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Information Technologies Engineering

by Mark Kretchmer, Vice President, Cosentini Associates; Director of Cosentini Information Technologies / Onorius Vaidean, Director of Infrastructure Technologies / Doug Smith, Director of Information Systems / Gary Schwartz, Marketing Coordinator Cosentini Information Technologies

Last updated: 04-24-2008

Introduction

Information technology (IT) engineers deal with the design and integration of multiple systems of structured cable and wireless information technologies relating to buildings and building occupants:

Several developments which occurred somewhat simultaneously in the early 1980s drove the explosive growth of information technology—the divestiture of the Bell corporate empire, the Internet, the personal computer, user friendly software interfaces, and large capacity investments in telecommunications infrastructure, satellites, and fiber optic cable systems.

The emerging development of building information modeling (BIM) has the potential to integrate the design, fabrication, construction, and O&M databases over the life cycle of the building development.

Description

Integrated Design

Concept of a Security Command Center that integrates multiple technologies seamlessly into one facility

Concept of a Security Command Center that integrates multiple technologies seamlessly into one facility

Such systems as telecommunications, data, building operation controls, audiovisual, and security are commonly introduced as separately operating systems. Integrated building systems now have the capability to use the same structured cable network and enable interoperability across all systems. The IT Engineer designs the structured cable system network that enables the user's technology systems and the building operating systems to function in an integrated manner.

Synergies enabling user comfort and building energy savings can be realized when integrated systems can interact seamlessly, thus benefiting the comfort and business needs of the user and the building owner simultaneously.

This is most easily accomplished when all building stakeholders and members of the design team are brought as early as possible into the integrated design process. The IT Engineer should be involved with design decisions from project start since IT design overlaps and affects building operations systems, vertical and horizontal space utilization, and user/organizational business needs.

The rooftop concept designed by IT Engineers to provide the developer with an IT-based revenue stream - one part of a four-part IT business model for the building.Integration of IT technology requirements into building façade and rooftop design.

Left: The rooftop concept designed by IT Engineers to provide the developer with an IT-based revenue stream—one part of a four-part IT business model for the building. The developer can lease this equipment/space to cellular providers and broadcasters.
And Right: Integration of IT technology requirements into building façade and rooftop design.

Design Objectives

Information systems will affect all design objectives of the complex modern commercial, institutional, or governmental building:

As advanced electronic entertainment systems, home offices, and telecommuting become more prevalent, multi-unit and single-unit residential buildings are being built and marketed to attract the IT-sophisticated residential consumer.

Flexibility

Scalable IT infrastructure will accommodate future technologies

Scalable IT infrastructure will accommodate future technologies

All organizations must be adaptable to a high rate of change. IT is one of the most rapidly changing aspects of technologically advanced societies across the globe. New devices and technologies for business and personal use are constantly being brought to market. As new IT technologies are introduced, building and IT infrastructure design must be flexible and adaptable to accommodate future new technologies so as not to disrupt ongoing business operations or cause excessively costly modifications to existing systems.

Design for IT flexibility requires consideration of all or some of the following:

Emerging Issues

Integrated Practice

The building industry has been focused on rapidly emerging technologies in building information modeling and interoperability that will radically change the process of design, fabrication, construction, and maintenance of buildings over their life cycle. These same technologies threaten to change traditional industry business and contractual relationships regarding inefficiencies due to design and construction industry fragmentation; risk distribution and ownership of design information; compensation methodology—value based vs. cost based fee determination; leveraging of project information knowledge early in the design process; and intellectual property compensation for knowledge stored in an A/E BIM to be modified by input of project-specific data.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has recently announced the establishment of the Integrated Practice Strategy Working Group (IPSWG), which brings AIA knowledge communities and committees together to discuss this potential redefinition of architectural practice.

Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Building Information Models (BIM) based on NIBS International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI) Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) is an emerging technology that enables accumulation and management of facility life-cycle information. IFC-BIM lets architects, engineers, construction managers, facility operators, and facility managers work with (and store for downstream users) tangible components such as walls and furniture, and also concepts such as activities, spaces, and costs.

BIM is a master, intelligent data model, resulting in an as-built database that can be readily handed over to the building operator upon completion of commissioning. The BIM standard could someday integrate CAD data with product specifications, submittals, shop drawings, project records, as-built documentation and operations information, making printed O&M and Systems manuals virtually obsolete.

Wireless Technologies

Organizational/business use of wireless technology is still seen as an adjunct to wired due to network security issues, although more advances have been made in the residential building market. GSA envisions an integrated workplace where plug and play technology enables components to be added to or removed from a basic service infrastructure grid with no rewiring.

The Center for the Built Environment (CBE) at the University of California, Berkeley has wireless technology research projects in development for:

Smart Buildings

Tomorrow's "smart buildings" are expected to involve the dynamic interaction of building and information systems. Building materials and systems would sense internal and external environments, anticipate changes, and automatically make corresponding adjustments to maintain an optimized environment.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) Building Technologies Program focuses on two areas to improve the energy efficiency of tomorrow's commercial buildings:

Relevant Codes and Standards

Department of Defense

U.S. General Services Administration

Major Resources

WBDG

Building / Space Types

Applicable to all building types and space types, especially those regularly occupied or visited.

Design Objectives

See larger discussion above, Productive—Assure Reliable Systems and Spaces, Sustainable—Optimize Energy Use

Project Management

Building Commissioning

Trade Shows

Organizations/Associations

Publications

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