The term smart building references something more than just automation. However, within the smart building industry, there is a significant amount of vagueness and confusion surrounding the term smart. Additionally, the industry is transitioning to a diverse world of autonomous systems, artificial intelligence (AI) and distributed Internet of Things (IoT). Consequently, the building automation industry’s lack of a clear lexicon is becoming a barrier to communication.
One way the smart building industry can overcome the challenges of providing clarity and distinguishing between technological architectures is by establishing a common taxonomy. Furthermore, the mutually understood foundation can facilitate clear communications with customers, investors and the public.
Other industries have faced these challenges before, and thus it is needless for the building industry to reinvent the wheel. The future of autonomous buildings and autonomous vehicles appear to be heading in the same direction. Therefore, much of their existing taxonomy is also applicable to the building industry. Just as the autonomous vehicles are the pinnacle in the automated vehicle standard taxonomy, fully autonomous buildings are the end-point of the smart building revolution.
In addition, autonomous vehicles and next-generation buildings navigate in real-time. However, there is a difference. Instead of navigating a single car in a 2D spatial map, autonomous buildings navigate a whole fleet of sub-systems simultaneously in a multi-dimensional temporal map.
Therefore, the proposed taxonomy for the smart building industry will include levels 6-8 that go beyond the autonomous vehicles standard. The levels would be defined as Level 0 – Autonomy; Level 1 - Adaptive set-points; Level 2 - Sequence generation assist; Level 3 - Adaptive sequences; Level 4 - Real-time sequencing; Level 5 - Full autonomy; Level 6 - Self-Guided install; Level 7 - Self-Commissioning, and Level 8 - Peer-to-Peer Interactive.
In this manner, the smart building industry aims to develop a language to discuss the future of the industry, the future of the control systems, and interact with buildings. The taxonomy is expected to prepare the industry to chart a course to truly smart buildings.
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