Beneath their skins of concrete, steel, and glass, buildings have nerve centers (electrical systems, HVAC systems, fire and life safety systems, networks, and surveillance equipment) that collect information about the building's condition and occupants and respond accordingly. Usually, building systems work independently of each other, operated as separate entities by a cadre of maintenance workers and facility managers. But the September 11 attack on the Pentagon (widely regarded as the brainiac of smart buildings) vividly illustrated how effective an integrated, networked system of sensors and controls can be in responding to a disaster, limiting damage and saving lives.
In the article Deborah Snoonian (senior editor at Architectural Record) also discusses communication protocols such as BACNet and LonWorks, and systems being devised by companies such as Johnson Controls that use Microsoft .NET. They will be the key to making ordinary office buildings, apartment complexes, hospitals and hotels as smart, safe, and efficient as the Pentagon is today.
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