Use-Cases Mapping of IoT Sensors in Smart Buildings: A Conceptual Framework

Smart buildings are those that employ digital technologies to enhance facility management, resulting in an enhanced user experience and improved building operation and maintenance. The Internet of Things (IoT) is an enabling technology that makes a building “smart” by utilizing many sensors to collect building data, automatically distilling information, and taking the right action via actuators. The challenge is to align the existing IoT sensors on the market and numerous possible use-cases to the requirements of Smart Building Management (SBM) projects. Therefore, this study presents a novel multi-dimensional framework for mapping and classifying IoT devices and their corresponding use-cases in the context of SBM. The proposed framework has four dimensions: (1) IoT device name and categorization, (2) building components, (3) building smartness aspects, and (4) smart building management objectives. Such a framework that sets out the scope for SBM research projects does not exist in the literature despite its needed urgency. The applicability of the framework is demonstrated via hypothetical example. Based on initial observation of the design, the 4D framework is found to be capable in documenting and mapping the available sensors and their use-cases, as well as highlighting gaps and identifying potential use-cases of the new or existing sensors. Additionally, the framework can be used as a communication tool for collaborations in IoT use-cases-related research and support strategic visioning in SBM research programs.