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Smart Buildings: An Introduction to the Library of the Future

Article in Medical Reference Services Quarterly · July 2016

DOI: 10.1080/02763869.2016.1189787

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MEDICAL REFERENCE SERVICES QUARTERLY
2016, VOL. 35, NO. 3, 326–331
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02763869.2016.1189787

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
Matthew B. Hoy and Tara J. Brigham, Column Editors
Smart Buildings: An Introduction to the Library of the
Future
Matthew B. Hoy
Medical Library, Mayo Clinic Health System, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA

ABSTRACT KEYWORDS
Advances in building technologies are combining energy Energy efficiency; Internet of
efficiency, networked sensors, and data recording in exciting things; sensor networks;
ways. Modern facilities can adjust lighting, heating, and cooling smart buildings; smart
libraries; space planning
outputs to maximize efficiency, provide better physical security,
improve wayfinding for occupants, and provide detailed reports
of building use. This column will briefly explore the idea of
“smart buildings,” describe some of the technologies that are
being developed for these buildings, and explore their implica-
tions for libraries. A brief listing of selected smart building
technologies is also provided.

Introduction
Buildings used to be fairly simple: their own requirements were four walls, a
roof, and maybe some flooring. As humans have developed more complicated
technologies such as plumbing, electricity, telephone systems, networked
computing, and wireless networking, the level of complexity required in
building projects has increased exponentially. Modern buildings are almost
like living organisms, with intricate systems for providing amenities and
information. Advances in sensors and networking are creating new ways
for buildings to meet and even anticipate the needs of their users while
reducing costs and increasing efficiency. This column will explore “smart
building” technologies and discuss their use in libraries. A brief listing of
smart building technologies is also provided.

What Are Smart Buildings?

“Smart building” is an umbrella term that has recently come into use to
describe a number of different technologies that are being integrated into
buildings. Unfortunately, there is no clear definition of what makes a building
“smart.” The term smart building is also often used interchangeably with
CONTACT Matthew B. Hoy [email protected] Medical Library, Mayo Clinic Health System, 1221 Whipple
Street, Eau Claire, WI 54701, USA.
Comments and suggestions should be sent to the Column Editors: Matthew B. Hoy ([email protected]) and Tara J.
Brigham ([email protected]).
Published with license by Taylor & Francis. © Matthew B. Hoy
 MEDICAL REFERENCE SERVICES QUARTERLY 327

“intelligent building,” but they are not necessarily the same thing. As
Buckman, Mayfield, and Beck noted, “there is a clear confusion as to the
differentiation between smart and intelligent buildings.”1 They describe a
progression of building technologies, from “primitive,” to “simple,” to
“automated,” to “intelligent,” to “smart” buildings. First were the primitive
buildings: four walls and a roof. Then there were simple buildings with
manually controlled technologies such as lighting and climate control.
Occupants turned the lights on and off and adjusted the temperature as
needed. Then came automated buildings: using timers and central controls,
buildings automatically turned lights and climate control on and off on a
set schedule. The next step, the intelligent building, combines the best of both
simple and automated buildings: systems are still controlled automatically, but
sensors allow the building to adjust to user needs in real time.
Smart buildings take it a step further, beyond simply turning things on and
off. Smart buildings also collect data about how and when a building is being
used and provide a real-time picture of the status of a building. Using
networks of sensors and cameras, smart buildings can count the number of
occupants in a building at any given time and track that data over time.
That can reveal interesting trends: what are peak use times? Where is there
congestion in the building? Will there be a surge in the number of people
in the building at certain times? Using the data from these sensors, building
managers can see current and past use and predict future use. They can also
adjust traffic flows as needed to reduce congestion and plan staffing levels to
meet demand.
Smart buildings use a software interface called a building management
system to supply this data to staff.2 This software collects data from the
various systems within the building and integrates it into one interface. It
can also alert staff to issues like burned out lights, plumbing leaks, flooding,
doors that have been left open, and people in secured areas.
Smart building technologies are also being applied to energy efficiency:
advances in materials and control systems allow designers to create buildings
that are nearly energy independent, or “near Zero-Energy Buildings.”3 Better
insulation and more efficient building materials are reducing heating and
cooling costs. Some smart buildings have solar arrays and geothermal heating
systems, allowing them to produce their own power and heat. Electricity
generated by the building can either be used to power internal systems or
fed back into the electrical grid, offsetting costs. Technologies such as smart
glass and automated blinds control the amount of solar energy that enters
the building, further reducing costs. Some buildings even use rainwater
harvesting systems and grey water systems to conserve water.2 While these
technologies have higher initial cost outlays, the cost savings due to efficiency
should pay for the systems over time and can create a sense of pride within an
organization for being environmentally friendly.
328 M. B. HOY

Many of these technologies have existed for years. The key to implementing
them in a smart building is connecting them all together using the building
management systems and controlling them with appropriate sensors.

