Digitalization is changing many areas of our lives – including buildings, which are becoming smart buildings with the right technologies. One of these technologies is the Building X platform, whose strengths lie in networking and interaction. Building X bundles individual software tools for security technology, fire protection, ventilation, heating and other trades.

The platform is built like a pyramid with three levels. The lowest level is responsible for connecting the hardware in the buildings – this is where the data is collected. Building X accesses the sensors already installed in buildings, as the solution is based on standardized automation protocols. In the second level, the data from these sensors is organized and evaluated. In the third level, this information is made available to applications in order to automate buildings and make them more energy-efficient or more comfortable for building users. Building X is part of the Siemens Xcelerator offering – Siemens’ open digital business platform that enables faster and scalable digital transformation.

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Thanks to the cloud structure, Building X can be customized with complete flexibility.

“With this setup, we can digitize almost any building – large, small, existing buildings and new buildings,” explains Bettina Schwertl, Head of Digital & Software in the building technology sector at Siemens Austria. “Buildings with different life cycles and systems can be monitored and managed on a single platform. The focus is on the approach of moving from separate data silos to a cloud platform.” The advantages are obvious: instead of limited insights and access to the data, building operators can access all of the collected data across all trades and also integrate and analyze existing data. Thanks to the scalability and flexibility of Building X, changes and extensions can be easily integrated.

“The intelligence is in the cloud, so the system scales according to the customer’s requirements,” says Erich Engelmaier, Portfolio Manager for Building X at Siemens Austria. “Instead of having to customize everything and then pay a lot more for extensions, as was previously the case with on-premise solutions, the Building X extension in the cloud is completely flexible and can be perfectly tailored to our customers. Updates in the cloud ensure that the end user always has the latest version in use, which guarantees that there are no outdated or different versions in the field and thus eliminates the update process for the customer.”

Linking existing systems

This is also important so that cyber criminals cannot exploit gaps from previous versions. The cloud application is accessed via the web browser and is therefore independent of the underlying system. Building X does not require any new technology, but links the existing systems for heating, cooling or security. This also makes it affordable for operators of smaller buildings. Building X acts as a “single source of truth” that eliminates complexity and supports decarbonization goals. The platform addresses the challenges of the various interest groups in the building life cycle – building users, real estate investors, real estate companies and facility managers. Stakeholders can digitally merge and use their building data from different sources, trades and systems on a single platform.

Manufacturer-independent connectivity and open application programming interfaces (APIs) enable a seamless user experience and the integration of existing software and ecosystems, including third-party applications. The Building X suite already includes a large number of applications and digital services that are tailored to different interest groups and connected via an AI-supported platform. The Operations Manager application, for example, was designed to control and service several connected locations. It provides an overview of all locations, the connectivity status and the event status – in real time.

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Building X offers a wide range of apps that make building operation more efficient and safer.

All data point values are updated live. Commands issued by the Operations Manager are immediately transmitted from the cloud to the controlled device. Alarm notifications can be configured based on the building operator’s preferences – both for the type of notification and for different locations, assets and data point levels. The application offers maximum transparency regarding the operation and energy consumption of properties and, thanks to remote management, particularly short response times for rectifying operational faults. However, the Operations Manager is by no means the only Building X app that makes building operations more efficient and safer. In addition to the Security Manager or the 360° Viewer, the Fire Manager now also offers the option of integrating fire protection solutions into Building X.