SPECIALIST INSIGHT
suggest possible causes to aid the engineer with diagnosing the root of the fault .
All this data is presented via our Building Advisor Dashboard , which can be modified to the user ’ s preferences by selecting preferred modules . Through this , we can quickly identify what the performance of the building is in terms of comfort , energy and maintenance , which is displayed on a custom dashboard with the scores attributed to each area and the trends over time . In terms of energy efficiency , this helps us to spot any opportunities for increased performance and reliability . For the building ’ s occupants it also means that they can work in the way that best suits them . So , for example , if a student like to work on colder temperatures they can do so . Similarly , they can search for quieter or darker places to work .
You mentioned that data from Schneider Electric ’ s technology is available to engineering students . How is this data empowering the next generation , and how does it align with the University ’ s commitment to sustainable solutions ?
Having the ability to access real time data in a safe and accessible manner allows students to visualise and analyse the performance of the building . Students can then use this data to support their research or to develop proposals to create Apps , products or suggestions – therefore using the smart data to develop actionable insights that benefit the university , wider research and the students . In this way students are using the data to think differently and to offer solutions to student-facing problems that we may not have fully understood or considered .
The University ’ s School of Engineering serves as a showcase for Smart Campus excellence . Could you discuss why this is such a great achievement ?
This provides a real-life example of how SMART and IoT connectivity can be layered and delivered to produce real-time , tangible improvements that support the generation of research by making the building a living lab . As a case study it can then be widely shared in order to demonstrate that this type of innovation can be implemented and does deliver , making a significant impact to the environment and bringing increased efficiency to the building ’ s users .
How does the University of Birmingham plan to continue advancing in this area in the years to come ?
The next challenge is to scale up – to incorporate this technology and innovation into the campus masterplan that will see us upgrading and improving existing buildings alongside constructing new , specialist buildings . In order to do this , we will need to standardise and adopt this approach and ensure that it can be delivered effectively in both new build and retrofit scenarios . �
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