CHALLENGES IN INFRASTRUCTURE FOR SMART BUILDINGS

Efficiencies and emission savings are only achieved when all operational systems are integrated and operate together to make a truly smart building.

Nexans claims there are four main challenges when planning infrastructure deployment in smart buildings.

First is the large increase in the number of devices that need to be connected.

Planning for large bandwidth variations will be another. The need to be able to support very low to very high bandwidth needs, without under or over specifying, needs careful consideration.

Nexans also cite new generations of wireless transmission. As Wi-Fi bandwidth increases, the range of each access point decreases, so more access points are required to cover the same area. This requires more and higher bandwidth backbone connection. A similar issue applies to 5G connections.

Finally, IoT devices need to be powered. This can be supported via Power over Ethernet, PoE, Single Pair Power over Ethernet, SPoE, separate mains supply, or batteries –each of which present their own challenges.

Within the scope of enterprise smart buildings, Nexans view is that IoT brings multiple advantages to different stakeholders. Whilst improved efficiency of utilities, power and fuel for heating and lighting is frequently mentioned as a key benefit, Nexans believes that the biggest financial gains actually come from improved productivity.

IoT and smart technologies can be used to create not only a better, safer, and healthier working environment but also to optimise working processes. This has combined benefits for the working staff and the business, leading to improved productivity returns.

At a building level, Nexans suggests that maximum efficiencies and emission savings are only achieved when all operational technology systems can be integrated and operate together to make a truly smart building. IoT is an essential component to achieve this.

Once the systems managing power, security, lighting, HVAC, access control, are all working together, then holistic savings can be optimised.

The same is true when expanded to smart cities. Use of IoT to monitor and connect disparate systems managing traffic flow, street lighting, emergency services, and CCTV is necessary to truly optimise services and operations for maximum efficiency.

Solutions from Nexans’ includes:

SMARTCONVERGE using Nexans GG45 is proposed as a flexible LAN enabling enterprise customers to use a single infrastructure for standard RJ45

Key Takeaways

l There are four main challenges when planning infrastructure deployment in smart buildings.

l Nexans view is that IoT brings multiple advantages to different stakeholders.

l Nexans believes that the biggest financial gains actually come from improved productivity.

l Once the systems managing power, security, lighting, HVAC, access control, are working together, holistic savings can be optimised.

l Use of IoT to monitor and connect disparate systems managing traffic flow, street lighting, emergency services, is necessary to optimise services.

based IT equipment, but can also quadruple the port capacity to support additional IoT devices using Single Pair Ethernet, SPE.

LANsense is Nexans Automated Infrastructure Management, AIM platform. It ensures records are 100% accurate, allowing users to detect, log, map, share, and optimise networks, reducing downtime and costs.

INFRABIRD is an access control and monitoring platform to secure street cabinets and fibre connections.

LANactive switches support Fibre To The Office, FTTO, Digital Ceiling, DICE, and industrial applications. n