Insight from master systems integrator, Vanti, on the importance of educating decision makers
Mike Brooman, CEO of Master Systems Integrator, Vanti, discusses the importance of educating decision makers about the process behind the creation of smart buildings and how Memoori’s 'Developers Smart Building Project Canvas' can help those experiencing them for the first time.
Smart buildings are no longer a new concept. Yet, the merits of them, their best uses and the most appropriate way in which to deliver them, is still debated intensely. What is for sure however, is that they will play an increasingly important role in the future of our cities and property landscapes around the world.
The COVID-19 pandemic has acted as a catalyst for reformed and considered thinking about smart buildings, how they should look in the future, and how we can use technology within different environments to create spaces which bring added value to those who own them, use them, mange them and visit them.
As a Master Systems Integrator, we are undoubtedly seeing an increase in enquiries asking for our help in creating and delivering best in class buildings which bring various benefits to different sectors.
The case for smart buildings is clear. A new report released by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), suggests up to 40% of the global population is “highly vulnerable” to the impacts of climate change. The impact of new developments, ongoing regeneration, and the way we use buildings needs to be urgently addressed to help reverse the increasingly distressing climate emergency.
Research from Deloitte concluded that the building and construction sector has had a huge impact on greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for approximately 40% of global GHG emissions via the materials used as well as the heating, cooling, and lighting of buildings and infrastructure.
The building and construction sector accounts for approximately 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions
By utilising data recorded by smart tech, we can identify ways in which to create efficient spaces, as well as save energy and be more environmentally friendly in the ongoing management of a building.
Moreover, the benefits of smart spaces are not purely environmental. Using technology within a building can also help create a personalised and optimised user experience.
They also help us access and analyse data in real time, meaning we can constantly adapt our environments to encourage best performance, where that is spotting areas of improvement to maximise energy efficiency, adapting working models to boost productivity, or offering the best experience to your guests.
In 2022, technology shouldn’t simply be viewed as an optional extra for buildings, but an integral consideration in the design, infrastructure and outlining vision of any new build creation or retrofit project which aims to bring an older building in line with or beyond modern standards.
With technology around smart buildings advancing at a rapid rate, developers, facilities managers, and landlords face difficult decisions. New technologies can often feel alien to even the most experienced property professionals, especially when embarking on devising and delivering these projects for the first time.
We often work with clients who either lack understanding or, due to poor planning, don’t have a clear vision of what they want to achieve. This often sets a field for bad bowling and creates problems and unexpected challenges further down the road.
In 2022, technology shouldn't simply be viewed as an optional extra for buildings, but an integral consideration in their design and infrastructure.
We also encounter many within businesses within the industry who have developed false expectation for what a smart building is, what is should be and how the delivery process should work.
To help maximise the potential of a project, create leading environments and save time and money, it’s vital that those within the building, property and construction industries, are educated on what the process should look like and the challenges they can expect to face.
Alongside LMG, Vanti have helped contribute to Memoori’s Developers Smart Building Project Canvas, a free tool which has been released under the Creative Commons license which aims to help guide decision makers through the process of creating a Smart Building.
The tool was created after we highlighted the same shared experience when Vanti was providing design-input on projects and Memoori was conducting global research. The common problem included clients wanting to create a smart building without understanding what they want the technology to achieve, or the practical steps necessary for success.
The canvas features a list of questions and considerations to address at each stage of the project, to enable a clear vision, ensuring you can budget responsibility and effectively deliver the best space possible.
Considering what problems need solving, what experience you want to deliver, the value it could bring to your business and what goals you want to achieve at the outset can help save a domino effect of obstacles which come to light further down the line.
While every scheme will encounter unique challenges, following the canvas ensures those tasked with developing smart buildings have an idea of what to expect, from initial concepts through to delivery, ongoing management and future proofing.
By improving education around technology around technology and the smart landscape, we can create buildings which excel environmentally and physically.
Collaborating with several partners, Vanti brought back its popular full-size replica of the smart office space as a feature for the the Intelligent Building Europe event in May 2022! The annual show runs alongside IFSEC International, FIREX International, Safety & Health Expo and Facilities Show at London's ExCeL.
Find out more about IBE and get your free ticket to all the events, here.
