Building Automation System Assessment Tool Identifies Shortcomings
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high initial capital expense and owner uncertainty hinder the adoption of building automation systems (BAS), leading to slow market adoption and underutilization of advanced BAS technologies.
Innovation Solution
A Building Automation System Assessment Tool (BASAT) that evaluates existing BAS infrastructure by identifying capabilities and deficiencies, providing a standardized approach to assess and enhance BAS systems, recommending necessary upgrades or reprogramming to implement advanced features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If advanced BAS technology is implemented, then system performance and environmental benefits are improved, but initial capital expense increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the BAS assessment into discrete, evaluable components (capabilities, points, and combinations) that can be assessed individually and aggregated systematically. This breakdown allows owners to understand exactly what advanced features exist and what capital investment is required for each, making the overall expense more manageable and justifiable.
Solution Approach 2:
The assessment tool performs preliminary evaluation of existing BAS infrastructure before full implementation decisions are made. By identifying current capabilities and gaps in advance, the tool enables planned, phased implementation of advanced features rather than abrupt, expensive overhauls, allowing budgeting and financing to be arranged progressively.
2Reliability
If comprehensive BAS assessment is performed, then decision-making certainty is improved, but assessment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal assessment framework that evaluates multiple BAS capabilities (environmental control, security, lighting, etc.) through a single standardized tool. This multi-functional approach provides comprehensive decision-making information across all BAS areas without requiring separate complex assessments for each system, reducing overall assessment complexity while maintaining comprehensiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool transforms complex technical BAS data into standardized binary parameters (points present/absent) and capability combinations that are easy to evaluate and compare. By converting continuous technical specifications into discrete, comparable parameters, the tool simplifies the assessment process while providing the certainty needed for informed decisions.
3Productivity
If standardized assessment methodology is implemented, then market adoption is improved, but flexibility in evaluating different BAS configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the assessment into modular capability combinations that can be independently evaluated. Each capability is built from discrete points that can be present or absent, allowing the same standardized framework to adapt to any BAS configuration by simply varying which points are present, rather than requiring different assessment methods for different systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized methodology uses universal capability definitions and point combinations that apply across all BAS types and configurations. The same assessment framework evaluates residential, commercial, and industrial systems uniformly, maintaining market-wide consistency while accommodating diverse technical implementations through the flexible point-based structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A Building Automation System Assessment Tool (BASAT) is provided. The BASAT receives input from a user that identifies the points associated with building systems controlled by Building Automation System (BAS) at a facility being surveyed. Based on the identified points, output reports are provided that identify shortcomings in the current BAS.