The BAS backbone is quickly CHANGING to IP, and as it does, the industry needs to add IT-managed services to their capabilities to handle it. Now, more than ever, my contracting customers are hiring or partnering with managed IT service people and companies.  The contractor’s IT staff has become a crucial part of every project and is helping them cut down on huge expenses. Utilizing professional IT personnel to collaborate with the owner’s IT departments in a new way is cutting down on the time and costs associated with connecting systems and services to the internet and owner’s networks. This allows these contractors to be much more competitive with a higher value proposition for their customers who need them to understand IT technology now more than ever.

Bringing IP Connectivity to Intelligent Devices at the IoT's Edge   Investment in a secure, high-speed Internet of Things (IoT) backbone for your building is the right choice today, given new compelling applications, a wider selection of Ethernet/IP-ready control devices, and greater price competitiveness overall.  Innovative manufacturers like Optigo Networks are bringing proven fiber networking technologies to the BAS/IP industry, allowing fiber to essentially be “daisy-chained” from panel to panel. The increase in data throughput using this type of technology is substantial and extremely valuable in smart buildings. Successful network design using the Ethernet/IP fiber-optic cable requires some rethinking in comparison to traditional 2-wire strategies. Whilst the cost of the cable and terminations is higher than traditional 2-wire copper, the conduit and control panels are identical, bringing the overall value impact to a favorable level.

IT verse OT  The problem with merging these two cultures...The devices and systems involved in the operational technologies of the building have never followed the rigor of information technology. This is not to say operational technology hardware and software is not tested well, nor is it to say information technology products are all perfect when they are released. The fact is that OT systems are relatively new to the IT world and IT leaders are taking note of these new devices being introduced to the network. It is becoming clear that IT must deal holistically with OT and the fact that these devices can and will open holes in the security layers of the network if left unchecked. There have been many examples of devices behaving badly, or being used as a conduit for others to behave badly, of which only a few were well publicized.

What this means is that IT standards and methods are starting to be required in OT devices. This means OT device manufacturers are being asked to deliver products that are network ready and network worthy. Often, this requires manufactures to go back to the hardware design aspect of the devices. The method of bypassing IT to get OT devices on a remote network connection or on a private cellular connection are coming to an end. IT will be involved in these decisions and will be the ultimate arbiter in these decisions as the risk is simply too high not to be. The good news is that people and companies like Google are forging ahead with standards to impact this new reality, inspiring frameworks like the newly released Device Automated Qualification framework (DAQ), specifically designed to assist with qualifying OT devices to live in a converge IOT world.

Benefits of IP-Based BAS Network

Increased system resiliency and security. A well-implemented IP-based BAS solution provides unparalleled system resiliency, ensuring peak building operations are maintained. Because IP-based solutions are highly encrypted, they help protect operations and data while safeguarding against malicious activity.

Reduced capital and operational costs. MRP-enabled ring topology delivers a streamlined, yet robust system to alleviate stakeholder cost concerns. Since there is less overhead for physical equipment, it allows companies to allocate resources over a longer period of time and scale for growth. This configuration also needs less IT overhead and management – further reducing costs.

Enhanced Productivity. Using IP technologies allows building owners to quickly and easily solve problems through real-time information about building performance. Combined with visualization, this information can help proactively prevent issues and quickly solve problems.

Has your chosen BMS/BAS/Lighting convergent smart IoT controls supplier used a solution based upon Tridium’s Niagara Framework?
 
EnOcean IEC global standard wireless harvesting technology, PIRs, air quality, temperature, humidity, light level sensors and switches. Such products, when designed to conform strictly to EnOcean Equipment Profiles (EEP), guarantee interoperability across hundreds of multi-vendor sources, low-cost installation, virtually maintenance-free devices and address sustainability targets before point of delivery, through to end of life. More than 20,000,000, EnOcean devices are currently deployed in excess of 1,000,000 buildings, supported by almost 400 global product and solutions providers. When used directly with Niagara Framework, BMS/BAS EnOcean products and solutions provide seamless access real-time device value data, thus enabling the end client and user to benefit from space usage information and experience to benefit from the potential savings of “3000” at potentially lower than expected implementation costs.

In-Building Wireless Enabling 5G, CBRS & Smart Buildings  5G promises wireless broadband with fiber speeds, low latency and other benefits when a 5G device is connected to a 5G network. It's a super-fast and nimble network standard built upon the current LTE framework. It’s still very early in the evolution, though incremental changes made by the wireless carriers and others will begin to provide 5G features and benefits to end users.

From our chapter on Recalibrate for 2020 Vision  This discussion on Network Architecture is important,

EnOcean could be connected as an In-Building wireless service.

The session I attended in Nashville suggested that the cell phone providers will no longer provide DAS to insure their service everywhere in the building for less than approximately 500,000 sq feet buildings unless it is a public gathering  i.e. arena, theater, etc