Building automation and control systems for office buildings: Technical insights for effective facility management - A literature review

This paper provides an overview of the benefits of Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS) for facility managers of office buildings and delves into the fundamental structure of BACS. Facility managers are increasingly tasked with growing demands for sustainability, energy efficiency, and comfort and convenience for occupants in buildings. BACS offers technological advancements to assist facility managers with these tasks. BACS replace manual interactions with building technical systems, such as lighting and climate control, with automated actions, leading to a more optimised control. By collecting real-time data, BACS support facility managers in making strategic decisions based on the condition of the building and its technical systems. Moreover, BACS can identify potential defects or malfunctions through fault detection and diagnosis techniques, enabling facility managers to implement predictive maintenance. Additionally,. However, the implementation of BACS presents challenges, as facility managers require specific knowledge to plan and operate these systems effectively. This paper explains specific knowledge regarding the structure of BACS, such as the three-level model, topologies, communication protocols and the relation between BACS and other digital applications. Despite the benefits offered by BACS, the study acknowledges the increased security risks associated with physical and cyberattacks. Strategies to detect and defend against potential attacks are discussed, emphasizing the importance of addressing vulnerabilities in protocols, testing on real cases, regularly updating passwords and systems, and improving defence approaches. This research highlights the potential of BACS for facility managers while emphasizing the need for future studies on BACS's impact.