Here is a great video case study on Intelligent Buildings that Johnson Controls put together on Ave Maria University. This is worth the 7 minutes!
Here is a great video case study on Intelligent Buildings that Johnson Controls put together on Ave Maria University. This is worth the 7 minutes!
Posted at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
Social Networking has been the huge craze lately. But is it sustainable? And is there any use for it in the construction industry? LinkedIn, branded as a professional network was recently valued at $1 billion. Wow! That's huge and for me, personally, it really doesn't do a whole more than act as an online rolodex. And those recruiters on there? The ones that have 500+ connections, stars, smileyfaces, 50 thumbs-up, and are Featured members; you know the one's I'm talking about. I've never heard from them. Have you?
As I look at the industry, one thing that I heard from Day 1 and still continue to hear today is that the industry is all about relationships. But as I get to thinking about it, where do all my relatonships really stay? In my phone and in my Lotus Notes of Microsoft Outlook address book. Now how am I truly leveraging my relationships if that's where they sit.
How the online network world will end up merging with the construction industry is a loaded problem, but it will happen. Additional services around projects folks are bidding, bid day activities, vendor webinars, education on industry changes will all occur through the niche network. I wanted to write my brief thoughts on the matter, but what do you think? Do you think there's a big need for online networks in the industry?
Feel free to share in the comments.
Posted at 02:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
What's going on here?
Not to beat the Cisco drum too much, but this came into my inbox this morning and I had to share.
The future of presentation or the future of collaboration and teamwork! Cisco's Chuck Stucki claims that they're taken the equivalent of 3,300 cars off the road. Chambers claims that the value of each telepresence device increases according to Metcalf's Law - the value increases with the addition of devices to the network.
Very cool video - Watch it
Posted at 10:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
I need a t-shirt that reads, "I [heart] CCRE." I'm serious. There is nothing about Cisco Connected Real Estate that you shouldn't like. Everything. The branding, the marketing (are the first two the same thing?), the white papers, and the book (yes, there's a book out there from 2006). All of it is good.
If you are in the business of city planning, economic development, commercial land development, general construction, or technology consulting/contracting, there is nothing better than heeding the advice of the CCRE message.
So let me get into the reasons why I [heart] it so much:
1) Explains the convergence story properly
I have seen the convergence message (of IT and facilities) get botched time and time again.. Developers, Owner's reps say they get it, but I've run into too many that don't or can't turn the concept of convergence into reality (they're either scared or uneducated). Cisco understands and clearly explains that business models can be transformed for the betterment of an organization. It is defined as bringing together three key aspects in a facility:
And while many get scared barely putting their toes into the world of convergence the greater the level of convergence, the greater the efficiencies and the more the real estate and IT functions can react to ever changing business climates. It is the convergence of all the systems over one building network that enables the owner and users of the property to drastically enhance their IT and real estate value.
2) Leverages Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)
More than ever, IT organizations are under pressure to improve profitability with technology implementations linked to business objectives. Cisco has a broad-based understanding of the key value chains in the real estate industry, from a service provider providing telecommunication services to a property to a large enterprise renting the property right down to a consumer living and working in the property.
To address these different needs, Cisco’s services-oriented approach defines the type of services, ranging from traditional security surveillance to Unified Communications-based voice over IP services, that can be built on an IP-based infrastructure.
3) Wireless is defined as a Utility
The connected real estate story starts with the foundation, the next generation building information network, or what Cisco refers to as the "fourth utility". Like a building owner/developer places plumbing, piping, and wiring into a building, so to now can they add an IP network to the fabric of the building.
The mantra here is: "Reduce cost and complexity by replacing disparate networks for communication, security, and buildings systems with one simplified, flexible, and scalable IP network."
Who doesn't want that? Key point: The key deliverable is connectivity.
4) Technology is the focal point of the Real Estate strategy
With such a strategic impact on business transformation, technology must be considered earlier in the building life cycle. Moreover, 75% of the lifecycle costs is incurred during the operational stages. Historically, building and workplace design do not include IT considerations, and IT design is not dealt with until after delivery of the property.
Key point: Think about technology early & often!
5) Gets the Capex/Opex story
First off, if you think that the only way to save money on your building is on the energy side with all the talk of "sustainability" and "green", you're wrong!
Continental Automated Building Association stated in 2004 that, "First costs for integrated systems (including management hardware and software, network upgrades, web services, and reduction in devices) were 56% less than non-integrated systems."
Cisco shows how one can change the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) model for the better showing savings on the CapEx and OpEx side.
Savings on the CapEx side come from:
Cost savings in areas such as:
Conclusion
These are some of my thoughts on Cisco Connected Real Estate. Hopefully this is helpful. One thing to note is that Connected Real Estate is a vision (an idea, if you will). Cisco will NOT come and make this a reality. For that you'll need a Technology Contractor.
Posted at 10:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
IBM launched a "Stop Doing, Start Talking" campaign and one of the ads resonated with me and I'm surprised no one has responded with a solution to their problem (that they "haven't Ideated that yet", so here I go with an attempt. (But first, the video for those who haven't seen it).
Posted at 11:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Vikrant Duggal,
I'm currently an analyst on the Global Energy and Sustainability team here at our office in *********. I'm working on a project to track ******************* media coverage on Energy and Sustainability in the "blogesphere" which is what lead me to come across a post you created on your blog Constructive Clarity which was picked up by a search for **************** in IceRocket.
Essetially, I was wondering if you had some suggestions in regards to what would be the best way to track coverage of *** in blogs, guage is favorability and store it for trending. Our team feels that there is a huge potential for promoting our practices through viral marketing and this could be a great starting point.
If you could provide me with any recommendations, they would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Alfredo **********
**************************
phone *************
cell *************
******************************
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GE Healthcare, through a collaboration with CenTrak, Inc. of Newton, PA, today announced the availability of a new RFID technology capable of dividing a room or segmenting a bay by creating radio frequency identification (RFID) “virtual walls.” The technology was developed to meet the needs of healthcare providers to track tagged mobile medical equipment down to portion of a single room. This sub-room-level distinction in certain areas of the hospital provides an important enhancement to RFID room-level accuracy.Product: http://www.centrak.com/CenTrak_EquipmentTracking.asp?menuid=p5
The Asset Optimization System gives hospitals the ability to accurately locate assets within a monitored area as small as 6’ x 8’, which is the size of a typical small patient bay, whether curtained off or wide open. “Our customers tell us that reliable accuracy, along with cost, are the two most important factors in choosing among current RFID systems,” said Bret Barczak, general manager of Services & Solutions for GE Healthcare. ”Most systems capable of providing higher than room-level accuracy, like ultra wide band, traditionally have been cost prohibitive. The Asset Optimization System allows healthcare providers to create virtual RFID rooms where higher level intelligence, tracking and reporting are more valuable, particularly in places like the OR and ED.
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