Lynxspring Technology Blog

IP Edge Controllers

Over the last five years, we have seen a continued rise in Internet Protocol (IP) and edge computing. This shift shouldn’t be as surprising as IT and OT have come closer together in the built environment. This shift has also increased the use of IP Edge native controllers and the deployment of horizontal building architectures and topologies.

Regarding devices and equipment that can reside on the edge, several, such as RTUs, chillers, plant level controllers, meters, sub-meters, sensors, security cameras, field devices, and lighting, are all good examples.

IP Edge controllers deliver speed, latency reduction, scalability, security, bandwidth conservation, reduced operational costs, and more data that has the potential to provide enhanced insights and data governance. They also enable owners and operators to be reactive in real time to what is happening within their facilities.

Let’s look at some of the benefits and value delivered by IP Edge controllers.

Driving Outcomes with Smarter Buildings

Smart buildings are amid the most transformative and compelling period we have seen over the last twenty-five years. New demands from the business and economic side of managing buildings have rewritten the rules. Suffice it to say that managing and operating buildings is also harder today than it has been in the past. And the hardest task of all is to incorporate an approach that includes specific identified outcomes combined with deciding what needs to be done now and what can wait.

The built environment is living up to the adage that the only constant is change. It continues to be a year of resilience and change—driven by new demands from the business and economic side of operating and managing buildings. While not all building type segments are going to be equal, some will continue to grow, while some will contract a bit.

Cybersecurity is a priority at Lynxspring. We are committed to taking a strong leadership role in helping our partners maintain a strong cybersecurity posture.

Since 2004, October has been designated as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. While we should be thinking about cybersecurity every day, this month is a stark reminder that we need to continually protect ourselves and our assets. According to the World Economic Forum, cyber incidents rank alongside natural disasters and climate change as one of humanity’s top ten risks globally.

Marc Petock, Lynxspring George Hawkinson, Burns & McDonnell, Richard Wendland, Burns & McDonnell

The built environment is increasingly dependent on sophisticated, connected controls for heating and air conditioning, energy management, lighting and many other systems. Unfortunately, many of these controls function in silos, with little interoperability and integration. A master systems integration strategy utilizing advanced controls platforms can give owners and operators the connectivity and access to the data they need to optimize operating costs, use energy more efficiently and address the pressing need to reduce carbon emissions.

Buildings are equipped with a diverse range of systems, subsystems, equipment, and sensors to monitor and control heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), energy management, lighting, water, elevators, parking systems, access control and more. When it comes to making buildings smarter, effective interoperability between these systems is critical to maximize building performance, reduce costs and achieve the health, safety and comfort levels demanded in modern, dynamic business environments.

Interoperability is a major contributor to the difference between being a smarter building versus being a smart building.