We all have seen how electronics and technology have changed our lives over the last 20-30 years. We are more connected to each other than ever before. But we are also connected to our employers, our clients, our sports clubs, and slowly we have become a connected society. However, most of the buildings we live and work in, are still pretty dumb. You still have to switch a light switch, push the button for the lift, and switch on your PC.
The small list of tasks could all be automated by a smart building. A smart building could recognize you in the vicinity of the building, open and close doors, have the lift waiting for you, while you walk down from the car park. The building could switch on the air conditioner in your office, while it just in time switches on the PC, while you are leaving the lift and are walking down the hallway.
Smart Buildings
Smart Buildings are buildings that are connected to its users, occupants and the companies that manage, service, secure and maintain them. Modern technology allows elements of a building to be measured, controlled and analyzed all at the same time.
How Smart Is Smart
Smart buildings are smart, very smart. Smart buildings are smarter than you will ever be. Smart buildings also know more about you then you know about yourself. Does that sound scary? Well, you better get used to it, because it is already happening in your life. Companies like Google, Instagram and Facebook are smarter than you too.
Buildings and these tech-giants know one thing about you, that you will never know unless you start using digital tools to measure them. They know and recognize your patterns. Your routines during the day, your spendings, your travel routes, your favourite restaurant in the first week of every month. They are very good at predicting what you will do next with your family, your lunch, your holidays and much more. Scary stuff. But it can be helpful too.
The moment you are leaving your office, a smart building can ensure that all electricity is switched off, the aircon slows down, the lift is waiting, and your Uber Taxi is just driving up when you walk through the main entrance.
Smart buildings can help you to run your life more fluently and more efficiently. Our hunger for technology will never stop.
“How much of this smartness are you going to let into your life?”
Smart Cities
Smart Cities are cities that interconnect with their users at the highest levels of technological capabilities. Smart Cities will exist of a majority of Smart Buildings.
Smart Cities In Malaysia
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad launched Malaysia Smart City Framework. He said it is important to turn Malaysia into a “smart city” and it is among the items of priority under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12th MP).
Frank Amptmeijer says “The whole world is getting smarter through our connectivity to the internet. Our work has integrated through mobile devices. Our social contacts and networks have integrated through online connectivity. The next stage will be to be connected to the places we work, commute and live in. Smart cities are inevitable. The question is how fast does Malaysia want to integrate? Fast integration could mean massive economic benefits and new forms of employment.”
“The public can choose to have a smart home. But the government must plan a transition towards smart cities. Once a transition is planned, and implementation has started, adaption will be fast. Somehow we all crave for more and better tech in our lives.”
Big Data
Your devices and the smart buildings you will work and live in will collect data of its users. This kind of data is called Big Data, and can be analyzed in order to assist the performance and the operating of such buildings. To reduce costs, increase safety and create a more pleasant environment and experience for its users. All the side effects, we will take for granted.
What could be the challenges to implement smart cities in Malaysia? Frank’s thoughts – “Smart cities will produce massive amounts of data, big data. Privacy might be at stake. The Government must plan for this too. Further, will big data reveal layers of transparency that might not be appreciated by everyone. The benefits of smart cities will outweigh the negative side-effects by far.”