Smart Buildings : Use cases
Pierre Boislève
Master Internet of things
Institut Supérieur d’Électronique et du
Numérique
Nantes, France
pierre.boisleve@isen-ouest.yncrea.fr
Abstract—Smart buildings use sensor data to improve
energy efficiency and improve performance. Different methods
and techniques have been used to collect, analyze and use data.
Measurement sensors and building monitoring systems
facilitate data collection, while statistical analysis and big data
techniques help identify energy consumption patterns Advanced
control and optimization techniques are used based on sensor
data to deliver real-time changes in temperature, ventilation,
and air conditioning parameters. Data-driven modeling and
simulation techniques enable performance analysis and strategy
testing. The document highlights the importance of integrating
data-driven approaches in smart building design to achieve
energy efficiency and sustainability.
Keywords—Smart Buildings, Energy Management, Sensor
Data, Data Analysis, Energy Efficiency
I. DATA GATHERING
Collecting, analyzing, and utilizing sensor data to improve
energy consumption in buildings has become increasingly
important in the pursuit of sustainable and efficient practices.
In the EU-28, fossil fuels are responsible for almost 75% of
the total energy consumption. Buildings use more than two-
thirds of their energy consume for space heating (37%), water
heating (12%), space cooling (10%) and lighting (9%)
purposes. To achieve this, various methods and techniques are
employed to collect data from sensors, allowing for a
comprehensive understanding of energy usage patterns within
a building. This information serves as the foundation for
implementing effective energy management strategies and
optimizing resource utilization. In this context, the first point
of focus revolves around the methods and techniques used for
data collection, enabling the acquisition of valuable insights
into energy consumption within buildings.
A. Measurement sensors:
Measurement sensors play an essential role in collecting
data for improving the energy consumption of buildings.
They make it possible to collect precise information on
various energy parameters, which provides a solid basis for
the analysis and optimization of the energy performance of
buildings.
Energy consumption sensors: These sensors measure the
amount of energy consumed by the various equipment in the
building, such as lighting, heating, air conditioning,
household appliances, etc. They provide accurate data on
energy consumption in real time.
Temperature sensors: They measure the temperature at
different places in the building, which makes it possible to
detect temperature variations and to optimize heating and air
conditioning systems accordingly.
Humidity sensors: These sensors measure the humidity
level in the building. The data collected allows humidity
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levels to be monitored and adjusted to ensure occupant
comfort while reducing energy consumption.
Light sensors: They measure the level of light inside the
building. This data is used to regulate the lighting according
to the natural light available, which makes it possible to
reduce the energy consumption linked to artificial lighting.
B. Building management systems (BMS):
BMS are computerized systems that collect and centralize
data from various building sensors. These systems make it
possible to monitor and control several aspects of energy
consumption, such as heating, air conditioning, lighting,
ventilation, etc. BMSs facilitate the collection of real-time
data, the analysis of energy consumption patterns and the
automation of adjustments to optimize energy efficiency.
They have several specific features and techniques.
Data acquisition: The BMS collect data from measurement
sensors distributed throughout the building. This data
includes measurements of energy consumption, temperature,
humidity, light, air quality, etc. BMSs use standard
communication protocols such as BACnet, Modbus or Lon
Works to retrieve sensor data and consolidate it into a
centralized database.
Control and automation: BMSs make it possible to control
and regulate heating, air conditioning, lighting, ventilation
systems, etc., based on the data collected. Using advanced
algorithms, BMS makes real-time decisions to optimize
equipment settings and minimize energy consumption. For
example, the BMS can automatically adjust the set
temperature, lighting power or airflow according to actual
needs, occupancy schedules, weather conditions, etc.
Data analysis: BMSs use data analysis techniques such as
machine learning and statistical analysis to extract relevant
information from collected data. For example, predictive
models can be used to estimate future energy consumption
based on historical data and observed trends. To sum up, data
analysis helps identify consumption patterns, bottlenecks,
anomalies, and optimization opportunities.
Advanced User Interfaces: BMSs offer user-friendly user
interfaces that allow building managers to easily view and
control energy performance. Dashboards and interactive
graphs display real-time data, consumption histories, energy
efficiency reports, and more. Managers can monitor and
manage energy performance, set energy savings goals and
assess the impact of efficiency measures put in place.
II. DATA ANALYSIS
With the rise of digital technologies and the massive
collection of data, it has become crucial to develop effective
analytical methods and techniques to extract valuable insights
from this data. Data analysis aims to uncover hidden trends,
patterns, and relationships within data sets, which helps to
make informed decisions, predict future events, and optimize
performance.
