Connected and Distributed Sensing in Buildings: Improving Operation and Maintenance

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the vision of achieving interconnectivity in physical devices. This aspiration has started to translate into the buildings sector. Modern buildings are increasingly equipped with a wide array of sensors. Distributed and connected sensing represents an untapped opportunity for us to optimize the operation of buildings by reducing energy use and operation costs and improving occupant comfort, health, and productivity. However, distributed and connected sensing in buildings without robust data analytics tools and methods has also become a major problem; more sensors and actuators mean a larger number of components and equipment that can fail and need to be diagnosed and maintained. In this article, we discuss the current state and future challenges in using connected and distributed sensing in buildings to improve building operation and maintenance.