Synthetik joins DHS S&T multi-disciplinary team to develop an in-building sensor suite and testbed for public health and safety
INTELLIGENT BUILDINGS = SMART CITY
Securing the nation’s infrastructure from man-made and natural hazards is a priority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Despite COVID-19’s effect on teleworking, buildings continue to meet our work and social needs by their many functions, including government and commercial offices, hospitals, entertainment venues and the hospitality industry. The public expects buildings to be safe and comfortable via actions taken by owners, operators and occupants. Also expected are safety and security as per local laws, insurance guidance and first responder accessibility.
INTELLIGENT BUILDINGS = PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
How do building systems (e.g., HVAC, lighting, security, etc.) help with safety and comfort? How do we maximize fresh airflow and minimize stagnant zones? Exactly where are the building occupants? Are they practicing social distancing guidance? How do we safely get them to evacuate or get help to them? Where are the security personnel? There can be significant financial costs to answer these questions. Building owners/operators want to reduce risks to occupants while increasing savings on daily operating costs and enhancing public safety measures. Intelligent buildings can do both…
IN-BUILDING SENSOR SUITE: TESTBED
DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is working to harness Internet of Things (IoT) devices for intelligent buildings. The goals include: to meet new demands for public safety, provide increased security in the event of an emergency and to improve facility and infrastructure performance while reducing operational costs.
DHS S&T is partnering with industry to develop an In-Building Sensor Suite and real-world Testbed to validate new and emerging sensors’ performance. A variety of sensors are integrated within a large entertainment and sports arena’s existing building automation system to monitor environmental conditions, airflow, Wi-Fi and thermal signatures, particulates and camera networks. These sensors provide facility owners / operators, as well as first responders, real-time hazard identification, geolocation and alerting as well as occupancy intelligence for enhanced safety, search & rescue.
The creation of a detailed 3D digital Twin of the entertainment venue provided the framework to deploy and network the sensor pods in the most advantageous locations as well as visualize the results of the modeling and analysis. Collecting baseline data over the course of numerous venue events allowed empirical insights into building control system changes and procedural adjustments. Airflow modeling mapped to the environmental sensors and building operations provided a unique view and understanding of the dynamics of the building control systems and the resulting efficiencies of the procedural changes for operating the venue.
REAL WORLD BENEFITS
A Public / Private Partnership with DHS S&T, Capital One Arena and Monumental Sports (Owner / Operator respectively) established the Testbed for sensor deployment and integration with existing building control systems. The partnership demonstrated the ability to implement new sensor technology within the as-built facility infrastructure to visualize and monitor building functions. The result of the combined sensor suite and building control systems allowed new enhancements and alterations to the air handling procedures, significantly reducing facility daily operating costs while adding new public safety measures for Covid precautions and emergency response.