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ANTI-INTRUDER MONTH: How AI is assisting FMs to keep buildings secure
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The security of commercial properties is a paramount concern for many FMs. With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), there has been a paradigm shift in how security is managed and maintained in these spaces. AI is not only redefining current security protocols, but also paving the way for future advancements, as we explore here…

Current Applications of AI in Commercial Property Security

At present, one of the most significant applications of AI in commercial property security is in surveillance and monitoring. AI-powered CCTV systems are capable of real-time monitoring, providing facilities managers with instant alerts on unusual activities or security breaches. Unlike traditional surveillance systems that require constant human monitoring, AI systems can analyse vast amounts of video data, identify patterns, and detect anomalies with greater accuracy and efficiency.

Another area where AI is making a substantial impact is access control. Biometric systems, such as facial recognition and fingerprint scanning, have become more sophisticated with the integration of AI. These systems offer a higher level of security than traditional keycard systems, as they are harder to falsify and provide detailed data on entry and exit times, enhancing the ability to track movements within the property.

Predictive Analytics and Threat Assessment

AI is also playing a crucial role in predictive analytics and threat assessment. By analysing historical data, AI algorithms can predict potential security threats and vulnerabilities, allowing facilities managers to take proactive measures to mitigate risks. This predictive capability is especially valuable in anticipating and preventing crimes like break-ins or vandalism.

Future of AI in Commercial Property Security

Looking to the future, the potential of AI in commercial property security is vast. One area of development is the integration of AI with the Internet of Things (IoT). As commercial properties become more connected, AI can manage and secure a network of IoT devices, from smart locks to heating systems, ensuring comprehensive security that extends beyond just physical surveillance.

Another futuristic application is the use of AI-powered security robots. These robots can patrol properties, provide surveillance, and even interact with employees and visitors, offering a new level of security presence that is both efficient and cost-effective.

Challenges and Considerations

While AI presents numerous opportunities for enhancing security, it also poses challenges. Privacy concerns, particularly in the use of surveillance technologies, are paramount. Facilities managers must ensure that the implementation of AI in security respects privacy laws and ethical standards. Additionally, there is the challenge of keeping up with rapid technological advancements and ensuring that security staff are adequately trained to work alongside AI systems.

AI is revolutionising the way facilities managers approach security in commercial properties. From advanced surveillance and access control to predictive analytics and the potential for IoT and security robots, AI is providing more efficient, accurate, and sophisticated security solutions. As this technology continues to evolve, it will undoubtedly play an increasingly integral role in the security strategies of commercial properties, offering enhanced protection, efficiency, and peace of mind for both facilities managers and property occupants.

Are you assessing Anti-Intruder and Security solutions for your organisation? The Facilities Management Forum can help!

Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

Examining the business case for AI 
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By Mattia Sanna and Peter Cooke, Senior Data Analysts at Methods Analytics

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems and machines that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, reasoning, problem-solving, perception, and language processing. While the term may conjure images of robots and machines taking over human jobs, the reality is that AI is enhancing human capabilities. Common examples are automating routine and tedious tasks so employees can focus on more strategic initiatives or extracting actionable insights from large volumes of complex data to support decision-makers. 

Implementing AI can deliver tremendous value for companies looking to streamline operations and it is already transforming businesses of all sizes, across all industries, making them more efficient, productive and profitable. The current technology landscape contains nearly endless business use cases for AI. Thus, focusing on high-impact applications that align with core business goals and capabilities is crucial.  

With a strategic approach, AI can drive tangible improvements in performance, competitiveness, and, ultimately, unlock its true value. 

Drive Efficiency

AI has the ability to increase efficiency in existing business processes. Through the use of correctly implemented AI algorithms, processes can be completed quicker and more accurately. For example, companies working with large and/or complex data sets can utilise AI to quickly pre-process and collate that data. This has a dual benefit of allowing businesses to utilise this data in ways they were previously unable to and reduce the burden on the employees, freeing them up to focus on more cognitively complex tasks.  

Improve Decision Making

As well as increasing efficiency, AI can be used to help improve decision making. Artificial Intelligence can provide insights from data well above the ability of more commonly seen dashboards and reports, allowing patterns and trends to be better analysed to draw correlation and causation from complex datasets. This can prove invaluable in areas such as project planning and resourcing, where AI can be used to assist in ensuring that those with the best possible combination of skills for the task are recruited and deployed effectively. 

Boost Innovation

Artificial intelligence is enabling a wave of innovation, unlocking entirely new business models, products, and ways of generating value. Companies that harness AI as an innovation engine will be able to manage customer relationships in new ways, stay ahead of emerging needs, and reshape entire industries. For example, AI allows companies to create hyper-personalised recommendations tuned to each customer’s preferences. Media platforms leverage AI to recommend content viewers will love, while retailers use it to suggest purchases shoppers are most likely to make. 

