by Daniel Gaston, Christophe Joubert and Miguel Montesinos

Modern buildings are equipped with a variety of building automation technologies and sensors which are controlled, monitored and managed through heterogeneous information systems. To date, these systems show limited interoperability and tend to operate in isolation. The future will require a more comprehensive and efficient operation of buildings facilitated by way of integrated and smart cooperative management and automation systems. Web-based open-source technologies can create 3D virtual representations of the real-time geolocated activities within a building. Such a system can simplify both the maintenance and operation by facility managers and application services to building occupants.

by Dave Raggett

Advances in electronics and communication technologies are stimulating the growth of low cost connected sensors and actuators. There are many potential application areas, for instance: home automation, security, healthcare, smart grids, integrated transport systems, and next generation manufacturing. To date, research in the area of the Internet of Things (IoT) has largely focused on the sensors, actuators and the communication technologies needed for long battery life and efficient use of spectrum etc. rather than on what’s needed to encourage applications and services. Current IoT products exist in isolated silos. To fully realise the benefits, we will need scalable solutions for managing the vast of amounts of data, and open standards that enable open markets of connected services.