Members of the electrical contracting industry recognize the exciting technological advancements of the internet of things (IoT) and their impact on making buildings smarter and more efficient.

ELECTRI International – The Foundation for Electrical Construction commissioned a study to develop short- and long-term strategies for the EC industry to prepare for the new era of smart facilities made possible by IoT technologies and systems. The researcher, Hisham Said, Associate Professor at Santa Clara University, used an extensive data collection process including interviews, an online questionnaire, case studies, and technology taxonomy modeling. This data and analysis served as the basis for developing a comprehensive IoT roadmap for electrical contractors.

The roadmap includes vision-driven strategies to help the EC industry transform into master system integrators (MSI) who can deliver increased value to clients, expand revenue streams, and improve the employment and development of their workforce. The roadmap strategies are explained thoroughly in the full report. The main highlights include:

• Developing ways for ECs to become more responsible to protect their clients from cyber security threats.
• Demonstrating how lighting will be the gateway to make buildings smarter and more connected.
• Transforming contractors into master system integrators to expand their focus from electrical and power systems to holistic building system integration.
• Creating greater smart building revenue stream potential from services such as building system integration and performance monitoring.
• Partnering with manufacturers whose systems are compatible with seamless integration and communication to achieve IoT-interoperability between the different smart building systems.
• Becoming specialists in installing and leasing private in-building and campus-wide wireless communication systems created by the greater need for IoT connectivity and 5G networks.
• Offering incentives for local JATCs to increase their commitment to low-voltage and video, data, and voice (VDV) training until they can be sustained and justified by the local work volumes.
• Engaging a new breed of engineering and design workforce who can be recruited and trained in MSI services at both two-year and four-year college institutions.
• Building a new K-12 outreach effort by ECs to make new workforce generations aware of promising and diverse career opportunities within the smart building market.