One of the most powerful aspects of Artificial Intelligence is its ability to play out millions of hypothetical scenarios to uncover insights humans would never think of. AI can model the impact of countless minor tweaks and changes that would be impossible to test manually. This empowers businesses to make better strategic decisions and envision novel solutions to complex problems.  

Generative AI

Generative AI is revolutionising business operations unlike any technology before it. Tools like ChatGPT enable businesses to create content at unbelievable speeds. By inputting commands into the AI generator, you can create entirely new pieces of work – from written words, images and video to even website and code development. While current systems still require human guidance to correct errors, the available technology can hugely reduce the time required to generate high-quality content. These efficiencies increase businesses’ productivity significantly, meaning they can service more clients more effectively. As the technology matures, generative AI promises to become an indispensable engine powering growth. 

Humans and AI Working Together

AI is at its best when it is implemented alongside humans. When applied in the right way, humans and AI can work together to complete tasks at a faster pace whilst delivering more accurate results. Utilisation in areas such as automation of repetitive tasks, complex dataset collation and drawing insights from data enables AI to assist humans in increasing and improving their performance, making more informed decisions and ultimately driving more business value. 

A widely used application of this can be found in companies using AI chatbot assistants. These chatbots can filter out the majority of easily answered questions, freeing up the employees to work on the more complex and challenging customer queries. 

Forging Your Future

Though AI delivers immense opportunities, simply adopting tools is not enough. To fully benefit, companies must invest in proper implementation and training. Partnering with experienced AI specialists is key to successfully integrating solutions with existing workflows. They can help identify high-impact AI applications tailored to your business and provide hands-on guidance for maximising value. The future competitive landscape will reward those embracing AI’s capabilities while mitigating its limitations with human wisdom. 

Photo by Hitesh Choudhary on Unsplash

AI in Construction

GUEST BLOG: How Artificial Intelligence will revolutionise the construction sector
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Artificial intelligence is making its way into the construction industry, helping to revolutionise the way we build and design.

By harnessing robotics, construction managers can utilise intelligent machines that can perform routine tasks that were once completed by humans, such as bricklaying.

Alternatively, AI systems can collate and organise information for engineers to use within project planning and design implementation.

AI utilisation

The way we use artificial intelligence is spread into four areas. Together with Oasys, specialists in building design software, we assess the way the construction industry is starting to use AI in order to complete projects that contain fewer errors, less omissions, safer working practices, improved workflows, and more on-time worksite completions.

The planning processes

At the beginning of any construction, it must be planned thoroughly, and artificial intelligence is helping achieve this. Autonomous equipment is considered AI, as it is aware of its surroundings and is capable of navigation without human input. In the planning stages, AI machinery can survey a proposed construction site and gather enough information to create 3D maps, blueprints and construction plans.

This was previously a process that took weeks, but through the use of AI it can now be completed within one day. This helps to save firms both time and money in the form of labour.

AI taking on a management role

Managing and controlling projects from an AI perspective is now being put into place when construction begins. For example, workers can input sick days, vacancies and sudden departures into a data system and it will adapt the project accordingly. The AI will understand that the task must be moved to another employee and will do so of its own accord.

AI advice

With this technology being more advanced, it’s beginning to advise engineers on how to complete specific tasks that they might face within the construction phase. For example, if engineers were working on a proposed new bridge, AI systems would be able to advise and present a case for how the bridge should be constructed. This is based on past projects over the last 50 years, as well as verifying pre-existing blueprints for the design and implementation stages of the project. By having this information to hand, engineers can make crucial decisions based on evidence that they may not have previously had at their disposal.

Autonomous equipment is becoming more popular and the construction industry is taking full advantage of this — allowing vehicles to operate independently when at certain heights. Using sensors and GPS, the vehicle can calculate the safest route.

AI inside

Don’t just think that AI is only used to make the building, it can actually be implemented inside, too. In the US alone, $1.5 billion was invested in 2016 by companies looking to capitalise on this growing market.

Wynn, a hotel chain, said that it wanted to introduce the Amazon Echo into every room of its Las Vegas hotel to improve customer experience by the end of 2017. These devices can be used for aspects of the room such as lighting, temperature and any audio-visual equipment contained in the room. These systems can also be used within domestic settings, allowing homeowners to control aspects of their home through voice commands and systems that control all electronic components from one device.

BIM — Building Information Modelling

Building Information Modelling is a feature that holds information about the entire building, from the construction to if it ever got demolished. From this, you will be able to see decisions about the building that were said by management that will be a good reference for any future work.

Virtual assistants (VAs) are good for creating conversation but also for gathering the information that you need. By combining VAs alongside NFC (near-field communication), VAs can receive additional information about the building in real-time from various sensors in the building. For example, if there were structural problems with a building, then VAs could inform engineers specifically where the problem is and how it can be fixed.

Making savings is essential for any business, and artificial intelligence and virtual assistants are helping to achieve this. As the future of AI becomes more of a reality within construction, only time will tell how reliant on intelligent machines we will have to be in order to construct innovative building designs.