【 Weak current College 】 intelligent building weak electricity system integrated way of considering

Summary: this article is an intelligent building weak electricity system integration discussions. Description of high-grade intelligent building weak electricity system integration should be based on information integration as a goal. Pointed out that traditional to BAS-centric electronic system integration can not meet the information needs of integrated management. Describes an advanced feature of regional network-subsystem integrated manner, and that it is the best programme information integration. This article also to the weak electricity system integrators and weak electricity system product of choice for a brief discussion.


First, the weak electricity system integration should be based on information integration as a goal
The rapid development in information technology, computer network and system integration has become mainstream in the direction of property development, intelligent building weak electricity system as one of the major aspects of the mechanical and electrical equipment is system integration. System integration has become a distinguishing building intelligent degree of importance.
Shanghai in 1995, the intelligent building design standard "highlighted" intelligent building engineering design for integration of various subsystems should implement unified management and monitoring ". Which category a smart House, must "have the intelligent system integration. The interface should be standardized, normalized, the realization of the intelligent information exchange between systems. ”
However, the investigation has been completed in recent years, intelligent buildings, can truly meet the above standards. Many claims to have implemented electronic system integration of intelligent building, just set up a number of smart features of subsystems, only these subsystems Center monitoring station arrangement in a House, but did not achieve the intelligent system for the exchange of information between, or build a complete, unified management platform. Obviously such a construction is not in conformity with the standard class-intelligent building, also known as the "intelligent", it cannot be said to be the true significance of the weak electricity system integration.
Intelligent building is not a variety with a system of intelligent features simple stacked or collection. The core of intelligent building system integration. In accordance with the usual reference this systems integration contains a building automation system (BAS), Office automation system (OAS) and communication automation system (CAs) consolidation, to achieve integration of the information, resources and management of shared services. To achieve this kind of share, the most important and most fundamental is the integrated management of information resources, here we have it for information integration. Only for information integration to the management level to develop a wide variety of intelligent applications; only for information integration, to establish a modern, property management and information service system can only be called a smart building.
Electronic system of information integration in the whole building intelligent building of the information in occupies a very important significance. Weak electricity system actually oversees all of the whole building and electrical equipment, intelligent building property management and information service system will need to provide a large number of current system on the device. These real-time or historical data, is building, equipment maintenance and management decision-making and automatic billing and so necessary to have the original data, intelligent building automation property management is simply impossible. This shows that the building intelligence is built on the current system of information integration. So the weak electricity system integration should be based on information integration for realization of intelligent building weak electricity system integration of core technology is the weak electricity system information integration.
Weak electricity system information integration is the main feature: build a complete, unified Web-based monitoring and management platform, providing a full suite of system software, acquisition and access to all the light current subsystems and real-time data integration network system release, can be realized on the system information, resources and management of shared services, have a consistent, simple and convenient personal business operation interface, to meet lots of different job demands of users.
In recent years some high quality building owners to have smart features of each subsystem investment is high, often spend millions of dollars, system hardware is quite advanced, but ultimately did not achieve the weak electricity system information integration, so that the system was built from information requirements far, failed to play the role and potential. In fact, this is also a form of the waste of resources, this is very unfortunate. The reason there is such a phenomenon, there are reasons for the industrial management system; a lack of understanding people; there are some vendors or intentionally misleading.
　　
Second, to BAS-centric electronic system integration has limitations
Modern building weak electricity system typically contains 10 multiple subsystems, how to take into consideration and to optimize the design of these systems is that over the years the building owners, contractors, engineering design Institute has been an important topic to explore. Weak electricity system integration is the resolve this problem.
Traditionally, the weak electricity system integration often choose to building automation system (BAS)-centric approach, using BAS specialized communications controller and the other party's products taking serial communication connections up to pass data between systems. This is it-party product into building automatic control system in an integrated manner.
However, from the information integration, to BAS-centric electronic system integration has certain limitations. As a cross between upper-level network and the weak electricity system integration between systems, we need to look it up by opening performance and capacity of inclusive down.
First of all BAS system software are designed as self-contained system. Although the BAS system itself is also to communication networks, it is a relatively closed system, lack of openness to the outside. The BAS system provides certain data exchange interfaces, such as providing DDE function or API functions. But these data interface does not support the network operating system, but also for general users to use the data exchange capabilities, because the need for specialized software programming, is very inconvenient. The majority of the BAS system in a network environment and other applications to Exchange data capacity is very limited, when the weak electricity system through BAS Center and superior integration system for the exchange of data, produce bottleneck effect but could not get the expected results.
Secondly, in general the BAS system can connect to the other party light current products is restrictedThat it can be connected to the products listed on the table of product categories but dozens, only the full scope of electromechanical products at a fraction of that substantial constraints on other subsystems product selection, System product selection and optimization of the selection range is small, the lack of flexibility and freedom, that is, its downward inclusive is poor.
