International not-for-profit intelligent buildings association CABA recently announced the close of its research on AI and predictive maintenance in intelligent buildings.
Using stakeholder surveys, expert interviews, and detailed market analysis, this project set out to understand how use cases, customer environments, buying behaviors, and ecosystem interactions all impact and influence the development of these technologies.
Significant catalysts are currently pushing the intelligent building community towards widespread adoption. The most prominent of these are the promised return on investment stemming from the reduction in operating expenses, capital expenses and unplanned downtime, concludes the report by Harbor Research, commissioned by CABA.
|
|
PassiveLogic, creator of what the company calls the first fully autonomous building controls platform, is said to be redefining autonomous systems technology with the vision of empowering anyone to effortlessly design their own custom applications — without requiring a team of PhDs. The company has developed a product ecosystem that enables autonomous systems from development to deployment.
In recent pilot projects, PassiveLogic’s approach demonstrated 30 percent energy savings and 90 percent labor savings in programming, installation and commissioning compared to conventional solutions. PassiveLogic’s product suite understands how a building’s equipment and systems interact. This functionality allows local in-building AI to make real-time control and management decisions that co-optimize comfort, maintenance, efficiency and operational costs.
|
|
Pro-Vigil, a provider of remote video monitoring, management and crime deterrence solutions, has just published its research report, The State of Physical Security, for the second year in a row. The study revealed that, as the Covid-19 pandemic rages on, companies continued to experience a rise in physical security incidents in 2021, and they’re expecting these incidents to grow in 2022. However, the majority have not made changes to their security strategies to mitigate these steadily escalating risks.
To gain more insights about the impact of evolving physical security challenges amid the ongoing pandemic, Pro-Vigil polled 116 business operations leaders across a range of vertical industries, including construction, dealerships, retail and manufacturing, among others. Key findings from the survey are highlighted below.
Incidents are up, while security strategies lag
-
A full 28% of respondents said they saw an increase in physical security incidents in 2021, up from just 20% of respondents in 2020 (detailed in Pro-Vigil’s first research survey).
- Nearly 27% said they anticipate a continued rise in incidents in 2022.
- Yet the majority (nearly 57%) said they have not updated their security strategies in the face of these growing threats.
|
|
Johnson Controls, global provider of building technology, software and service for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, recently announced the launch of OpenBlue Indoor Air Quality as a Service. The new offering, touted as the first dedicated “as-a-service” Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) solution for buildings, is designed to deliver energy-efficient, turnkey clean air outcomes with an innovative financing model.
Ganesh Ramaswamy, vice president and president, Global Services at Johnson Controls, stated:
Johnson Controls believes the best healthy buildings strategy is a holistic one. This suite of offerings delivers the market’s most comprehensive portfolio of solutions, plus expert guidance, to help customers cut building costs, raise productivity and exploit new revenue opportunities — all while delivering on their sustainability goals, resulting in healthy people, healthy places and a healthy planet.
|
|
Two recent interviews expound upon the current growth in the green roof sector around the world, as highlighted below.
In the first interview, Roofing Contractor Managing Editor Chris Gray spoke with Vanessa Keitges, CEO of Portland, Oregon-based Columbia Green Technologies, who provides insight on how this once-niche sector of roofing is quickly becoming a sought-after roof by companies and building owners around the world — increasingly for existing buildings.
Keitges said the explosion of green roofing is partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused many buildings to become virtually empty as people work remotely. Now building owners and businesses are seeking ways to bring people back into the office by giving them green spaces to enjoy. Keitges points out that green roofing is expected to be a $14-billion global business, not only in new construction, but for buildings looking to increase their water management so as not to overwhelm drainage infrastructure when severe storms blow through.
|
|
The newly updated ASCE/SEI 7-22 Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Building and Other Structures, now available from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), includes first-ever criteria for tornado-resistant design, substantial improvements to the design criteria for other weather hazards, and digital data for local weather hazards.
This national standard is the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) most widely used standard and is an integral part of building codes in the United States and around the globe. Structural engineers, architects and those engaged in preparing and administering local building codes will find the 2022 edition of the structural load requirements essential to their practice, and facilities managers and owners may be interested in what their buildings are designed to withstand.
|
|
Ecore, a company that transforms reclaimed materials into performance surfaces, partnered with Spartan Surfaces to relaunch its ECOsurfaces line of products. Spartan Surfaces is a specialty flooring sales and marketing company. This showcases Ecore’s commitment to the design community and its dedication in promoting more sustainability.
Bo Barber, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Ecore, shared that ECOsurfaces is its environmental banner to the A&D community. The collaboration reinforces commitment to a circular business model and elevates commitment to lead in creating floors that do more for both people and the planet. Spartan Surfaces plays a huge role to this successful collection by making it more readily available to the A&D community.
|
|
“Facility managers are ready to return to in-person events,” says Dan Weltin, editor-in-chief, facility market at Trade Press Media Group. “Virtual conferences have been helpful during the pandemic, but they are no substitute for a live trade show. NFMT will be the best opportunity to learn about the latest trends and see new products.”
NFMT first launched in 2001 by Building Operating Management and Facility Maintenance Decisions magazines with the goal of providing world-class education, products and networking to facilities professionals. Twenty years later, the show continues to deliver on its promise by offering broad-based education for facilities professionals ranging from government, healthcare, retail, education, hospitality and more. The show is now offering four different registration options to choose from, allowing for a more personalized experience.
|
|
New events posted this week
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
