All of us are very excited about where BuilConn 2004 April 13-16 in Dallas may lead us 
and what new vibrations and feelings will be transferred to the industry.

Last May I wrote a review of the Building Connection Forum - BuilConn 2003, an extract follows.

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I am just back from BuilConn 2003 http://www.builconn.com and am extremely pleased to have been involved as a contributor to the content board, a moderator for several sessions, a panellist for two sessions, plus an overall fan of the BuilConn concept.

Anto Budiardjo's hallucination grew into a vision shared first by a few and then more. The input from the more and their respective mosaics of different but similar large building integration businesses converted the shared vision into a reality. Even with the created reality of BuilConn there was still concern as to whether we could transfer this vision to a fragmented industry, then throw in a few more obstacles such as a war and SARS to test if this concept was really viable. Suddenly it was show time BuilConn 2003, April 23rd to 25th. No more time to think and worry. Well they came, over 200, they first thought they were hallucinating but then their blurred visions of what they had never seen before started to clear as they saw an industry in a metamorphous of interacting, networking, and generally just getting on with it. The spirit of the crowd was infectious as it fed on itself, creating a feeling of cooperation and objectivity never seen before in our industry. They all got it, moving ahead in today's market is going to require team building and this event allowed them to be in on the first pick of players.

I do not want the feeling of the last few days at BuilConn to end. I want to transfer it to all my readers by challenging them to go where they have never gone and do what they have never done, creating a metamorphous to the future.

My wish to not let the feeling of those few days end was granted. The hard work of the CABA XML/Web Services Committee under the leadership of Chairman Paul Ehrlich, from Trane Global Controls & Contracting, has accomplished a great deal since their first meeting in April 2003 at BuilConn.

This committee has created the XML SYMPOSIUM 2004, ( www.XML-SYMPOSIUM.com ), which was hosted by CABA and Clasma Inc. in conjunction with ASHRAE/AHR EXPO in January in Anaheim, CA.

I was lucky enough to be Moderator of one of the panels of extraordinary gentlemen, listed below. That panel insured that my excitement about what started over a year ago did not end.

Panel Discussion on XML-related HVAC industry initiatives and views 
Moderator: Ken Sinclair - Editor/Owner, AutomatedBuildings.com 
Panelist: Paul Ehrlich - Chair, oBIX (open Building Information Xchange) 
Panelist: Barry Haaser - Executive Director, LonMark International 
Panelist: Jim Lee - President, BMA (BACnet Manufacturers Association) 
Panelist: John Kennedy - aecXML 
Panelist: Wayne Dunn - ASHRAE 
Panelist: Mark Palmer - FIATECH

[an error occurred while processing this directive]The XML Symposium delivered a cohesive vision of XML and its impact on the HVAC industry.

In addition to the creation of the XML symposium this committee has morphed into a new identity call oBIX (Open Building Information Xchange) which is a focused effort by industry leaders and associations working towards creating a standard XML and Web Services guideline to facilitate the exchange of information between intelligent buildings, enable enterprise application integration and bring forth true systems integration.

Did I mention the feeling did not end, but grew gaining speed, emotion, positive direction and a general industry acceptance?

All of us are very excited about where BuilConn 2004 April 13-16 in Dallas may lead us and what new vibrations and feelings will be transferred to the industry. We know that creating valuable connections to our clients enterprise will be an extremely hot topic, as well as how to walk and talk IT.

The transition from automation sub-contractor to super-convergence-contractor is a mind-blowing transition for most. Questions abound; Do we lead by selling convergence? Do we follow by team building with existing IT professionals? Do we become an active part of our client's enterprise? How do we restructure our companies to match our new identity? What new industries must we sell and understand to survive?

I am not sure that BuilConn 2004 will answer all these questions, but the presentation tracks plus the banter in the meeting rooms, halls, and coffee areas will be by folks with many of these questions on their minds. The purveyors of the real time data industry that strongly believe in standards will be there demonstrating the interaction of their wares to help guide you to your own decision. We will see you there.

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