Page 28 - College Planning & Management, October 2018

Technology INNOVATIONS FOR EDUCATION
Intelligent Facilities
The Internet of Things can make the job of facilities managers easier, but getting buy-in may take some time and education.
BY BRANDON BARRETT
INTELLIGENT BUILDINGS, the Internet of Things (IoT); you’ve heard of them, but how are they impacting facilities at colleges and universities? Facilities managers may ponder
this question, then place it on the back burner to be answered another day. As these new technologies progress, however, the power and versatility they offer campus facilities are growing at an exponential rate and can revolutionize elements of the FM’s job.
The IoT is largely utilized for network management—ensur-
ing there is enough bandwidth to handle all traffic on a campus network—but there are new uses starting to come into clearer focus for the technology. Integration and analytics are two important pro- cesses the IoT can deliver in conjunction with intelligent buildings.
The Intelligent Solution
These uses of analytics and integration with the IoT are now spanning everything from ensuring a campus is safe and secure to managing elements of campus sustainability programs. Many institutions are realizing the value of the IoT in connection with
THE FUTURE IS NOW. Intelligent buildings offer facility managers controls and informa- tion—including remote operation, monitoring, and data analytics—that may seem to spring from the realm of science fiction. Many facility executives have not yet begun to take full advantage of the opportunities intelligent buildings present. Reasons include existing systems in older buildings that do not permit interoperability, and retrofits that are not in the budget. Still, even small steps towards integrating basic building systems, without major financial investment, are moving facilities in the right direction for improved functionality, efficiency, and occupant comfort and safety.
28 COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / OCTOBER 2018
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