Reflective component. First of all, it was interesting to research the concept of an intelligent building, since I have watched many programs about engineering innovations in the sphere of building construction. These innovations struck me with their amazing abilities. Hence, I decided to compare a commercial intelligent building and traditional commercial building. And at the end of research define which is better. The writing process was long and difficult, since it was not easy to find sources about traditional commercial buildings. However, I have obtained invaluable experience during the writing process. I have learned new vocabulary, my writing style is also improved in comparison with preparatory project in the first term. Moreover, I understood that it is very important to effectively manage the time. My first draft has had many mistakes such as sentence length and structure, unclear parts, grammar errors, missing words and so on. That is why during the easter break it took me a lot of time to correct above-mentioned mistakes and improve my research project. There are also were some challenges in writing a project. For example, in the last day before deadline of the first draft I had only 2000 words. So it was very difficult to complete the work and perform the required word count during one night. That is why I will try to think about a time management before realizing such important projects.

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