Tridonic installs Internet of Light (IoL) application net4more

In this net4more pilot installation Tridonic is using the existing lighting infrastructure in its headquarters as the carrier technology for a smart building. Both the luminaires and the individual sensors are integrated in a common system, forming a network that is connected to the internet and in which other devices of different building services can be incorporated seamlessly and now also wirelessly. The installation at the company headquarters has been upgraded to net4more 2.0, the Thread-based wireless version of the system, and extended to another floor of the building. Power is supplied via conventional power cables, powered DALI or Ethernet (Power over Ethernet/PoE).
 

Full flexibility for facility managers and users

net4more integrates all components such as luminaires, communication modules, sensors, link server and network infrastructure (switches, border routers) on a uniform platform. The connected devices capture data and, for evaluation and analysis purposes, transmit it to a cloud-based management portal in which the data is visualised. Thanks to its open API interfaces, it’s also possible to integrate data from other building services in the portal, provide further digital services, and even realise an entire building management system. This means that services such as an up-to-date status report of the luminaires that is retrievable at any time and remote lighting control make maintenance much easier for in-house facility management. Through net4more, system updates can be transferred to the entire installation with just a few clicks. The pilot installation in Dornbirn is also equipped with ammeters which allow facility managers to obtain information on energy consumption or energy savings.

The employees benefit from an easily adaptable lighting solution which can be controlled using the net4more app. For example, meeting rooms have been equipped with smart touch-screen displays from where the lighting can be operated quickly and intuitively via the net4more app. What’s more, the app, if installed on a smartphone or other mobile device, provides more flexibility and individuality in the workplace. Employees now benefit from optimum light at any time wherever they are. They can configure and change the lighting at their desks to suit their individual needs. The settings are saved in the net4more app and can be accessed at any workplace. This allows employees to easily “take” their preferred lighting settings to another workplace, creating comfort and flexibility and enabling an agile desk-sharing concept.

Clear data visualisation

The data captured by sensors for occupancy are visualised in a heat mapping application which ensures anonymisation of the collected data. Graphics clearly display parameters such as the utilisation of rooms in percent or the energy consumption of luminaires, and these parameters are then transmitted to and stored in the management portal. Using the presence data, Tridonic creates detailed usage profiles for the various rooms. Specific measures on drawing up alternative room occupancy plans can then be taken and facility management optimised. Heat maps help employees to search for free meeting rooms in real-time: one look at the management portal and the nearest available room is easy to find.