Building Automation

The Internet of Things is finding its way into many areas of our lives, whether we know it
or not. One of the areas we may not think about is the industrial sector. Exactly how do
industries incorporate the IoT into their daily operations? Depending on the industry in
question, you may be surprised at the answer! In this module, you will explore how IoT devices
are used in the industrial sector. You will explore some of the common devices in use today,
learn how they work, and how businesses and consumers benefit. You will also be exposed to
some of the security and privacy-related issues found in this sector.


Building automation is one area where we are seeing tremendous growth in the use of
IoT technologies. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, or HVAC, used to be thought of as
standalone processes that took a lot of time to manage and maintain. Now, however, building
owners and tenants are starting to use IoT technology to figure out ways to lower energy costs,
determine when heating and air conditioning should be adjusted, and the like.

On the manufacturing front, producing products used to be a labor-intensive, time-
consuming process that involved a lot of different human hands. Even with advances in
automation, the overall process was still cumbersome, and difficult to monitor. Now, with IoT
advances, organizations are now moving towards so-called “smart manufacturing”. This is a
process that allows an organization to have full transparency into the entire manufacturing
process, from start to finish.

Next, let’s think about energy companies, and the many customers, both consumer and
business, they have to service. How has the IoT trend impacted that industry? Primarily
through the implementation of smart grids and smart cities. Through the use of IoT and the
concept of a smart grid or city, energy companies can more efficiently manage their primary
responsibility of delivering things like electricity and natural gas, to customers in a timely
manner. Smart meters can communicate with energy producers in realtime, allowing energy to
be routed to higher-demand areas, and away from low-demand areas.

Finally, what are the privacy and security implications for the IoT in these scenarios?
Substantial, to say the least! For example, building automation processes could be used to
constantly track employee movement throughout an entire building. Or, energy providers
could use the minute-by-minute readings from smart meters, to determine whether or not a
home is occupied. There have even been reports of energy providers working in conjunction
with local law enforcement, to report suspected illegal activity within an individual’s home,
based solely on an analysis of energy consumption.