Smart Libraries
The idea of using smart building technologies in libraries is not new, going
back at least two decades.4,5 What is new is the rapid growth in the number
and variety of technologies that can be integrated into a building. As smart
building technologies become more widely adopted, they will undoubtedly
be integrated into future library building projects and existing building
upgrades, but library space planners should exercise caution: just because a
technology is “smart” doesn’t mean it’s a good fit for a library building.
Many smart building technologies are well-suited to library spaces; energy
efficiency measures like sensor-based lighting and climate control are ideal
for areas that are often unoccupied, for example, stacks, archive space, or
conference rooms. Networked sensors for smoke, heat, moisture, and
intrusion will improve the safety of patrons and collections. Automated blinds
or auto-darkening windows will reduce glare and fading of materials and
make patrons more comfortable. Building dashboards and occupancy sensors
will offer better data about how library spaces are being used and when and
where staff should be available to assist patrons. Token-based access control
systems will provide better security and logging than traditional keys and
allow for scheduled access to rooms. Larger libraries will be able to provide
indoor mapping to improve patron wayfinding and show patrons real-time
data about availability of computers or other resources.
Although many of these technologies are clearly net positives for the
library, there are also some concerns about the tracking and data recording
that needs to happen in the background for these systems to work. Libraries
have long been a bastion of privacy and free access to information, and any
system that tracks and records the whereabouts and activities of its users is
a potential threat to that privacy. Libraries need to very careful, or a smart
building project can turn into what Denton calls “a well-intentioned ROI-
demonstrating panopticon.”6 Whether the library means to do anything
intrusive with the data or not, simply having a large pile of data about patron
behavior can represent a risk. If these data are stolen or accessed inappropri-
ately, it will reflect poorly on the library. If patrons perceive that their use of
library facilities is being tracked, it may affect how they view the library and
what information they seek out from library resources. Library staff will also
need to routinely check that these automated systems are functioning
correctly. Patrons will be frustrated if malfunctioning sensors leave them in
the cold and dark. The data being collected by these systems should also be
checked for accuracy before using the data to make any decisions. If building
 MEDICAL REFERENCE SERVICES QUARTERLY 329

use data are inaccurate, management may close spaces that are heavily used,
leave unused spaces open, and staff at inappropriate levels.
Smart building technologies have great potential to help libraries better
serve their patrons; buildings that can automatically respond to users’ needs
and provide accurate data about how the spaces are being used would benefit
everyone. But librarians should be sure they understand the implications of
the data being gathered and stored before signing on to a smart building
project.

Selected Examples of Smart Building Technologies

. New, energy-efficient LED light fixtures can be powered via Ethernet
cables, which can also relay control and data information to the light
fixtures. These lights lower material costs, simplify installation, and allow
easier automatic control of lighting. LED lights are ideal for integrating
with solar arrays; solar panels produce the DC current that these lights
use, eliminating the need for AC to DC conversion that current LED
replacement bulbs require.7
. Occupancy sensors use infrared, sound, or ultrasound to detect when a
room is occupied or unoccupied. They are frequently connected to lighting
and ventilation systems to conserve energy when rooms are empty.8 They
can also function as part of a security system, notifying staff when areas
that are closed have been entered.
. Building dashboards are publicly available websites that provide real-time
data about how much energy a building is consuming and producing,
how many occupants are in it, and other customizable data points. For
example, Salt Lake County Library Services has a dashboard for several of
their buildings <http://buildingdashboard.net/slcolibrary/>. Multiple
buildings on a campus can be tracked individually, allowing for “gamifica-
tion” of energy efficiency initiatives which, as Brigham put it, “takes
advantage of human competitiveness and the ambition to do better.”9
Competition between buildings could encourage conservation and drive
down energy use across the entire campus. Both proprietary <http://www.
lucidconnects.com> and open source <http://www.measurethefuture.net>
dashboards are available.
. Electrochromic windows, or “smart glass,” comprise thin films and an
electrolyte sandwiched inside glass, reducing glare and thermal transfer
while allowing visible light to pass through the windows. The darkness of
the tint is adjustable by passing an electric current across the glass. These
windows can reduce air conditioning costs by 50% in large buildings.10
. Indoor positioning systems give users indoor location data on their mobile
device to simplify wayfinding.11 As these systems are deployed in smart
buildings, visitors will be able to receive step-by-step instructions to their
330 M. B. HOY

destination. Some of these systems also have the ability to locate specific
people within the building, using badges or cell phones.

Conclusion
Smart buildings have been around for a long time, but they keep getting
smarter. Modern smart buildings can do much more than just turn the lights
on and off. Networks of sensors allow these buildings to count and track
occupants, adjust temperature and lighting to maximize efficiency, and
provide real-time data about building use. Librarians should be aware of these
technologies for future building projects and renovations. The long-term cost
savings of more efficient buildings and the detailed data about building use
provided by these technologies can help offset the increased costs, and the rela-
tive longevity of the typical library building means there will be many years to
realize the benefits of these technologies. However, there are patron privacy
and data collection concerns with some sensor systems, and the increased cost
of these technologies may make it difficult to get management buy-in. Librar-
ians should be aware of trends in smart building technologies so that they can
advocate for those that are a good fit for the mission of their institutions, and
avoid those that would be wasteful or harmful to their patrons. Buildings may
be getting smarter, but they’re still only as smart as the people that run them.

Notes on Contributor
Matthew B. Hoy, MLIS, AHIP ([email protected]) is Supervisor of the Medical Library,
Mayo Clinic Health System, 1221 Whipple Street, Eau Claire, WI 54701.

References
1. Buckman, Alex, Martin Mayfield, and Stephen Beck. “What Is a Smart Building?”
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 MEDICAL REFERENCE SERVICES QUARTERLY 331

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