The Future of Interoperable Systems

Seems like just yesterday, it is now 21 years since the BACnet standard, ASHRAE 135, was approved and published. Since then much has happened.

Paul Ehrlich, Ira Goldschmidt & Angela Lewis
Building Intelligence Group

As published

September Issue - BAS Column

W hile it seems like just yesterday, it is now 21 years since the BACnet standard, ASHRAE 135, was approved and published. Since then much has happened.  We had a brief, but furious industry debate over the need for open protocols, and battles over which protocol to use.  Over the years, it has largely settled out, with essentially all HVAC controls suppliers offering systems that use BACnet, while also fairly strong support for other protocols, such as LonWorks, Modbus, and various uses of XML and other web standards.  In many ways, it feels like this is an issue that has been settled and no further work is needed. 

This really could not be further from the truth.  While it should be expected that robust open protocols like BACnet will continue to be widely used, readily supported, and continually enhanced, we should also expect that new protocols will be needed for markets, applications, and use cases that are not readily supported by a control protocol such as what was originally defined in BACnet. Here are some examples of what will need to be supported in future protocol implementations:

• Semantics:   One thing we have learned in doing systems integration and data analysis is that it isn’t just a matter of being able to integrate, but of being able to understand what you have connected to.  This meaning of data is semantics.  Standards for semantics, such as being proposed in project Haystack, are key to being able to have better operating integrated systems.
  

• Cross Industry Support:   Different industries have gravitated to different interoperability standards.  Moving to common standards will make integration easier to implement broadly.   Note that this includes not only lighting and HVAC applications, but in the future for vehicle chargers, solar panels, etc.
  

• Business and Grid Support: Control systems will be expected to readily provide data to business systems and to bring data to and from the grid (often called Building to Grid).  These will largely be IT based standards.
  

• Small Commercial and Residential Support:   Today’s solutions are fairly commonly applied in larger commercial buildings.  Future solutions are also needed that can be used for integration and connection of smaller commercial buildings as well as residential applications.  While ideally the same set of standards could be used for all building applications, it may make more sense to have one set of solutions for consumers / residential applications and another for commercial applications. 
  

There is ongoing work from a number of groups to evaluate and develop new and expanded open protocols.  ASHRAE is very active in expanding BACnet, but work is also ongoing from groups including NIST and the DOE to help define standards for expanded capabilities and functionality for open and interoperable systems.

About the Authors

Paul and IraPaul and Ira first worked together on a series of ASHRAE projects including the BACnet committee and Guideline 13 – Specifying DDC Controls. The formation of Building Intelligence Group provided them the ability to work together professionally providing assistance to owners with the planning, design and development of Intelligent Building Systems. Building Intelligence Group provides services for clients worldwide including leading Universities, Corporations, and Developers. More information can be found at www.buildingintelligencegroup.com   We also invite you to contact us directly at Paul@buildingintelligencegroup.com or ira@buildingintelligencegroup.com

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