Information Technologies Engineering

Information technology (IT) engineers deal with the design and integration of multiple systems of structured cable and wireless information technologies relating to buildings and building occupants:

· Building systems —HVAC, lighting, daylighting control, energy monitoring, security access, and fire/smoke detection and alarm.

· Telecommunications —voice, data, graphics, and audiovideo.

Several developments which occurred somewhat simultaneously in the early 1980s drove the explosive growth of information technology—the divestiture of the Bell corporate empire, the Internet, the personal computer, user friendly software interfaces, and large capacity investments in telecommunications infrastructure, satellites, and fiber optic cable systems.

The emerging development of building information modeling (BIM) has the potential to integrate the design, fabrication, construction, and O&M databases over the life cycle of the building development.

Description

Integrated Design

Concept of a Security Command Center that integrates

Multiple technologies seamlessly into one facility

 

Such systems as telecommunications, data, building operation controls, audiovisual, and security are commonly introduced as separately operating systems. Integrated building systems now have the capability to use the same structured cable network and enable interoperability across all systems. The IT Engineer designs the structured cable system network that enables the user's technology systems and the building operating systems to function in an integrated manner.

Synergies enabling user comfort and building energy savings can be realized when integrated systems can interact seamlessly, thus benefiting the comfort and business needs of the user and the building owner simultaneously.

This is most easily accomplished when all building stakeholders and members of the design team are brought as early as possible into the integrated design process. The IT Engineer should be involved with design decisions from project start since IT design overlaps and affects building operations systems, vertical and horizontal space utilization, and user/organizational business needs.

Design Objectives

Information systems will affect all design objectives of the complex modern commercial, institutional, or governmental building:

· Accessible for physically challenged user access to telecommunications and security devices

· Cost-Effective for initial construction cost and user life-cycle cost

· Functional/Operational for integrated control of building operational systems and building automated systems (BAS)

· Productive for user health and comfort, and business/organization needs

· Secure/Safe for building security access, surveillance, fire/smoke detection and alarm systems; and user LAN/WAN network security

· Sustainable—Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality; Optimize O&M Practices for high performance optimization of building controls and operational systems

· The design and implementation of wiring and cabling systems has direct impact on aesthetics and preserving historic spaces within the building.

As advanced electronic entertainment systems, home offices, and telecommuting become more prevalent, multi-unit and single-unit residential buildings are being built and marketed to attract the IT-sophisticated residential consumer.

Flexibility

Scalable IT infrastructure will accommodate

Future technologies

 

All organizations must be adaptable to a high rate of change. IT is one of the most rapidly changing aspects of technologically advanced societies across the globe. New devices and technologies for business and personal use are constantly being brought to market. As new IT technologies are introduced, building and IT infrastructure design must be flexible and adaptable to accommodate future new technologies so as not to disrupt ongoing business operations or cause excessively costly modifications to existing systems.

Design for IT flexibility requires consideration of all or some of the following:

· Adequate power for future building/system expansion including emergency power supply

· Adaptable power and telecommunication cores

· Adaptable dedicated electrical and telecommunications spaces

· HVAC delivery to dedicated IT spaces

· Network security

· Strategically located branch takeoffs and utility stubs

· Adaptable plenum systems—either overhead or underfloor, coordinated with space needs for parallel HVAC, power, lighting, and fire protection systems as applicable

· Overhead exposed cable trays integrated with parallel HVAC, power, lighting, and fire protection systems

Emerging Issues

Integrated Practice

The building industry has been focused on rapidly emerging technologies in building information modelling and interoperability that will radically change the process of design, fabrication, construction, and maintenance of buildings over their life cycle. These same technologies threaten to change traditional industry business and contractual relationships regarding inefficiencies due to design and construction industry fragmentation; risk distribution and ownership of design information; compensation methodology—value based vs. cost based fee determination; leveraging of project information knowledge early in the design process; and intellectual property compensation for knowledge stored in an A/E BIM to be modified by input of project-specific data.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has recently announced the establishment of the Integrated Practice Strategy Working Group (IPSWG), which brings AIA knowledge communities and committees together to discuss this potential redefinition of architectural practice.