Preface

Buildings are a System of Systems (SoS), each controlling a vital function to achieve the building’s purpose. Smart buildings use Internet of Things (IoT) devices, sensors, and software to monitor and control various building functions to optimize the building’s environment and operations. As a result, they improve building efficiency, reduce costs, reduce resource usage, and improve occupant satisfaction.

Almost every function within a building is a candidate for building your smart building applications with IoT devices. Whether you start with one function or multiple functions, this book will review the many opportunities and technologies used to build a smart building. Edge routers, numerous IoT sensors and devices, the various connection options available, and the software required both locally and via the cloud to make it all work together seamlessly are discussed.

This book will leverage my smart building experience to help you to do the following:

• Make a building’s mechanical, electric, HVAC, and networks smart with the addition of IoT, connectivity, and software solutions
• Get multiple building systems (HVAC, security, fire, and so on) to communicate with each other to analyze data and deliver actionable operations outcomes
• Improve operational efficiency, reduce waste and carbon footprint, consume fewer resources, improve productivity, and enhance the occupant’s quality of experience
• Understand the communications protocols, methodologies, components, and architecture used to deliver IoT for smart buildings
• Solve key building industry issues such as return-to-building, proprietary software languages that prevent other vendors from connecting, lack of IoT and smart buildings skills, and meeting government energy and environmental requirements

It is the only comprehensive book explaining nearly every aspect of how IoT makes buildings smarter. You will learn about terminology, technology, standards, methodologies, and frameworks to help you decide which projects are right to build your smart buildings.

It will provide application examples, definitions, and detailed explanations of what building systems can be made smart with IoT. Various technologies and architectures are reviewed to demonstrate how to design and implement solutions, including how to use IoT stacks. By the end of the book, you’ll be able to identify and design your own smart building initiatives to solve building-related challenges.