In addition, there is another important issue is currently the General BAS central monitoring system does not have Internet information integration management, you cannot provide transparent for the network to a data source, do not provide open database interface, and cannot provide the customer with distributed multi-user network environment. Because the are not designed to run under the network operating system, this relatively independent monitoring package, if you want to directly use other system resources is difficult, and remote operations management is also very difficult to achieve.
Moreover, the current BAS system offers the user workstations running is the software itself, because the cause of the architecture, it is not possible to reach a large number of users for personal work interface, this greatly limits the scope of application of it.
In addition, BAS manufacturers provided monitoring software products, whether individual operation interface, or graphical representation, are relatively fixed empty, the user can "Customize" content with little or no. It does not allow you to have "extra" needs. To the user, the manufacturers give you what you need to accept that the manufacturer is not for you, you don't want to have. In General, this kind of monitoring software on information processing and integrated management ability is poor and does not suit the needs of the information age.
However, when the network operating system of the birth of a new generation of integrated software, makes it all a fundamental improvement.

III. regional network-subsystem integration programme
Here we introduce a new generation of advanced electronic integration systems, this is a set of specially designed for intelligent building weak electricity system integration design, provide the user with unified, real-time monitoring, data collection and management of network software: PSCADA system. We also referred to as "regional network-subsystem integration programmes".
This set of distributed object-oriented software, based on a WindowsNT network operating system, the structure using Ethernet, TCP/IP protocol; to use component object model (COM), a software component reuse and intelligent agent (Agent) technology, is a classic distributed client/server network platform.
The system uses the communication gateway implementation and various subsystems of the communication connection, acquisition of various types of electrical and mechanical equipment, real-time parameters, and then through real-time object services that put them into a consistent data format published on the network, the communication gateway can adapt to different types of interfaces and data formats, data transfer bottleneck occurs; end user workstation, run personal services agent, to all kinds of object services program issued a service request, and complete a variety of personal workflow, for example on the selected object's monitoring, control and management.
Personal services agent by many different features of the system service proxy configuration, settings, as needed. The system provides many known as "cells (Cells)" of reusable software components that are used to organize the user's graphic interface and as various system services function in basic materials. Service agent, cells (Cells) and object services these three software elements, provides a system for the user's interface of the custom function. The software also creates a procedure called pCOM component object model, greatly enhanced real-time data processing power. It is the most advanced and highly sophisticated software technology guarantees the weak electricity system information integration in very high demand.
Regional network-subsystem integration generally two steps to complete the information integration system: a first step, building weak electricity system integrated regional network, achieving the unity of the electromechanical equipment for monitoring, control and management, that is, the system has been successfully providing PSCADA features; the second step, use the information obtained to develop value-added applications, such as bug tracking, energy management, automated billing, visitor Guide, and more functional systems, further development in property management and integrated information services in a large number of applications. Through a regional network-subsystem integrated access to data can be placed in the corporate network of the database server for a wider range of data sharing.
During the construction period of intelligent building, on the second step value-added application functional requirements (type and scope), often cannot clear positioning, but in this era of information integration for planning, construction, no matter what the requirements are easily met.

Fourth, information integration, the best way is to use regional network-subsystem integration
With the computer network technology development and maturity, network system integration has been widely used in various industries, has become the natural choice for information technology. It is equally suitable for go information of intelligent building. We offer intelligent building information integration best way is to use regional network-subsystem integration that is based on the following grounds:
1. as a foundation for enterprise Informationization, the weak electricity system management this level, users always require a set of specialized mature set of integrated information management system. No matter what kind of BAS products now and in the future is difficult to do this task.
Analysis has always had a central monitoring system, such as industrial DCS or civil architecture of BAS, its software interface and functionality always has this or that shortcoming, in fact, this is normal behavior because they are to a certain class of hardware products. To remedy this shortcoming, the next-generation network system integration software should be this. Whether it's a software product, only for a certain type of application is specifically designed to be successful. Regional network-subsystem integration of software systems is an integrated information management.
Buildings information integration goals, BAS system requirement is optimized on mechanical and electrical parameters of the acquisition and control, focusing on the use of advanced and open data exchange standards, for example its communications network for BACNet protocol, field communications-LAngMark standards, etc. Solving on-site equipment monitoring and providing optimal information source and not let it instead of integrated information management.
2. support system for integrated next-generation software technology has been refined, for example, multi-level distributed C/S (client/server) mode; open ODBC database interface; supports code reuse of component object model COM and Assembly technology; support for different applications to Exchange data between the OLE2 industry standard, and so on. With these advanced technology development, design of complete systems integration software PSCADA system has a number of large intelligent building on a successful application.
