It's easy to see the appeal of a web-based building management system (BMS).It enables building services to be controlled and monitored from any location where Internet access is available,using only standard hardware such as a PC,pocket PC,or even a mobile phone.
In principle,this makes it easy for users to keep a watchful eye on their buildings from the comfort of their own homes,or even from the local pub!It also means that one person can monitor several buildings,even if they are spread over a wide area.
The only software needed to access a web-enabled BMS is a standard web browser.Almost every computer has a suitable browser installed, so there are no software licence fees to pay,irrespective of the number of users who may need to connect to the BMS.Further,most users will already know how to use a web browser,so training requirements are minimised.
Excellent user-interface functionality is relatively easy to provide in a web-based BMS.Detailed graphical representations of various items of plant or even building floor plans can, for example,be displayed on web pages associated with the BMS controls,and charts can also be easily incorporated.
Updates are straightforward,as the graphics are stored in one central location,and downloaded to the users'computers only when they need to be displayed.This contrasts to conventional multi-user BMS installations,where the graphics are stored separately in each user terminal.
Providing inputs to the BMS via a web browser is equally convenient. Actions can be initiated by ordinary point-and-click mouse operations,and the keyboard can be used for entering set points, times and other alphanumeric data.
Another argument often advanced in favour of web-based BMS solutions is that as they communicate using Ethernet,they can make use of the existing IT network on the site where they are installed.This opens up the tantalising possibility of substantial cost savings,since the need to install wiring for a separate BMS network is eliminated.
At first sight,these benefits appear compelling and,in the right application,there's no doubt that they are.That doesn't mean, however, that it's a good idea to specify a web-enabled BMS without first thinking carefully about whether it is appropriate for the application currently under consideration.
The first question to ask is whether multi-user access from locations on- and off-site is actually required.If it isn't,then choosing a web-enabled BMS is probably only going to inflate costs and add unnecessary complexity to the installation.
Even if multi-user access is needed, a non-web system may be a better choice if the user terminals are in fixed on-site locations. One reason for this is that the costs will probably be lower,but another important consideration is security.
Web-enabled BMS products are very well protected against hacking,and they are unlikely to suffer unauthorised access.They can,however, never be made as secure as proprietary products working on a closed network.
Now let's look at the potential benefits of sharing networking cabling with an existing IT installation.This sharing may technically
be possible but,in many cases,the IT professionals responsible for the operational reliability of the organisation's computer network are very reluctant indeed to allow the connection of what they see as alien equipment.
Even if agreement in principle can be obtained for network sharing, there are other areas which will have to be addressed in conjunction with the IT team.These include,for example,the allocation of IP addresses for the BMS equipment,and the impact on network performance of the additional traffic produced by the BMS equipment.
It is also worth bearing in mind that, while web-based systems are able to offer an excellent user interface, facilities that are just as convenient can be provided by a conventional BMS.Interface convenience should not,therefore,be taken as a deciding factor for or against a web-based solution.
In many instances,the decision between web-based and conventional BMS technology is finely balanced.In these cases,the best approach is to seek guidance from a supplier who offers both alternatives and who is,therefore,in a position to offer impartial advice.
One final but important point – anyone deciding on a conventional BMS solution should make sure that this is all they pay for.Some BMS products have non-optional integrated web servers.Anyone buying one of these when a conventional BMS is right for their application is simply paying for technology they don't need and won't use.
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