AV Technology - May 2008 - (Page 50)

SMART AV WHAT IS A NEXT GENERATION CONVERGENCE, AGAIN “This is really not about [whether] to have AV or not to have AV,” says Tom Shircliff, who, along with Rob Murchison, is cofounder of Intelligent Buildings Group, Charlotte, NC, a firm that designs, installs, and maintains open standards technology infrastructure in commercial real estate properties. “Most buildings have many forms of it. The challenge is to view all the AV as part of one strategy so as to avoid silos and inefficient or ineffective applications.” In buildings, most people think of AV as videoconference systems, digital signage displays in lobbies, and elevator music, but as AV becomes more integrated, these items will serve multiple purposes, such as security and safety messages, as well as a way to control and monitor other building functions. “There’s really a push toward more integration in the conference room and presentation room,” says Paul Ehrlich, founder and president, Building Intelligence Group, St. Paul, MN. With a fully integrated system, tenants can control not just the AV equipment, but also the lights, blinds, room temperature, and ventilation from a panel or a console in the room. The room can also be booked from a web-based interface, which may also help the facilities personnel monitor equipment usage, projector bulb life, and equipment security. “That’s the whole point of an intelligent building,” Murchison says. “Tenant and building demands are really all, in some way or another, part of the same backbone or the same technology standards.” DOUBLE THE SKILL SETS Rethinking the functions of the systems also requires rethinking how the systems are installed. Traditionally, the design and construction is done in divisions, or silos, with separate teams for mechanical and electrical that report to the general contractor who answers to the owner or developer. “That is starting to break down,” Shircliff says. “How do I work in a silo and plan to converge or work with the other systems? Almost nothing in a building anymore should be done in the traditional style or fashion, and that includes AV.” Specifiers and installers may now be required to know about more than their own system. “We look for people who understand business, technology, and networking, and they need to have a core set of a minimum of two systems,” Ehrlich says. Of course, HVAC and lighting controls are the heavyweights of BAS, followed by fire and security and AV. “We see system integrators as being somewhat generalists,” he continues. “You’ve got to have that core understanding of how your customer does their business, of user interface, of networking and technology, and then beyond that you have to be able to work with other contractors that are going to install the other specialized systems.” Contractors can build these different skill sets through attending manufacturer-sponsored seminars as well as by creating alliances through different organizations. The National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA), Cedar Rapids, IA, the leading not-for-profit association representing the commercial electronic systems industry, helps its members forge partnerships with non-competing members, as well as provides information for those that want to branch out. “We’re seeing companies that want to stay focused on AV that are creating partnerships and strategic alliances with the building technologies companies,” says Chuck Wilson, executive director, NSCA. “We put like-minded companies together. We’re also seeing these integrators diversifying their product line INTELLIGENT BUILDING? DESIGN Energy efficient design (LEED) Complete building modeling Focus on building circulation and “Feng Shui” Common spaces for networking Integration with transportation and surrounding community Automatic fire suppression Fire detection and alarm Egress support (lighting, signage, smoke control, etc.) Contaminant monitoring and containment Proximate security/guard services MECHANICAL Energy efficient equipment Thermal storage Combined heat and power Controls optimization Extensive sensing Energy efficiency Indoor air quality Comfort monitoring Internet enabled controls Enterprise integration Water and gas metering/sub-metering CONSTRUCTION Sustainable construction practices Electronic project documentation Modeling extended into construction GENERAL Tenant amenities Concierge Shopping Restaurants Lodging Optimized vertical transport Personal comfort control Temperature Humidity IAQ Lighting Acoustic ELECTRICAL Energy efficient lighting Lighting control Distributed generation Dual power feeds/ emergency power Power quality monitoring Sub-metering/billing OPERATIONAL Integration of all systems Remote operations and optimization Tenant portals After hours operation Maintenance management and dispatch Energy information and management systems Real time energy response Continuous comfort monitoring and feedback SOURCE : BUILDING INTELLIGENCE GROUP NETWORKING/ TELECOM Common network infrastructure Structured/maintainable cabling WiFi VOIP Digital signage SECURITY/ LIFE SAFETY Digital video monitoring Access control and monitoring and adding new technology so that they can become a total systems provider. Some companies want it all, others want just a small piece of it.” This type of flexibility is creating expanded opportunities for AV consultants and contractors. “If you’re an AV consultant or an AV contractor, you have the opportunity now to be involved outside of where the projectors and the presentation space is,” Ehrlich says. “There aren’t enough system integrators, so they’re going to come from the people that are already connecting traditional systems in an integrated fashion in that conference room or boardroom.” A COMMON LANGUAGE CABA’s TRM report notes that most of the required technologies for intelligent buildings were generally available but not widely adopted. But that didn’t take the potential for AV technology into consideration. One barrier to a wider adoption in intelligent buildings is that AV technology itself may not be up to the task. In 1998, Crestron Electronics, Rockleigh, NJ, began putting Ethernet www.avtechnologyonline.com 50 | AV TECHNOLOGY | may 2008 http://www.avtechnologyonline.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of AV Technology - May 2008

AV Technology - May 2008 Contents Precedent Corporate: How to Qualify an AV Supplier Education: Working Smarter AV Technology's Guide to Networked AV Government: IPv6 — Why You Should Care Calculating ROI on Your Digital Signage Investment Enhancing Audio in the Classroom Minimizing Equipment Theft Smart AV The Tribe Has Spoken AV Enables Interactive Research AV Image Enhancement Product Spotlight Tech Horizons Product Review New Products AV MO

AV Technology - May 2008

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