Construction Magazine June 2018 | Page 33

More importantly , by integrating building systems you can build a future-ready network environment with the ability to grow as technology advances and communications needs evolve . Consolidating into a single logical management structure lets you plug in and take out components as needed , so you can incorporate the latest tech and do away with older items without always having to totally rebuild your infrastructure .
Making it happen At the bottom of it , the idea of ‘ smart buildings ’ is all about data . BIM makes that data usable . But it needs hard infrastructure to work . Dedicated wiring must be laid for information exchange , and many buildings will need to be designed from the ground up around the systems to be deployed . As mentioned earlier , all of this will take a toll on construction companies ’ supply chains . They ’ ll need to engage with new suppliers , learn about new installation techniques and adjust their timescales accordingly . In other words , you can only get the rewards by putting in the work at the front end .
The traditional approach to construction is to break the job down by packages and appoint subcontractors to do individual elements of the build . However , as buildings become smarter , greener and more interconnected , construction companies are working with companies that can provide integrated packages . They need the ability to tackle not just design and installation but security in a holistic manner . If the system covers the whole building , the contractor will need to do the same . What ’ s more , if you ’ re employing lots of subcontractors , it ’ s much harder to manage them against your standards – running an integrated model reduces that workload .
Our view With all that in mind , let ’ s look at some real-world examples from Johnson Controls ’ current portfolio .
In terms of innovation , we ’ re looking to lead the way on BIM for smart buildings at our HQ in Cork , Ireland . Designed to exhibit the best cutting edge smart building technology , 1 Albert Quay demonstrates how BIM can change the way buildings are run . For example , when someone enters the building , the AC2000 Linux-based access management
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