IoT-based data acquisition for better building operation and design

In this project a team of six companies representing the total value chain of the building industry has teamed up to investigate whether systematically collected data from buildings in operation will enable optimized building operation of the building in question as well as the design of the next building. And at the same time also to investigate if this can be used for new services and business models. The six partners were NCC (project manager), PensionDanmark, PKA, DEAS, IT-University and Gatee21. The project has been funded by ELFORSK.

The original idea that systematically collected data from buildings in operation leads to better operation and design has been confirmed. We are convinced that data in the coming years will become extremely important and it is therefore important that the intentions behind the data driven building can become a reality. The hypothesis is that when all data are collected in context of the building it will form the basis for a compilation of knowledge concerning both operation and design. In the project team we fell certain that this hypothesis has been confirmed.

There are two main results in the project; the first is the insight in how data most efficiently can be collected and shared among stakeholders. Here a data acquisition system – or rather a platform – based on sensors with an open design. From this data can be made available to all stakeholders, who can be granted access from the data owner based on a documented need.

The second main result is the insights that the collection of data itself has given in terms of better operation and design. This includes among others a unique operational overview on main consumption level, high granularity indoor climate, occupancy in meeting rooms and office areas, as user satisfaction monitoring and several insights to dimensioning of technical equipment.

In the project we have collected data in two office buildings, with a collection period of more than one year – for some sensors up to three years. Also we have collected data from a multifamily building for a shorter period.

The data driven surveillance has shown several potentials for troubleshooting and operational optimization in one building. From the monitoring the FM manager can, through a visual dashboard see if everything in the building is “as it should be” – and change e.g. set points or order maintenance according to need. But it is actually when comparing several buildings that a truly unique insight in optimal operation can be harvested.

For occupancy it is possible to see how much desks and meeting rooms are used. This can be used for space management. Indoor climate monitoring together with user satisfaction feedback can be used to assess the actual operation and act accordingly, and not just based on complaints from single occupants.

Behind the data collected for operation, the same data can be used to optimize the design of the next building. We have seen direct evicence of electrical swithcboards and cooling machinces being overdimensioned  by as much as 30-50%, while the ventilation system is perhaps 10% too large. At the same time the data can be used as valuable input to the design of the next building.

Initially the project hoped to establish business models for the data driven building. This was not – fully – possible. On the other hand, we have realized that the value creation is very complex. It happens for all stakeholders and on different decision levels. The complex picture also unfortunately means that it is not obvious who should pay for the collection and how it is most efficiently put into a business model.

Overall the project has confirmed the initial hypotheses and the project result can be used by all stakeholders for a better building operation and better design of the next building.