In the Middle East, smart cities and campuses are investing in the future by leveraging large-scale IoT. The University of Birmingham’s Dubai and Edgbaston campuses are undergoing a transformation that demonstrates how the integration of emerging technologies such as IoT sensors and back-end data centers can drive cost optimization, create better user experience and introduce new business opportunities.
The deployment of the smart campus project offers possibilities that go beyond the academic world. The immense amount of data collected by emerging IoT technologies offers insights with applications for businesses in the Middle East.
The smart campus project aimed to address several key business issues, namely reducing the university’s carbon emissions, responding to operational challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing costs and increasing revenue. , and improving the user experience for university staff and students.
The design and construction of the project required the collaboration of a company specializing in digitization, automation and energy-saving technologies. After a competitive procurement process in 2020, the university selected Siemens to lead its digital infrastructure efforts at the Edgbaston and Dubai campuses.
The relationship with Siemens, which includes adoption of the company’s Enlightened IoT suite of applications, provides “a robust, durable and scalable platform on which to grow,” says Trevor Payne, Director of Domains at the University. from Birmingham. Siemens was commissioned to design and deliver the energy efficiency project, supported by the Estates Office and University of Birmingham IT Services.
The first phase of the project began in early 2022, equipping the university’s 25 most energy-intensive buildings with integrated IoT sensors, new building management systems, LED lighting, energy management software, and more. energy and thermostatic radiator valves. “All 25 buildings will remain active and operational, so careful planning and an extensive communications plan to inform, consult and engage users will be key to managing any potential disruptions,” Payne said. “This will save the university money, ensure compliance and support the first phase of the university’s transition to net zero carbon.”
Siemens has also created a smart campus app, which is expected to be launched in the first half of 2022. The app will be connected to the Desigo CC building management software – the centralized interface for the campus technology infrastructure – and will allow users to invite visitors to campus, book workspaces, adjust lighting and cooling levels, and see nearby points of interest.
IoT sensors: a flexible solution
IoT sensors use the Enlighted system to link buildings to provide data on how spaces are used and how traffic flows through them, so the campus can optimize space utilization, select areas coworking and collaboration, and identify and anticipate infrastructure maintenance areas.
Sensors optimize electricity use by turning lighting and HVAC systems on and off when needed, providing real-time outage and energy savings reports to administrators. Daylight harvesting technology automatically senses the amount of natural light available in a space and brightens or dims lights as needed to maximize productivity in workspaces and improve comfort in recreation areas, while providing energy savings of 27% in offices and 29% in education. centers, found the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
The implementation will also improve campus security: geofencing and badge tagging help restrict private and sensitive areas to authorized users only; When used in conjunction with security management software and applications, the technology helps staff and students respond to emergencies and get to safety.
Changing business models require new technologies
One of the biggest challenges facing the project was a growing concern over profits and funding in the context of the campus’ complex revenue model, which the university’s estates office identified as a priority even before the launch of the project. SalesForce’s Connected Student Report 2021 found that 45% of staff indicated that their universities will implement new business models in the wake of the pandemic, with 29% investing in accreditation or microaccreditation and more than 70% investing in new growth opportunities such as online. part-time or short-term learning options and courses suitable for working students. The University of Birmingham’s Smart Campus project has introduced new digital tools to facilitate remote teaching and learning, a technology shift that will provide increased flexibility for students and staff and introduce new sources of potential income.
Leverage analytics for long-term growth
Beyond the immediate cost and energy savings, one of the project’s most valuable outputs is a constant flow of data, providing continuous input on energy and space usage, occupancy, traffic flow, equipment status and user behavior. Building strong data ecosystems through IoT benefits campuses, smart cities, and enterprises by accelerating growth with mission-critical insights. The University of Birmingham wants to transform the campus into a “living laboratory” where collected data can be used for research and development activities as well as applied learning opportunities for students. One of the components of the Smart Campus Project is a Siemens PhD Fellowship that will allow researchers to use the information collected by the system to undertake projects related to data, technology, urban systems and environmental sustainability.
Learning from smart cities
Universities offer a diverse range of spaces with unique needs, including classrooms, offices, research facilities, auditoriums, and other recreational areas such as sports, recreation, and dining facilities. Implementing a large-scale project requires communicating with a large number of different stakeholders to meet the unique needs of each individual area of campus and transform the way they operate.
“At a high level, we believe that there are many synergies between designing and delivering a smart campus and designing a smart city, including overall goals and objectives, such as improving the user experience and general well-being, lower carbon emissions, and to create the optimal path to net-zero carbon emissions. Many of the challenges and opportunities apply to both,” Payne said.
In line with its net zero goal by 2050, the UAE is paving the way for some of the most advanced IoT projects in the Middle East, including public transport, electricity, water, telecommunications and smart city initiatives . “Creating smart campuses, whether universities, industrial complexes or mixed-use sites, is a key part of the journey to smarter cities. The difference is in the use cases; a university has a unique ownership structure and needs technology to address specific challenges, such as the student experience, for example. A city has a similar need for digital solutions that are integrated, but reflect different user types, use cases and ownership structures,” says Michael Palmer of Siemens Smart Infrastructure. “Ultimately, it’s about applying technology with a purpose: intelligently deploying digital solutions for a defined outcome, whether for operational efficiency, energy efficiency, security, resilience, durability or user experience.”
Business advice
The transformation of the University of Birmingham Dubai and Edgbaston smart campus has potential applications for businesses in the Middle East, which can benefit from cost and energy savings as well as improved efficiency, improved safety, comfort and productivity for employees. A McKinsey report examined the economic value potential of IoT for different business contexts and found that IoT integration is expected to create $240 billion to $500 billion in value for office environments and up to $1.3 trillion for factories by 2030. The transition required a change in the way the university does business. of work and approach to collaboration.
“From experience, there are several important facets for any organization embarking on this journey,” says Payne. “Research, in order to support the creation of new knowledge and the transfer of knowledge, is essential for long-term collaboration between and between sectors, cities and continents. Long-term partnerships with industry will be crucial to implementing technology at scale and managing that technology in a sustainable way – increasingly important given the speed at which modern technology is advancing. Finally, organizations will need a clear vision and a culture of innovation. Not all smart campus initiatives will be relevant forever, however, establishing a culture where people are encouraged to share ideas, collaborate and push boundaries will be key to fostering the ecosystems needed to support a truly campus. clever.
Investing in technology and its returns
The smart campus transformation generated immediate cost and energy savings of 5%, the equivalent of 2,856 tonnes of CO2. But the valuable data generated by the university’s integration of IoT sensors could present the greatest returns on investment in years to come. “The anonymized data and information gathered from these new technologies helps the university identify potential building issues before they impact the end-user experience. By spotting possible issues before they become a major problem, it will help to offset some of the reactive pressures on the various academic teams, allowing staff to better plan, prepare and make informed decisions on how best to take action. corrective action,” says Payne.
“Our current and future smart campus innovations will enhance the teaching and learning experience, improve research impact and outcomes, and drive operational improvements in the day-to-day management of our domain, ensuring that we deliver a campus that is both sustainable and fit for the future.”