3. in order to mainstream technology and contemporary music, a growing number of weak electricity system product is configured with a communications interface, provide open communication protocols, and external data exchange. As long as the preparation of a communication interface program, it can be necessary subsystems into regional network-subsystem integration system. Do such communication interface development is not a difficult thing.
4. because of the diversity of current products, you will face a variety of data formats, information exchange by software, hardware interfaces, even with the same communication protocol, the transmitted data format also has its own definition. Regional network-subsystem integration is that these different types of data models for integrated management of integration to a consistent format and interface available to users, its impact and role is self-evident.
5. the universal network operating system is very stable, reliable, network technology is fully mature, for example like WindowsNT4.0 system has a wide range of applications.
6. high-performance personal computer prices decline rapidly, with a penetration rate of increase, the network components are also declined, to construct the network system and hardware much lower cost.
7. regional network-subsystem integrated total costs generally only accounted for one-tenth of the current system of investment, the investment will enable the construction of buildings in intelligence, information of the amount of increase in grades has far exceeded one-tenth.
8. Once completed the regional network-subsystem integration, on this basis, in accordance with the need to establish a variety of value-added applications, such as device failure, equipment maintenance management and automated billing, and so on; and in accordance with the needs of occupiers, software development, building integrated management automation system. This system is not just about all of the entire building and running the device resource for monitoring, recording and management, but also on the building in a variety of public services, communication systems, Office automation system for integrated management, form an integrated automated management system and information service system. That is, to establish an integrated and intelligent building management (I2BMS) system, it is clear that she is built on the current system of information integration. Only complete information integration is only possible to set up and complete a real I2BMS system.
With regard to BAS-centric integration and regional network-subsystem integration both weak integration method, the following list for a brief comparison:
Compare content
To BAS-centric integration
Regional network-subsystem integration
PSCADA system
Software structure
Windows3.1 or Windows95 environment applications. No data sharing.
WindowsNT distributed client/server architecture, data sharing.
Adopt the technology, standards
Proprietary software, self-contained systems, relatively closed.
Using component object model COM, intelligent agent, ODBC databases and PCP/IP Protocol, etc. Advanced, excellent, consistent with current software industry standards.
Personal operation interface
Fixed, dull, and very few user-customized content.
According to the user need to define, set up a personalized graphic interface.
System resource utilization
And application software in combination with the other party is restricted, generally need specialized software programming.
Can it play a strong party application software functionality, such as Office and LoutusNotes. Enables network environment, multiple system operations.
Software style
Cumbersome, difficult to learn.
Object-oriented, to take the plug and put the "drag-and-technology, easy to use".
Scalability
Restricted, it is difficult to achieve.
Without limitation, system size only by the Ethernet bandwidth constraints.
The number of users is limited.
Is not restricted.
Value-added application
Additional added-value application harder to achieve, requiring a large number of software development work.
A device fault tracking, maintenance, management and automatic billing option.
To sum up, as a category a smart buildings, information integration for modern buildings, the weak electricity system integrated the use of regional network-subsystem integration programmes.
　　
Fifth, the weak electricity system integration contractor's choice
Intelligent building weak electricity system has gradually become an attractive market. And system integration contractor's choice has gradually taken seriously, because of this effect on the effectiveness of the project is very large, especially for information integration as the goal of the project particularly crucial.
Some traditional engineering contractor, tend to focus on the marketing of a specific kind of weak electricity system products, to system integration of optimization is difficult to give an objective and impartial evaluation of the technology. From purely hardware product vendors (for example: building automation products manufacturers, comprehensive wiring product providers) do system integration is the late 1980s and early 1990s, the customary practices as early operation of intelligent buildings, in computer network technology is still not very popular, the project itself does not have a lot of software engineering services, i.e. a preliminary system integration is feasible. However, this operation is obviously the rootThis does not meet current high-end smart building on integrated information management requirements.
On the other hand, systems integration software is complex and large software system, generally need two or three years time to gradually improve. So to have mature product software developer to temporary development, it is not appropriate.
With the development of intelligent building weak electricity system integration has become a specialized industry, the weak electricity system integration as a content-rich, highly specialized technical industry has not suitable as a weak product vendors to operate the "sideline", but rather as a contractor's business give the energy, ability to seriously.
Then the weak electricity system integrators should have what features?
They must have the following three characteristics:
1. has the weak electricity system product experts with rich experience in engineering.
2. with a computer software engineering expert, with application development capabilities.
3. provide a set of support information integrated with advanced features and very mature integrated network software.
Weak electricity system integration is a very large integrated systems engineering, technical expert on numerous electronic products for evaluation and grasp, need a set of proven technology, management and construction management jobs. In this project, the actual field experience with the first order of significance, you cannot add an investment of several million dollars more projects deemed experimental let inexperienced people to do it.
