Wireless offers flexibility

A key development in building management is the increasing role wireless is playing.

While building management traditionally leveraged wired systems, these are now being replaced with wireless technologies that offer faster, more flexible deployment.

LoRaWAN advocates claim that its technology can penetrate walls while maintaining low-power consumption. The LoRaWAN Alliance said that the combination of these attributes is what makes LoRaWAN stand out within the smart building industry and what has accelerated adoption.

Another attribute that is driving interest in LoRaWAN networks for smart buildings is that they can co-exist with other wireless networks, as they are complementary to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5G, and RFID.

The technology applies to both existing Brownfield and new Greenfield buildings. Because LoRaWAN integrates seamlessly into building management system standards like BACnet, KNX, Modbus, and similar environments, it enables a quick path to modernizing and upgrading Brownfield buildings while retaining the value of existing building management systems. In new buildings, LoRaWAN offers a wide range of certified sensors available to better manage building environments, energy use and utilization.

Applying LoRaWAN

LoRaWAN continues to be applied by service providers and building owners across a diverse set of property types, including business centers, hospitals, real estate and sports arenas.

One example is Verizon Business with its Sensor Insights. As a turnkey IoT solution, Sensor Insights has been sold to companies in diverse industries such as food refrigeration and insurance.

In February, Verizon Business announced Sensor Insights is being deployed by the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena, where the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks play, to monitor and manage the temperature and condition of sensitive technical equipment and to better track waste disposal and resource efficiency.

Verizon Sensor Insights supports multiple IoT protocols, including LoRaWAN, allowing users to manage sensors, gateways, and connectivity from a centralized portal for optimized decision-making.

Healthcare is also finding utility with LoRaWAN. Kerlink and Microshare deployed a LoRaWAN IoT network at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in London. Over the course of a few days, sensors enabled real-time monitoring for bed occupancy, energy use, fridge temperatures, and equipment tracking, boosting hospital efficiency, patient care, and cost savings without impacting core IT systems.

“Given the projected growth in smart buildings over the next five years, LoRaWAN solution providers are extremely well-positioned to capitalize on this growth and bring sustaining value to this sector,” said Yegin.

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