A. Pre-processing
Data pre-processing is a crucial step in the development
of predictive cyber-physical systems for smart buildings.
This step consists of converting, cleaning and standardizing
the data collected to make them usable for analysis and
decision-making. In this section, we will look at the different
approaches used to pre-process data in these systems.
1) Theoretical approaches
Theoretical approaches to data pre-processing rely on
mathematical and statistical models to analyze and filter data.
These models are usually developed by experts in the field
and require regular maintenance to ensure their accuracy.
They are often based on specific domain knowledge and
assumptions about the relationships between different
variables. These approaches are used when the theoretical
models are well established and the data are relatively stable.
For example, in the field of building energy management,
theoretical models based on the principles of
thermodynamics and building physics are used to estimate
energy consumption. These models consider factors such as
outdoor temperature, building size, heating and cooling
system characteristics, etc. The data collected is compared to
the values predicted by the theoretical model, and
adjustments are made in the event of a significant deviation.
2) Data-driven approaches
Data-driven approaches use machine learning and data
mining techniques to pre-process data. These approaches are
often used when the theoretical models are not precise
enough or when the data is complex and variable. They help
uncover hidden relationships between variables, identify
patterns or anomalies, and generate more accurate prediction
models.
In predictive cyber-physical systems in smart buildings,
the data collected can be extremely diverse, ranging from
temperature and humidity measurements to occupant
information such as comfort preferences and behavioral
habits. To sum up, these approaches train regression models,
such as Neural Networks, using observed building
management system (BMS) data.
However, one of the major challenges of data-driven
approaches is the management of environmental changes.
Occupant behaviors, occupancy patterns, and even seasons
can change abruptly, rendering pre-processing models
obsolete. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly update the
computational representation models to adapt to these
changes.
B. Optimization
Optimization plays a crucial role in predictive cyber-
physical systems of smart buildings, as it aims to improve
control decisions by searching for the most efficient
solutions. Different optimization techniques have been
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developed and used in this context. Here we will look at some
of the most used approaches.
1) Simulated Annealing
The simulated annealing algorithm is widely used in the
optimization of predictive cyber-physical systems. Inspired
by the annealing process used in metallurgy, this algorithm
explores the search space by allowing moves towards sub-
optimal solutions with some probability. This avoids getting
stuck in local minima and eventually reaching the optimal
global solution. The simulated annealing algorithm is suitable
for nonlinear optimization problems and can be used to solve
complex problems such as optimizing energy consumption in
buildings.
2) Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO)
The Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is another
popular heuristic. It relies on a population (denoted swarm)
of candidate solutions (particles). The heuristic is based on a
gravitational metaphor to iteratively update the particles
according to simple rules of attraction and inertia [1]. Each
particle moves through space according to its own best-
known solution and the global best solution found by the
whole group. The goal is to find the best solution by
converging the particles to a region of space that contains the
optimal solution. PSO is often used in cyber-physical systems
to optimize parameters such as heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning (HVAC) scheduling in buildings.
3) Other optimization techniques
Besides simulated annealing and particle swarm
optimization, there are other optimization techniques used in
predictive cyber-physical systems of smart buildings. The
genetic algorithm is an approach inspired by the theory of
biological evolution. It uses operations of reproduction,
crossover and mutation to generate a population of candidate
solutions and improve them over generations. This allows to
efficiently explore the search space and find optimal solutions
for complex problems.
Other techniques, such as the firefly algorithm and the
cuckoo search, have also been applied in this field. The firefly
algorithm is based on the attraction and repulsion behavior of
fireflies, while the cuckoo search is inspired by the egg-laying
strategy of certain parasitic birds. These approaches offer
specific advantages depending on the context and the type of
optimization problem.
III. DATA UTILIZATION
A. The three-layered architecture
The three-layered architecture is commonly found in
building automation. It plays a crucial role in the control and
management of buildings. We can find three different layers
in which we are going to delve deeper.
1) Field Level
This layer encompasses the physical components of the
building automation system, including sensors and actuation
devices. Sensors collect data related to various parameters
such as temperature, humidity, occupancy, and energy
consumption. Actuators, on the other hand, receive control
commands and perform physical actions, such as adjusting
lighting levels, opening or closing valves, or activating
HVAC systems. The field level is responsible for capturing
real-time data and interacting directly with the building's
infrastructure. [1]
2) Automation Level
The automation level acts as an intermediary between the
field level and the management level. It consists of controllers
that receive input from sensors and make control decisions
based on predefined algorithms and set points. These
controllers implement control loops to regulate and optimize
building systems, ensuring that they operate within specified
parameters and meet desired performance criteria. The
automation level is responsible for executing control
strategies, adjusting set-points, and coordinating the actions
of different systems within the building.
