FOCUS CAFM
for managing resources can be shared
between the FM team and the building users,
increasing e iciency and savings.
BIM INNOVATIONS
BIM (building information modelling) is the
ultimate innovation in digital data, providing
a strong foundation from which to meet
green targets for buildings.
BIM models integrated with CAFM
so‡ ware can provide the FM team with key
information such as measurements and
types of materials to ensure the correct
amount of supplies are ordered with no
wastage; classifications of each space,
minimum / maximum temperatures, and
extensive details about each asset to ensure
the engineer has everything they need for
preventative maintenance. A BIM model can
even be paired with virtual reality headsets
to allow simulated site visits from anywhere
in the world to save travel.
Once the BIM model gains access to
continuous data (such as a real-time system,
behavioural and operational data) then it
becomes a digital twin. A digital twin is the
next level of BIM in providing data.
The digital twin compiles this data to form
a virtual replica of the building’s state in real
time. Instead of viewing data from various
sources on multiple reports, the digital twin
can be used to view performance, identify
trends and detect building errors – in the
same place. Twins can also be used to test
di erent scenarios – like the impact on
air quality of a new asset, or how cooling
systems would cope with more people in
the building. This reduces the impact of
disruption or dips in performance of the ‘live’
building environment and can help the FM
make greener and more sustainable choices.
34 OCTOBER 2021
Oliver Spires, Product
Manager at Idox
says CAFM can help
FMs provide more
sustainable estate
management.
The Climate Change Conference of the
Parties, or COP26, will take place in the UK in
Glasgow, with the intention of mapping out
how exactly to accelerate the actions needed
to meet the goals of the Paris agreement.
The hope is that the forum will bring us
closer to meeting 2030 reductions targets
and align with reaching Net Zero by 2050 as
planned. Currently, the carbon emissions
produced by global industry are on course to
rise by 1.5 billion tonnes in 2021 according
to the IEA’s recent Global Energy Review.
It’s an issue that can only be solved if all
Governments work collaboratively.
It’s clear that technology will play a key role
in changing behaviours and implementing
new practices which are more sustainable.
Facilities management helps organisations
improve environmental performance, from
monitoring the energy e iciency of
buildings to reducing waste
and supporting social
value strategies. CAFM
technology has
the potential
to streamline
processes
within
organisations
which
will allow
oversight
into where
emissions can
be reduced.
The FM role
is undergoing a
seismic shi‡ from
asset management
to managing employee
satisfaction and wellbeing, as well as
meeting sustainability targets. Now with
hybrid working taking centre stage, the
way in which buildings are being used has
profoundly changed. Managing occupancy
and energy levels now relies on smart
responses to fluctuating demand.
Businesses are reconsidering their carbon
footprint, and those with demonstrably
sustainable practices are generally
performing better especially when it
comes to fostering greater public support.
The responsibility to make this a reality
is increasingly falling on the shoulders of
facilities managers.
With this evolving responsibility comes a
need for technology that makes monitoring
and asset management far easier. For many
tasked with managing facilities, relying on
spreadsheets and manual, paper-based
processes are the norm. Not only are these
methods outdated, but they are simply not
fit for purpose in an environment of rapid
change sparked by the pandemic.
There is a need for data to be centralised,
so that FMs are empowered to make more
informed decisions which will ultimately
benefit their business – and, in turn, the
planet. This is where CAFM comes in.
Now with hybrid working
taking centre stage, the way in
which buildings are being used
has profoundly changed. Managing
occupancy and energy levels now
relies on smart responses to
UNUSED OFFICE SPACE: REIMAGINED
CAFM enables a much better strategic
oversight of facilities. Sensors can detect if
people are in the o ice and which rooms are
in use to adjust the lighting and temperature
settings accordingly. This allows FMs to
rethink their workplace to be more e icient
by potentially restacking their portfolio and
mothballing freed up space to reduce overall
energy consumption. Here, technology is
enabling a much more e icient use of space.
There is also opportunity for unused
outside space to be transformed into a
tool for reducing carbon – disused roofs
can be transformed into gardens which
in themselves are oxygen-emitting
ecosystems. In densely populated urban
areas, this idea means space is being
used to counteract the carbon in a
positive way.
What’s more, buildings
themselves can become
climate change measurers
– in-built sensors are able
to monitor pollution and
air quality, producing a
more holistic picture of the
air-quality levels in di erent
areas. A great example of this
is London’s BT tower, which is
o icially the world’s highest IoT base
station.
IMPROVED ESTATE MANAGEMENT
The remit of a FM can span multiple
buildings across multiple regions. CAFM can
significantly support this by managing mobile
workforces to ensure they can send people
where they are most needed, at the right
time. One example involves sensors; if the
lights in one branch are faulty, FMs can send
the person in closest proximity with the right
equipment to solve the issue. This removes
the need for unnecessary routine trips and
subsequently lowers carbon emissions.
ENHANCING LIFECYCLES
All assets have a certain life cycle – they
should, in theory, work at optimum
performance before requiring a service
which can prolong their use. However,
some assets regularly need attention. CAFM
and PPM (Planned Preventative Methods)
can help to analyse whether the cost and
emissions required to maintain the product
is worth it from a business perspective. The
technology reduces the number of reactive
jobs and allows FMs more time to spend
on value-adding activity instead. Similarly,
CAFM informs FMs which assets are working
smoothly and therefore don’t require a
check-up.
Whatever the outcome of COP26
conversations and whether it is delayed
because of the pandemic, now is the time to
invest in CAFM and analytics tools to make
more environmentally conscious decisions
that o er FMs the tools and insight to make
decisions quickly. This is a valuable power,
because we will undoubtedly face tougher
sustainability regulations, intended to protect
the future of business – and our planet.
Ɲ uctuating demandƍ