Malcolm Anson, president of the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) discusses the impact of smart cities and why we need such forward-thinking methods across the UK.
The commercial built environment is continuously evolving thanks to the evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT). Not only do we have intelligent buildings, but we have an exciting future ahead of us with smart cities playing a focal point.
The term ‘smart cities’ is something you have most likely heard about on the grapevine. What’s more, it is a concept which is being embraced by major cities in the UK and worldwide.
Personally, I would define a smart city as a place where traditional networks and services are made more efficient with the use of digital technologies, for the benefit of occupants and businesses.
However, smart cities can be interpreted in many different ways. The UK government view smart cities as a process, or series of steps, by which cities become more liveable and resilient and therefore able to respond to new challenges.
Transformation
The Consumer Technology Associations reports that there will be 88 fully developed smart cities in the world over the next 10 years. As I write this, more than eight out of 10 of us live in cities, with London, Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester emerging as the top five smart cities here in the UK.
With buildings responsible for 40% of the world’s energy consumption, buildings must be future-proof. Energy efficiency, cost-saving, environmental sustainability and operational efficiency are all major factors in the need for cities to think smarter.
In addition, more and more people are moving to urban areas; while we must also take into consideration aging populations. All of this, puts increasing pressure on resources and public finances.
To accommodate growing urban populations and tackle such issues, smart cities which incorporate smart buildings, can improve the quality and interactivity of urban services, while reducing costs and ensuring sustainability. This, I’m sure you’ll agree is pivotal in today’s tough economic climate.
Data-driven
The falling cost of sensors, controllers and getaways, will see the Internet of Things (IoT) gain further action in the smart buildings market, especially in small to medium sized buildings. Today’s innovative IoT solutions, enable businesses to make better data-driven decisions for smarter buildings. It is expected that by 2020, there will be 30 billion networked appliances and sensors worldwide. More than eight billion Building Management Systems (BMS) will be integrated with some form of IoT platform, application or service within the next two years
By connecting all traditionally unconnected equipment and applying automated analytics and controls, building owners and managers can learn more about their buildings. By using this information, they can significantly reduce their buildings’ energy use and cut costs.
Not only will costs be lower, but smart buildings can also improve the wellbeing of occupants. This is hugely relevant in today’s climate and we should be open to steps which can make a significant difference to the needs of individuals in the workplace.
Working in unison
But as with a lot of things, collaboration is vital in making this a reality. Raising awareness of the importance of smart cities is crucial in all levels of the design and build process.
Engineers, contractors, architects and other building professionals will be amongst those who will be ultimately responsible for bringing fresh new ideas to fruition, in relation to achieving smart outcomes. Therefore, it is vital that everyone in the chain, from start to end, understands the objectives of smart city planners.
Furthermore, the end goal is what’s key here. If everyone treats their jobs as one-off, isolated tasks, the needs of the big picture won’t be met. The full journey needs to be taken into account to ensure a connected and intelligent way of thinking.