3) Management Level
The management level represents the highest layer of the
architecture and is responsible for overseeing and
coordinating the entire building automation system. It
typically consists of a central computer or server hosting the
Building Management System (BMS). The BMS serves as
the control hub, providing a user interface for operators to
monitor and manage the building's systems. It allows
operators to configure set-points, create schedules, set rules,
and access historical data for analysis and decision-making.
The management level also facilitates integration with
external systems, such as energy management systems or
weather forecast services, to optimize energy consumption
and overall building performance.
Fig. 1. Integration of the predictive CPS concepts with the common three
layer BMS structure. [1]
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IV. USE CASES
A. Multi-objective optimization for thermal mass model
predictive control in small and medium size commercial
buildings under summer weather conditions [2]
This study focuses on optimizing the operation of HVAC
systems in six small to medium-sized commercial buildings.
The aim of the study is to achieve energy cost savings by
improving the control strategy of the HVAC systems.
In this study, the researchers used a precooling strategy
based on five-day weather data in August. The precooling
strategy involved lowering the temperature of the building
during off-peak hours when electricity prices are typically
lower, and then maintaining a slightly higher temperature
during peak hours to reduce energy consumption.
The researchers compared the energy cost savings
achieved through the precooling strategy with the energy
consumption and costs associated with a conventional control
strategy for HVAC systems. The conventional control
strategy typically maintains a constant temperature
throughout the day, regardless of the electricity prices or
outside weather conditions.
The results of the study demonstrated significant energy
cost savings ranging from 20% to 60% when implementing
the precooling strategy [2]. The savings were observed across
the six commercial buildings, which varied in size and
occupancy patterns.
By using five-day weather data in August [2], the
researchers were able to optimize the precooling strategy and
align it with the expected weather conditions. This approach
allowed the HVAC systems to take advantage of the lower
electricity prices during off-peak hours, thereby reducing
energy costs while still maintaining a comfortable indoor
environment during peak hours.
The study emphasizes the importance of considering
external factors, such as weather conditions and electricity
prices, when optimizing the operation of HVAC systems in
commercial buildings. By integrating these factors into the
control strategy, significant energy cost savings can be
achieved without compromising occupant comfort.
B. Real-time Energy Control Approach for Smart Home
Energy Management System [3]
This study focuses on demand response (DR)
management by integrating a building's peak demand with
DR incentives into a single equation [1]. The study aims to
reduce electricity costs by optimizing the participation of
appliances in demand response programs.
Demand response programs involve modifying electricity
consumption patterns in response to grid conditions or pricing
signals. By shifting or reducing electricity usage during peak
demand periods, consumers can help alleviate strain on the
grid and potentially earn incentives or lower electricity rates.
In this study, rolling optimization of a multi-hour
prediction horizon with minute-based real-time control
strategies and fuzzy logic techniques are used to manage
demand response in buildings. The researchers propose a
formulation that combines the building's peak demand with
the incentives offered by the demand response program.
 The approach involves continuously monitoring the
building's energy usage and the current incentives offered by
the demand response program. Based on this information, the
optimization algorithm determines the optimal scheduling of
appliances to minimize electricity costs while considering the
building's comfort and operational constraints.
The study demonstrates significant cost reduction. The
results show that the proposed approach can achieve
electricity cost savings ranging from 16% to 19% compared
to a default strategy [3].

REFERENCES
[1] M. Schmidt and C. Åhlund, “Smart buildings as Cyber-Physical
Systems: Data-driven predictive control strategies for energy
efficiency,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 90, pp.
742–756, Jul. 2018, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.04.013.
[2] X. Li and A. Malkawi, “Multi-objective optimization for thermal mass
model predictive control in small and medium size commercial
buildings under summer weather conditions,” Energy, vol. 112, pp.
1194–1206, Oct. 2016, doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2016.07.021.
[3] S. Zhou, Z. Wu, J. Li, and X. Zhang, “Real-time Energy Control
Approach for Smart Home Energy Management System,” Electric
Power Components and Systems, vol. 42, no. 3–4, pp. 315–326, Feb.
2014, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/15325008.2013.862322.