The term, “Intelligent buildings” too many invoke an image of the latest technologies and unbelievable levels of artificial intelligence and a state of future technologies only seen in the cinema. However in fact intelligent buildings are a forged from band of existing technologies brought together and tuned, monitored and maintained to their optimal operation to be self-regulating with digital microprocessors or nodes that share and act upon information from each other. Each of the nodes are then brought together to form a super computer of sorts that will bring about the buildings optimum environmental, natural and pleasing effect possible. Once these nodes and their core networks are in place the building can take advantage of this and expand its roles in regards to those who use it.

Keeping the above in mind an elegant solution is to provide a conduit for these roles to be implemented into the design of its fabric. By using the static components within the building and providing a minimal intrusion onto the buildings decorum and design.

Intelligent buildings can be thought of in four distinct categories in regards to electrical and electronic aspects:

• Energy Systems
• Life Safety Systems
• Communications Systems
• Automation Systems

The paramount goal of a smart building is to integrate these four categories to function together as one single computerized core. All hardware and software is selected with this goal in mind and are kept as compatible to one another as possible.

Energy Systems
Energy systems consist of the bare bones electrical and environmental systems required to operate the building. Inside an Intelligent building these systems are given a mandate to operate at peak performance and self regulate to consume and operate in most efficient manner. Computerized systems control several aspects of these systems functionality. These control systems are often referred to as Building Automation System (BAS), Energy Management System (EMS), Energy Management and Control System (EMCS), Central Control and Monitoring System (CCMS) and Facilities Management System (FMS).
Some strategies used to reduce energy consumption in intelligent buildings are:

• Programmed start/stop
• Optimal start/stop
• Duty cycling
• Electric demand limiting
• Adaptive control
• Chillier optimization
• Boiler optimization
• Optimal energy sourcing
• Combination of mechanical and natural systems

Life Safety Systems
Life safety systems are the implementation of technologies to maximize the performance of fire, security and building hazard systems. These are all controlled and monitored by computerized systems that inform all other systems of failures, intrusions and general sense of the buildings constant condition. Often by detecting the events prior to failure, intrusion or completion costs are minimized and personnel can be assigned more efficiently.
Some of the key features in Life Safety Systems are:

• Reduced dependence on manpower
• Closed-circuit television
• Pedestrian traffic controlled routes
• Key Card access control
• Biometric access systems
• Personnel Location beacons
• Smoke detection
• Intrusion alarms
• Emergency control of elevators
• UPS

Communications Systems
Communications Systems have become an important part of the intelligent building. By integrating top of the line modular communication networking within the buildings core the level of possible communication services merely increases, often with a large cost decrease. With building wide voice, data and video systems a intelligent building is able to gain volume pricing discounts and offer a higher level of internal services. Because each of these systems are a focal point in communicating to the tenants they are used as the control interface to the buildings own Intelligent servers. For example: The reception desk at the front door once taken a visitors basic information can relay their arrival to the destined tenant ahead of time. Coded ID badges will aid in guiding the visitor to the proper destination by selecting the elevator floor and indicating directions in corridors.

Some systems used in creating a sophisticated network are:

• PBX telephone system
• Satellite Video
• IP Voice and Video
• Digital Information Panels
• Electronic mail
• Remote site liaisons services

Automation Systems
Automation systems are the use of high-tech office and home automation tools and systems that allow tenants to focus on other tasks more suited to their skills. The overall effect of Automation is improved efficiency, production and often quality. Having larger commercialized equipment multi-tasked between all tenants or various mundane non complicated tasks being taken over by automaton’s will increase productivity and become cost-efficient. For example some buildings distribute mail with a robot programmed to drop off and pick packages coming and going to the postal office.

• Efficient mail delivery systems
• Tennant recognition and response
• Voice activated building services
• Automated maintenance
• Centralized Word Processing
• Information Services to tenants at a discount.

Summary
The intelligent building is clearly the building of the future. With proper marketing such buildings will entice tenants to sign on with a much greater ease. By supporting the tenants in as many services as possible the building owners also gain from the profits realized from these services and tenants profit from the discounts to be had on their end as well.

Intelligent building owners will see realistic gain often at the expense of other non-intelligent building owners.

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