Author’s Corner
In his white paper, Byron James, Assistant Vice President Client Services & Operations, provides insight into the latest building design technology. He analyzes facial recognition, energy management, human temperature monitoring, and more.
Please click on the video to the right to learn more about Byron, his paper’s key takeaways, and his motivation for writing on this subject.
To discuss building design technology, please contact Byron using his information provided at the bottom of the white paper.
The options today in building design technologies for architects and engineers are unlimited. From exterior to interior, the choices in building security, environmental monitoring, personal protection, and communication systems are vast. This white paper is focused on technology available in the marketplace and how to find balance within the design. Below is a sample of the latest technology for building designers.
| Technology | Offices | Mixed Use | Healthcare | Residential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupancy sensors | YES | YES | YES | Limited |
| Voice-activated elevators | YES | YES | YES | Limited |
| Antiviral surfaces and coatings | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Ultraviolet/germicidal lighting | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Facial recognition technology | YES | YES | YES | Limited |
| Thermal infrared temperature sensors | YES | YES | YES | Limited |
| Automatic/hands-free doors | YES | YES | YES | Limited |
| Programmable digital signage | YES | YES | YES | Not Necessary |
| Capacity tracking and monitoring | YES | YES | YES | Not Necessary |
| Hands-free sinks/toilets | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Energy monitoring/management | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Security alarms and cameras | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| RFID terminals | YES | YES | YES | Not Necessary |
| Upgrade/improve HVAC systems | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Hands-free/smart appliances | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Flexible and reconfigurable walls | YES | YES | YES | YES |
Let’s explore several of the technologies mentioned above for use in building design.
In building design, facial recognition is primarily used for security, allowing companies to control access to a building or sensitive areas.
The analytical outcome from facial recognition data is employee timekeeping, the number of employees in a building, and high traffic areas of the workspace.
Facial recognition has numerous applications, including preventing retail crime, locating people/children, recognizing VIP’s at sporting events, validating identity during ATM transactions, and many others.
Hands-free appliances are a great addition to the office or home to reduce the spread of germs, for convenience and safety, and to conserve energy.
Many of our modern-day appliances are considered hands-free, such as lighting, phones, soap dispensers, and garage doors. Recent technology advances have added hands-free refrigerators, thermostats, microwaves, stoves, trash cans, dishwashers, water faucets, televisions, and toilets.
Human temperature monitoring has become a “hot” topic due to COVID 19 and the potential for future virus outbreaks.
Several biometric technologies have been developed to monitor individuals and large crowds to detect people that demonstrate a higher than normal temperature. These technologies range from infrared cameras, to kiosk stations, to sensors within cell phones.
As global business and travel expands, the need for such monitoring will become more prevalent.
Energy management continues to be a technology that is being developed and implemented through many new building and retrofit designs.
Some of the technologies being deployed are solar, efficient HVAC systems, renewable, or high energy systems. Designers also deploy energy modeling early in the design process to understand the efficiency of their designs.
Although the technology choices are many, our staff of architects and engineers are well-versed in the design and implementation of these innovations. Our teams use the latest software tools to represent these features within our client designs. We keep abreast of the latest technology through education, webinars, and by working with leading design firms throughout the world.
