Building automation systems on the Internet

Abstract

Modern building systems, such as HVAC, lighting, life safety, security, vertical transportation and electrical power distribution, make use of modern direct digital control and communication technologies. Such an approach has initiated the use of the adjective ″smart″ when referring to buildings that are equipped with a significant portion of these new systems. Integrated building automation and management systems (BAS/BMS) have been developed for newly constructed commercial, domestic and industrial buildings. Building management staff can gain access to any building system through the BAS for the purpose of data monitoring and real‐time control inside the control room. With the advent of Internet technology, all critical data in a BAS can be transmitted to and from any authorized user around the world, who can then perform the same function of monitoring and control even when the user is thousands of miles away from the building as when the user is sitting in front of the control console inside the control room. Describes the development and features of the Internet‐based system using an air‐handling unit simulator as an illustrative example. Discusses details of the hardware and software of the Internet site.