Automation for building performance and maintenance efficiency

Abstract

In Western Europe, 80% of buildings will continue to exist beyond 2050. Almost all, 98-99%, need to be updated and maintained in conformity with the requirements to new buildings, designated as nearly zero-energy buildings (nZEBs). In principle, buildings with modern superstructures have a potential lifespan of over 120 years, without compromising safety. Considering materials, labor, logistics, pollution, gas emissions, energy involved in the construction and assuming its heritage value, it is recommended a full modernization of buildings to assure their utility in favor of communities. This research focuses on reaching the maintenance efficiency and buildings performance, without increasing the costs. The Model is designed to measure and anticipate the degradation of buildings, in three steps. Starting with a network of active sensors, embedded and non-embedded in layers of components and subcomponents, which survey and monitor the condition of the building systems. Those will provide accurate data for computational analysis (first step) and quantify and qualify the viability of construction systems with the highest impact on building performance. The information supports the managers' decisions (second step), before compromising the materials and the constructive solutions, saving work time, reducing maintenance costs, and assuring the highest performance, while preserving user's comfort. And promote a rapid and specific response to stop early anomalies (third step), by obtaining an outsourced contract to respond to daily basis needs (and not tasks) with specialized technicians. The information collected will help to determine policies, anticipate anomalies, plan proper maintenance, ranking investments and intervene on marked systems. The three-step model aims for a reduction of natural resources usage, a decrease of human impact, to increase the efficiency and to improve the performance of the building stock.

Self-learning and Self-repairing Technologies to Establish Autonomous Building Maintenance

“…The use of acquisition technology in building active systems has already presented good results, ensuring better operation (increasing comfort and reducing running cost) and diminishing equipment maintenance procedures. The same principles are replicable on envelope passive systems' components: responsible for 50% of energy consumption [23] [24]. Everything gets worse when the condition is corrupted [25].…”

Sequential Model for Long-Term Planning of Building Renewal and Capital Improvement

“…The proposed approach uses FMEA (Failure Modes and Effects Analysis), which combined with a cloud computing model processes uncertain information using gray relationships to improve the efficiency of maintenance management of historic buildings. An extension of the BIM concept is an efficient (ongoing) building maintenance system based on data from sensors monitoring passive building systems providing the basis for maintenance decisions that reduce maintenance costs and ensure high building performance while maintaining occupant comfort [69]. The information collected in the system will help to set policy, predict anomalies, plan proper maintenance, prioritize investments, and intervene quickly to stop the building degradation process.…”