Engineered Systems NEWSHigh-Performance Buildings & Automation

Smartphone Apps and Building Automation Systems

Apps related to building automation systems can be categorized pretty easily by the audience they’re designed for.

Some apps are designed specifically to be used by building maintenance staff. These apps are designed for specific tasks, like managing alarms, adjusting set points, scheduling equipment, reviewing equipment operation, and occasionally placing and removing overrides. This sort of app is probably the most commonly found across the various BAS product vendors. This sort of app is also the one that would be most likely described in a construction project specification currently.

The next category are those designed for building occupants. In my opinion, this category is the one where the industry will see the most innovation. Today, these apps commonly have features meant to improve the experiences of both employees and visitors in a building. They have features related to making environmental adjustments, like temperature set points and light level preferences. They also have features, like wayfinding and interactions related to building amenities, such as meeting rooms.

Finally, we find apps that stand out in their uniqueness but, accordingly, fit a very small subset of the built environment. I've read about apps that are meant to collect temperature preferences from building occupants in common areas and are then used to make “better” decisions about HVAC systems. I've read about apps that are meant to limit access to make adjustments on specialized equipment, such as chillers. There are countless other use cases and apps to match, and I would love to hear what you, as a reader, have found to be a “killer app” related to the BAS sector.

Some apps are designed specifically to be used by building maintenance staff. These apps are designed for tasks like managing alarms, adjusting set points, scheduling equipment, reviewing equipment operation, and occasionally placing and removing overrides. This sort of app is probably the most commonly found across the various BAS product vendors. This sort of app is also the one that would be most likely described in a construction project specification currently.

The next category are those designed for building occupants. In my opinion, this category is the one where the industry will see the most innovation. Today, these apps commonly have features meant to improve the experiences of both employees and visitors in a building. They have features related to making environmental adjustments like temperature set points and light level preferences. They also have features like wayfinding and interactions related to building amenities, such as meeting rooms.

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Matthew Foley, P.E., has been part of the building automation industry since 2006. He got his start doing commissioning and retro-commissioning as a project engineer with EMC Engineers and meandered through the industry to specialize in integration projects and controls upgrade projects for government clients both inside and outside the U.S. During this time, he earned his certification as a professional engineer in the state of North Carolina for control systems engineering. Later, he worked as a sales support engineer for Distech Controls, helping factory authorized system integrators use best practices with building automation products. He currently works as the director of energy services and technology for CMS Controls, a provider for building automation projects in the Southeastern U.S. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and their baby girl and tinkering with new computer programming languages.