How context connects the data dots

“Without context, a piece of information is just a dot. It floats in your brain with a lot of other dots and doesn't mean a damn thing. Knowledge is information-in-context -- connecting the dots. Making your own map.”

Michael Ventura

Data is everywhere within the built environment. However, as essayist Michael Venture recognised in 1997, it isn’t until we connect those dots with additional context that the information it contains becomes truly useful.

While achieving this enables organisations to maximise building performance, doing so can be an arduous task without an efficient way to apply context.

Nowhere is this truer than in the built environment, where most building operators lack the resources necessary to successfully extract, analyse and present data in a meaningful way - resulting in valuable insights remaining hidden.

Until recently. Public, commercial and residential building operators are now gaining access to innovative solutions capable of harnessing this powerful information.

The challenge of interoperability

Interoperability refers to the ability of computerised products and systems to readily connect and exchange information with one another, irrespective of their developer.

This is a persistent challenge when deploying smart building services in existing facilities, such as schools and hospitals. Interoperability demands seamless connection, communication, and exchange of data between a range of equipment and brands. The challenge becomes more complex when you consider incorporating technical standards, such as Modbus and BACnet.

It's a complex situation and it significantly hinders deployment, resulting in lost time, effort and resources.  

Achieving interoperability is key. The ability to seamlessly connect systems enables building managers to shift their attention and resources from managing data to pursuing the energy and cost-saving opportunities that data presents.

In other words, interoperability allows data to identify opportunities to drive efficiency instead of just being a by-product of performance.

Solving the data challenge with digital twins

Data, on its own, has no value. It only becomes useful (and valuable) when it includes context.

For building operators, the challenge they face is how to best transform reams of data into the insights needed to drive building performance.

Our buildings are complex structures: no two are identical making a building's performance is truly dynamic. This can make problem-solving around issues like energy waste a bit trickier.

The affordable Novacene approach, for example, offers an easy way of measuring, monitoring and maintaining a range of factors and utilises digital twins to deliver users with the deep insights they need to sharpen building performance.

Imagine being able to see exactly how much energy a room is using, its occupancy rate or even its CO2 - in real time. It's all possible with Novacene's advanced asset mapping.

For users, this depth of understanding means they are:  

1.) Making the right decisions - without trial and error -to drive energy efficiency

2.) Ensuring the greatest impact on energy use, CO2 emissions, air quality and running costs

3.) Protecting assets at risk of falling short of performance standards (eg MEES)

4.) Prioritising existing building stock for retrofit when budgets and resources are tight

Developed as a plug-and-play solution, its interoperability ensures users are benefitting from valuable insights from day one.

And it’s already helping hundreds of public and private sector organisations in Europe and North America to slash energy use and costs while boosting indoor air quality, comfort levels, and more.

‍