While building management systems (BMS) have become smart in recent years, they are certainly not new. In fact they have gradually evolved over the last 50+ years and into the 21st century systems we see today. BMS has always been boosted by the technological developments of the time, but today’s smart building technology is influencing BMS like nothing before. BMS is essentially a computer-based control system that monitors and manages a building’s mechanical and electrical equipment, including ventilation, lighting, power, fire and security systems. Consisting of software and hardware, a BMS is typically configured in a hierarchical manner and can be proprietary, using such protocols as C-Bus or Profibus. The various subsystems in a building have traditionally been operated separately, each with their own IT structure. However, as the number of subsystems increased the case for integrated solutions also grew. In particular, the addition of fluctuating renewable energy generation and energy storage capacity added a […]