Water systems (as well as lighting and HVAC systems) within smart buildings will likewise use IoT, edge AI and private networks to support predictive maintenance. Specifically, IoT sensors monitor the condition and performance of equipment in real-time, collecting data on factors like vibration, temperature and usage patterns. Edge AI analyzes this data locally to detect anomalies or early signs of wear, like clogged filters or malfunctioning components, allowing the system to predict potential failures before they occur. Private networks provide secure, high-speed connectivity to ensure the data gets transmitted and processed reliably. This combination results in a smarter, more proactive, environmentally conscious maintenance strategy that reduces downtime, minimizes expensive replacements and extends equipment lifespan.

Enhancing Occupant Experience, Productivity and Safety

Another powerful benefit of smart buildings that use IoT devices, edge AI and private networks is that they can enhance the occupant experience, which boosts productivity. These technologies work together to tailor indoor environment parameters in real-time to influence occupant comfortability and satisfaction. Although it might not seem like much to tweak temperature or increase light availability, research shows that these things can negatively or positively influence employee productivity. Of the various environmental parameters smart buildings can detect and adjust, such as humidity, air speed or air movement, availability of light, presence of CO2, etc., temperature is one of the most essential physical indoor environment parameters concerning the impact on productivity in workplaces.

IoT devices and sensors installed throughout the building continuously gather data from environmental conditions, like lighting, temperature, air quality and room occupancy levels. This data then gets processed locally by edge AI, which avoids cloud latency and enables immediate modifications that improve comfort for occupants. For instance, these technologies can automatically adjust heating and lighting when people enter a meeting room, saving energy while swaying productivity. AI-powered occupancy management technology can also perform face and object detection and image classification at the edge to determine the presence of occupants in real-time. As discussed earlier, private networks ensure secure, reliable and low-latency communication between devices to support a more adaptive and user-centric building environment.

Smart Buildings: A Meaningful Investment   

Organizations across all sectors, from universities to corporate offices, are under pressure to maintain operational efficiency without increasing costs. With its inflation, labor shortages, and sustainability regulations, today’s post-pandemic economy makes this pressure especially strong. Smart buildings, driven by IoT, edge AI and private networks, are emerging as a valuable means of addressing these challenges. Such infrastructure will only continue to gain popularity now that it is no longer limited to new construction or deep-pocketed enterprises. Retrofitting existing environments with advanced technology solutions is now a fast, cost-effective way to gain control over and futureproof previously inefficient systems.