This book proposes strategies for FM services optimization and innovation, based on innovative models of IoT application and big data management within FM processes, able to support FM stakeholders in: orienting and managing big data flows and their sources (sensor, RFID, etc.); changing FM services demand/offer and developing new approaches to FM agreements; drawing new supply chains based on network approaches; and outlining new profiles of competences for FM stakeholders. The book demonstrates that FM stakeholders (e.g. Real Estate owners, FM providers, service suppliers, etc.) increasingly need new support tools for understanding the features of the current offer of innovative ICT solutions in order to become promoters of FM innovation, and it provides them with an analytical-procedural framework useful for defining and implementing IoT-based FM services.

This open access book focuses on the development of methods, interoperable and integrated ICT tools, and survey techniques for optimal management of the building process. The construction sector is facing an increasing demand for major innovations in terms of digital dematerialization and technologies such as the Internet of Things, big data, advanced manufacturing, robotics, 3D printing, blockchain technologies and artificial intelligence. The demand for simplification and transparency in information management and for the rationalization and optimization of very fragmented and splintered processes is a key driver for digitization. The book describes the contribution of the ABC Department of the Polytechnic University of Milan (Politecnico di Milano) to R&D activities regarding methods and ICT tools for the interoperable management of the different phases of the building process, including design, construction, and management. Informative case studies complement the theoretical discussion. The book will be of interest to all stakeholders in the building process - owners, designers, constructors, and faculty managers - as well as the research sector.

This book deals with Invitations to Tender (ITTs) for the provision of Facility Management (FM) services. It presents a framework to support companies in preparing clear, comprehensive and effective ITTs, focusing on such key aspects as: organizational structures, tools and procedures for managing information, allocation of information responsibilities, procedures for services monitoring and control, quality policies, and risk management. It discusses and analyzes a range of basic terms and concepts, procedures, and international standards concerning the Tendering Process, as well as the contents of ITTs, which should represent the translation of information needs into requirements related to: the client’s goals, main categories of information to deal with, expected organization of information, modalities of reporting and control, and level of knowledge to be reached. A further major focus is on potential key innovation scenarios concerning current FM practice, such as Sustainable Procurement, Building Information Modeling (BIM), Big Data and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, highlighting both the possible benefits and the possible risks and implications that could negatively affect the quality of FM service provision if not properly treated within the ITT. The book will be of interest to real estate owners, demand organizations and facility managers, enhancing their ability to prepare, interpret and/or critically analyze ITTs.

The two-volume set IFIP AICT 392 and 393 constitutes the refereed post-conference proceedings of the 6th IFIP TC 5, SIG 5.1 International Conference on Computer and Computing Technologies in Agriculture, CCTA 2012, held in Zhangjiajie, China, in October 2012. The 108 revised papers presented were carefully selected from numerous submissions. They cover a wide range of interesting theories and applications of information technology in agriculture, including Internet of things and cloud computing; simulation models and decision-support systems for agricultural production; smart sensor, monitoring, and control technology; traceability and e-commerce technology; computer vision, computer graphics, and virtual reality; the application of information and communication technology in agriculture; and universal information service technology and service systems development in rural areas. The 55 papers included in the second volume focus on GIS, GPS, RS, and Precision Farming.

A practical look at extending the value of Building Information Modeling (BIM) into facility management from the world's largest international association for professional facility managers Building owners and facility managers are discovering that Building Information Modeling (BIM) models of buildings are deep reservoirs of information that can provide valuable spatial and mechanical details on every aspect of a property. When used appropriately, this data can improve performance and save time, effort, and money in running and maintaining the building during its life cycle. It can also provide information for future modifications. For instance, a BIM could reveal everything from the manufacturer of a light fixture to its energy usage to maintenance instructions. BIM for Facility Managers explains how BIM can be linked to facility management (FM) systems to achieve very significant life-cycle advantages. It presents guidelines for using BIM in FM that have been developed by public and private owners such as the GSA. There is an extensive discussion of the legal and contractual issues involved in BIM/FM integration. It describes how COBie can be used to name, capture, and communicate FM-related data to downstream systems. There is also extensive discussion of commercial software tools that can be used to facilitate this integration. This book features six in-depth case studies that illustrate how BIM has been successfully integrated with facility management in real-life projects at: Texas A&M Health Science Center USC School of Cinematic Arts MathWork's new campus Xavier University State of Wisconsin Facilities University of Chicago Library renovation BIM for Facility Managers is an indispensable resource for facility managers, building owners, and developers alike.

Apress is proud to announce that Rethinking the Internet of Things was a 2014 Jolt Award Finalist, the highest honor for a programming book. And the amazing part is that there is no code in the book. Over the next decade, most devices connected to the Internet will not be used by people in the familiar way that personal computers, tablets and smart phones are. Billions of interconnected devices will be monitoring the environment, transportation systems, factories, farms, forests, utilities, soil and weather conditions, oceans and resources. Many of these sensors and actuators will be networked into autonomous sets, with much of the information being exchanged machine-to-machine directly and without human involvement. Machine-to-machine communications are typically terse. Most sensors and actuators will report or act upon small pieces of information - "chirps". Burdening these devices with current network protocol stacks is inefficient, unnecessary and unduly increases their cost of ownership. This must change. The architecture of the Internet of Things must evolve now by incorporating simpler protocols toward at the edges of the network, or remain forever inefficient. Rethinking the Internet of Things describes reasons why we must rethink current approaches to the Internet of Things. Appropriate architectures that will coexist with existing networking protocols are described in detail. An architecture comprised of integrator functions, propagator nodes, and end devices, along with their interactions, is explored.