Smart Buildings

Jul 1, 1998 12:00 PM, AC&SSI Staff

Smart technology enables seamless facility control at municipal building in Holland Building owners worldwide face complex decisions about how to protect their structures and grounds from external and internal threats. Building owners in Europe, however, have been among the first to turn to "smart" technologies as security solutions. "Smart" technologies can address security and access concerns and surmount integration and cost barriers.

The municipality of Zwolle in Northern Holland is a large government organization that previously faced such concerns. In 1997, Regio IJsselvecht, a city-owned structure that houses municipal and social service agencies, as well as commercial tenants, decided to upgrade its existing security systems to a smart-card-based, integrated system.

In Holland, social services are supplied by the local government. Functions housed in the Regio Ijsselvecht building include government legal, medical and welfare services, which generate plenty of visitors during business hours. To ease monitoring and security chores for public safety personnel, local officials wanted a more effective means of controlling environment functions such as lighting and temperature, as well as internal and external building security, all from a single vantage point - the front reception desk. Regio IJsselvecht comprises a basement and six floors.

Zwolle city officials hired a privately held Santa Clara, Calif.-based technology company called Amazing Controls!, whichdevelops electronic control systems and related card technologies for intelligent building management. The company has European operations in Eindhoven, not far from Zwolle.

A Holland-based company called Flashlight was contracted to install a network of wires and controls to integrate the existing systems at Regio IJsselvecht. Flashlight is one of the largest distributors of commercial and industrial lighting in Europe.

Integration made easy with decentral control units The installation for Regio IJsselvecht took approximately four weeks over a period of six months, using a small team of workers. The new system integrated in-place climate control systems and alarm and security/access systems with a decentral control unit and Ethernet wiring.

The decentral control unit, designed by Amazing Controls!, is at the heart of the network. It uses a 32-bit RISC Motorola-made 68030 processor and fits a standard industrial rack. The clock speed is 25 MHz, which, while not as fast at today's 300 and 400 MHz PCs, can handle myriad chores in speedy fashion. The company also markets a "fast" decentral control unit that uses faster processors for the complex requirements of larger, more complex commercial and industrial applications. Multiple decentral control units can be installed side by side, depending on system complexity.

Two units containing standard "slots" for cards or circuit boards like those found in desktop PCs were used in the Regio IJsselvecht installation. Add-on cards that can "read" the older protocols were also installed in the units so that the already-in-place systems could be easily tied to the network. The RISC-based processing system can translate most proprietary protocols into the code used by the network.

In addition, Ethernet wiring was installed to create a network. The use of Ethernet cabling ensured that technicians did not need additional training to tie together the systems in Zwolle's government building. Customizable software was programmed to interface between proprietary protocols of existing access controls and the new network. Minimal training was required for users of the new system, because the proprietary interface was modeled after Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh operating software, so menus and commands are easy to use and understand.

To support security and environment controls consecutively, technicians installed appropriate cards to monitor burglar and fire alarms, as well as lighting and temperature sensors and panic buttons; several individual systems previously controlling these tasks were integrated into one.

In the past, when someone set off the burglar or fire alarm systems at Regio IJsselvecht, notification of the intrusion was sent via an ISDN line to a central alarm office. In the case of a fire, the network would notify public safety personnel at the front reception desk, then send out an alarm to local police and fire departments. The new system forwards such an alarm to an alarm company over the same line and there is little, if any, time lost in processing signals from alarm sensors.

Additionally, says Amazing Controls! Holland-based manager Joshua Newar, "Flashlight added two new systems under the direction of the city government that included panic alarms in the social services offices where welfare recipients apply for benefits. Apparently, recipients can become violent when they have disputes with their city government."

Flashlight also installed temperature sensors in laboratory refrigerators maintained by the public health officials and doctors who work in the building. Now, if the temperature rises above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, an alarm sounds so that medical personnel can move tissue and blood samples and medicine to cooler locations.

Access control improved A primary component of the system is access security, which is provided through smart card integration. At Regio IJsselvecht, entry and exit to secured areas are controlled by proximity smart cards, designed and manufactured by Amazing Controls!.

Regio IJsselvecht employees must present their cards to readers at entry and exit locations. Most of the access controls were installed on the ground floor where access needs to be closely monitored. There are 38 card readers positioned in key areas such as elevator and stairwell entryways. The proximity readers can detect information from employee proximity smart cards within a distance of 16 inches. All card readers are monitored from the reception area, so if an unauthorized user attempts access, the central security area is made aware, and action can be taken.

Providing even more security are the data-logging options provided in Regio IJsselvecht's network. For instance, the system records attempts by unauthorized users to enter restricted areas, and the card and reader system, of course, keeps the unauthorized public away from secured areas. All information can be retained and logged for up to five years. Executives from Regio IJsselvecht note that the network is capable of monitoring the whereabouts of individual office workers on any floor at any moment. Thus, in emergency situations, fire and police can determine exactly where to go to help people, making the work of rescue personnel far less dangerous.

The next generation The installation at Regio IJsselvecht was completed in March 1997 and has been operating without problems for more than a year. Because the hardware and software is derived from existing technology, Newar says the network should require little maintenance, and that repairs, if necessary, should not be complicated or expensive. The modular, standard industrial design of the new system allows for minimal fuss. For example, changing a card in the decentral control unit is as simple as changing an add-in board in a PC.

Based on the successful integration of "intelligent building" controls in the six-floor office complex, Zwolle city officials plan to secure the parking lots, the main gate and other access points around the perimeter of Regio Ijsselvecht this summer, using the same technology.

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