14 Mar 2024

IoT and Smart Buildings at EnergyWeek

Internet of Things enables possibilities but also some challenges when integrated with buildings and construction. This topic was disucessed during the seminar arranged through the project Bothnia Green Energy during EnergyWeek in Vaasa.

EnergyWeek is an annual event taking place in Vaasa Finland. This year, the project Bothnia Green Energy arranged a seminar with the focus on buildings and Internet of Things (IoT). Buildings and construction are sectors which consumes a lot of energy. The speakers at the seminar talked about how it is possible to improve this and how AI can be used as a predictive maintenance.

4D-Planning, Data Collection and Handling Building Permits with AI

Jouni Ojala, Director for 4D* planning and Grönlund Oy was the first speaker and talked about how they work with 4D-planning, enabling a project to be visualized both the process and how much emissions there would be. Ojala and his team can schedule the whole time span of the project, not just the construction phase. 

– Everything that is designed is scheduled. The schedule accuracy equals real life level. Using this creates the possibility to cover the whole lifespan, from day one to delivery, connecting different parties of the project, Ojala explained.

Jari Kuusisto, Product Manager at Wapice Oy presented their work with forecasts and data collection, enabling for instance restaurants and stores to be able to use the forecasts of the people flow to set there open hours and schedules. He also pointed out that collecting data makes maintanance of buildings more efficient, beinge able to see what has to be done and where. He also stressed the importance of cyber security.

- IoT creates big opportunities but t is important to consider both integrity of the citizens as well as cyber security when collecting data, Kuusisto said.

Anna-Riitta Kallinen, owner and Chair of Board at ARK Consulting (ARCON), used real cases to show how their system can handle building permit processes, making sure that the building standards are fulfilled.

All three speakers saw several synergies where they could collaborate.

- When we combine our expertise we can go longer, Kallinen said.

Jessica Ekström from VASEK moderated the seminar.

Bothnia Green Energy is project which aims to accelerate innovation in the field of sustainable energy solutions of the future and is funded by the EU programme of Interreg Aurora, Jakobstad Region Development Company Concordia, Herrfors, Kokkolan Energia, City of Kokkola, Kvarken Council EGTC, Regional Council of Lapland, Technology Centre Merinova, Region Västerbotten, Region Västernorrland, Skellefteå Municipality, Skellefteå Kraft, Umeå Energi, Umeå Municipality, Vaasan Sähkö, City of Vaasa, Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK, Örnsköldsvik Municipality, Övik Energi. Click here to read more about Bothnia Green Energy!

*4D = 3D + time