Published November 2002

Ken Sinclair
  AutomatedBuildings.com

The first few years of the DDC revolution our industry created a stable of " Awful Mated Buildings " I fear this could occur again with our first attempts at web convergence.

The large building automation industry understood early the concept of web convergence but I do not believe that we envisioned ourselves as having such an active part in it. Originally we perceived that we would take our products and services to a web level and magically our services would become part of the clients web based enterprise. It is now becoming clear that the companies that are most likely to succeed are developing the "magic" to take our automation interfaces to the next level in an elegant convergence model that adds tremendous value to our clients' enterprises.

The real danger for our industry is if we do not grow rapidly enough to provide this value added service there is a host of "ISIT's" (Information Systems and Information Technology) types who will. Their perception of the depth and width of our industry concerns me. Although "ISIT's" have a better understanding of the clients' enterprise and web ways they lack the greater understanding of the complexity of our industry.

I akin the relationship to being very similar to the metamorphosis that occurred during the DDC revolution when we found our industry, that had traditionally worked with analog hardware devices, physical control valves and dampers, dragged kicking and screaming into the virtual world with DDC (Direct Digital Control). DDC existed only in the memory of newly fashioned computer panels and evolving personal computers. The metamorphosis caused a revolution in our industry and required that the business model for all control companies change. It required that old dogs learn new tricks and new dogs learn the traditional control industry.

The revolution introduced many new players to the industry. Those with their minds well into the virtual world and the new technology excelled at moving forward. The traditional control companies steeped in traditional controls were able to move ahead only when the new leaders created market shifts. Their ties to the past became liabilities instead of assets.

In Tom Hartman's prediction from last month's Building Automation column "We the People" 

I predict a very strong movement to "occupant integrated" HVAC controls within the next decade. My prediction is that by the second decade of this century, most class "A" office spaces will be required to offer individual control of thermal and lighting levels. This integration will most likely be Internet based. Also in the same time span, I see much building operations and maintenance will also become Internet based with fewer operations personnel in individual buildings. Such personnel will be come more specialized and perform a smaller scope of services in many more buildings. 

And further in the August Issue of Engineered Systems' supplement Web Based Facilities Operations Guide; both demonstrate real examples of the movement and the requirements for us to refocus on excellent web convergence and integration.

The first few years of the DDC revolution our industry created a stable of " Awful Mated Buildings " I fear this could occur again with our first attempts at web convergence.

My Call to Action

Our industry has a limited window of opportunity to control the successful convergence to our web based clients. We have the knowledge to make these transitions work better than anyone. We know that we must significantly increase our knowledge of web-based ways and add "Web Heads" to our corporate structures. We can hire or create within but our focus for the next few years must shift from hardware integration to successful web integration and convergence. It isn't that the evolving hardware integration standards aren't important, it is an issue of if we do not complete our connection to the web world we run the risk of losing that large market in the future. As the cost of hardware drops and engineering of DDC systems becomes automated our industry will shrink if we do not move quickly to the next level. There is much work to be done at this level and this is likely the closest we will ever get to the ultimate interface with the end users of our building automation systems. The importance of this and the speed at which we move is cardinal. Our industry is about providing client comfort services. Our clients' information flow model is becoming web-based and the transition to web based solutions is not only desirable it is becoming mandatory.

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