Weak electricity system integration's main task is to collect the data, the current system of complete information on weak data integration management. System integrators should first become familiar with the various subsystems products, this familiar not on paper, there should be a practical engineering experience, can really understand the technical details. In order to correctly make information integration necessary tasks.
At the same time, the system integrator should have truly integrated software development capabilities, he not only for information integration provides an implementation of a data sharing network platform, but also in the face of the scene need to solve various kinds of practical application, go to meet building information services and management needs. Offers a complete suite of integrated information management solution, is a system integrator of basic standards and requirements, where there is no capacity to provide such a scheme, it is not much of a system integrator.
It is worth mentioning that system integrators should be all-out devoted to the landlord provides a complete set of the best solution, but should not only focus on selling some weak electricity products, only such as weak electricity system total contractor, he practices will be objective and impartial, to get the support of numerous suppliers, manufacturers will be the owners of the trust, and delegates.
However, the current real with these three features of the weak electricity system integrators. In order for the project can make a real expert to carry out, under the present conditions can advocate with different expertise of project developers.

Sixth, the weak electricity system product choice
Building weak electricity product categories, each category there are many brands, each brand has a large number of suppliers, how to make a judgment to select? we consider the following points are worth noting:
1. avoid subjective impressions, the first-in to see the general users tend to own more familiar with the product, in fact, most reliable is to listen to the experts.
2. pay attention to product suppliers of technical services, engineering services and after-sales service quality and capacity.
3. confirm that the product itself, the nature and maturity, is today's evolving, mainstream technology, reliability of mature and so on.
4. it is important to ensure that the selected product is truly open system, that is, with the exchange of data and the outside world. This is the system integration is a decisive significance.
The following electronic product communication interface to building automation system as an example for some discussion:
Currently the world's large building automation system (BAS) product suppliers gathered in mainland China, especially in Shanghai. Here are some of the more famous company (product) name: Honeywell, JohnsonControls, Landis & Staefa, Satchwell, STE & E, CaradonTrend, Andvor, Siebe, CSI (ControlSystemInternational), TA (Tour & AnderssonAB), Auto-Matrix etc.
Visit these BAS products and external devices of data exchange capabilities or open performance, it can be said that there is a wide variety of situations. But by analyzing the comprehensive, these products and the external device's data exchange capabilities can be broadly divided into the following situation:
1. the products support a standard data exchange protocol, has good opening performance. For example, support for Microsoft Windows operating system by OPC (OLEforProcessControl) functionality; or dynamic data exchange (DDE) functionality, data exchange software that does not require a hardware interface; public interface technology detailed specifications, illustrations, interface software with system monitoring software sales to users, development communication function does not have to be paid to the vendor of the product plus costs.
2. the products support a standard data exchange protocol, capable of opening performance. For example with the DDE functionality, or any other kind of software data exchange tools like API function interface, but does not expose more about software technical specifications, instructions, user development data communication needs other purchase support this feature of the software, some products may also want to add the appropriate hardware.
3. no software data exchange function, but in the control computer with serial communication interface, if the buyer has external communications requirements, the supplier can provide the serial communication protocol, but generally require the buyer to pay certain costs separately, and in the intellectual property aspects bear some responsibility.
4. noSoftware data exchange function, nor does it provide open communication protocol.
For information integration requirements of projects, priority should be given with these kinds of BAS products, of course, comply with the requirements of paragraphs 1 to 3 case of BAS products are optional. However, the choice of a product, what way and integrated systems to Exchange data, workload is access to the software great, these factors will be reflected in the system integration of effort and cost. Here are just a building automation system products, for example, other electronic products and the situation is similar.
Due to the implementation of the system information integration requirements are integrated electronic product is an open, to Exchange data with external systems. This applies to all be integrated weak electronic systems products.
In the system integration engineering conduct, as systems integrators should bear full responsibility, they should already have information on the various interfaces to the landlord, the Design Institute and the builders made an objective reference views. They should make all subsystem supplier Intergration on the realization of the technical requirements of the data communication from each subsystem supplier responsibility to provide technical information communication interface. They should be and each subsystem suppliers to establish a harmonious and cooperative relations, because of the integrated system and subsystem communication interface design, technical development and debugging is complete, depending on the various subsystems of own normal opening and field data address organizational and programming, this partnership is very important.
In order to avoid possible disputes, with regard to the product to allow the user to provide open communication protocol commitments, should be written to the corresponding provisions of the contract. Communication protocol as suppliers an important component of the product, the supplier should take full responsibility for the incident, if the Protocol is incomplete or not according to achieve communication, you should be considered as responsible for breach of contract.