Artificial Intelligence applied to Facility Management
Facility Management is constantly seeking allies in the realm of technology. Is Artificial Intelligence one of them?
Let’s take them in order. Do you know what Facility Management is about? The concept doesn´t translate easily, since it goes way beyond the general service management of a company. Facility Management is all about enhancing, significantly, user or employee experience inside a building through space optimization, real state resource coordination and facility improvement. In short, it all revolves around comprehensive service management in order to run a building.
But, why do we begin the article mentioning this discipline? Because Facility Management is also up to date with current innovation and digital transformation topics. Although they don´t think for themselves yet, the reality is that buildings are increasingly “intelligent” thanks to software, sensor and even Artificial Intelligence developments.
Scientists at the UGR (University of Granada, Spain), for example, have recently introduced a computer system, based precisely on Artificial Intelligence, capable of automatically detecting in real time if an individual produces a gun. It is a pioneering effort worldwide, and could improve security inside office buildings, shopping malls or airports. It seems likely that this system could be implemented without vast expense by using video cameras combined with alarm devices, without the need of direct monitoring.
A smart Facility management system is capable of interacting with the occupant and designing preventive or predictive systems. For example, some companies that provide cafeteria service for a large staff, display a sensor system capable of detecting the amount of clean trays stacked on the shelves so that cooks can realize whether more food needs to be prepared or not.
Another example of this is the hotel chain Wynn, which announced last year that every room in its Las Vegas hotel will be equipped with Artificial Intelligence-managed speakers so that guests can control aspects such as lighting, temperature or audio-visual devices with their voice.
At the end of the day, thanks to Facility Management, technology and its adaptability to public environments and private facilities, comfort is enhanced, security is ensured, and energy savings and sustainability are promoted.