4
CONSTRUCTION WORLD
MARCH
2014
Technology
A huge buzz word. Nothing new, right? But
of course there is always something newer
than new, with the rate of innovation
accelerating. What, specifically is relevant
regarding technology in FM? Here are six
technical trends that cannot be ignored.
Data Security
The recent National
Security Agency (NSA) eavesdropping affair
brought to light the prevalence of espio-
nage, not only in politics, but the corporate
world as well. Private firms are now selling
mass surveillance systems. Is your building,
occupancy, and energy datawell protected?
How do you know it is not vulnerable to
attack? There is a definite trend in 2014 to
seek better security methods.
The Cloud
The hottest topic in data
storage might also be the biggest question
in data security. If there is one trend that
everyone is talking about, the Cloud is it.
It offers fantastic flexibility for collabora-
tion and nearly limitless storage capacity,
but what are the consequences of this for
data security? Do you know where your
facilities data is stored and how to keep it
safely backed up?
Building Intelligence, Big Data, and
Metrics
Everyone’s talking about big data,
but few organisations are really able to
capture and analyse it on an ongoing
basis. Now is the time for implementation
of systems that collect real-time energy,
occupancy, and related facilities data.
The challenge to corporate real estate and
FM professionals is, centralising portfolios,
integrating data from various systems and
defining metrics that really matter to their
organisation. Moreover, most customers
will need help to interpret the data, to
make it meaningful to them. This will bring
the ‘holy grail’ – understanding total occu-
pancy cost – into arm's reach.
3D Printing
Manufacturing and logis-
tics enterprises are already feeling the
impact of this exploding technology. How
can FM capitalise on the opportunity to
generate replacement parts quickly and
efficiently onsite? Where else can this inno-
vation be applied, to promote efficiencies
in building equipment maintenance?
Robotics/Automation
Again, with a
little reminder from our friends in National
Security who have perfected the drone
for spying, there has been a trend toward
automating many personnel functions.
In facilities, the trend will continue with
opportunities for robotics to fulfil roles
particularly at times or in locations where
it is not ideal to employ human capital.
Drones can ensure a greater level of safety
and consistency in operations, especially in
dangerous conditions.
Biometrics
Apple launched finger-print
touch ID this year and Tesco announced
plans to use facial recognition scanners for
targeted advertising. Technology is plug-
ging into our physical beings as much as
we are plugging into devices. Workspace
engineers have jumped on this bandwagon
with the development of sophisticated
sensors that auto adjust lighting, desk
height, and other environmental factors
to meet the needs of individual workers.
We will no doubt see this trend continue.
Will the touch of a finger or an eye scan
initiate workspace adaptation? The poten-
tial for utilising this technology in time-
share offices is enormous.
Climate threats
In recent years, the world has wit-
nessed climate catastrophes on a scale
unknown to recorded history. Hurricane
Sandy. Typhoon Haiyan. Blizzards in
North America. Earthquakes in Asia.
Global Tsunamis.
The implications for the FM industry are
enormous and range from practical matters
of designing critical environments that can
withstand the forces of nature and devising
energy security measures to ensuring,
more importantly, that human capital are
protected and can be assisted efficiently
in emergency situations. Workspace engi-
neers as well as facilities managers need
to develop detailed contingency plans that
factor in the potential for natural disas-
ters, recognising that the intensity and
frequency of such events is increasing.
>
MARKETPLACE
By Phil Gregory, senior regional executive:
Johnson Controls Global WorkPlace Solutions,
Middle East & Africa.
BEYOND
BUZZ
words
As we move into 2014, the workplace and
industry in general is bombarded by new
buzzwords and trends that can sometimes
be over-used yet not fully understood. We at
Johnson Controls Global WorkPlace Solutions
recently conducted a study on all of the relevant
industry trends identified by
Johnson Controls
Global WorkPlace Solutions
highlighting 2014’s
buzzwords in the FM arena.
