A data access framework for integration to facilitate efficient building operation

Building Automation and Control Systems (BACs) are used to manage the day-to-day functions, operation and maintenance of a huge diversity of equipment within facilities of varying size and function. These systems are developed by a large number of hardware and software manufacturers who produce proprietary products designed to solve specific problems. As a result a number of different BACS can be operating within a single facility controlling various devices and producing significant quantities of data. This data can prove difficult to access due to the proprietary nature of the individual applications, thereby limiting the potential for a holistic view of a facilities operation and limiting the scope for big data analytics. This paper proposes the implementation of a Data Access Framework to coalesce the disparate information sources that can exist within a facility via OPC into a tagged database with particular focus on Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) as a test case.