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Unit of study_
DESC9673: Intelligent Building Control Systems
2025 unit information
The term 'intelligent buildings' was coined some thirty years ago with the advent of Direct Digital Controls (DDC), but only recently can buildings can truly be considered 'intelligent' thanks to advances in sensor technology, control systems theory, information technology, and electronics in general. This unit presents an overview of intelligent buildings from the Building Management and Control System (BMCS) perspective, focusing specifically on Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) processes, plus other building services including security, lighting, and vertical transportation. Fundamentals of control systems theory and technology will be presented. State-of-the-art BMCS capabilities will be demonstrated in relation to optimising the environmental, workplace productivity and economic performance of buildings. Sustainability issues covered by the unit include the role of BMCS in monitoring and managing energy and carbon footprint, water resources and indoor environmental quality (IEQ). The learning outcomes of this unit of study will include sufficient understanding of building controls to enable optimum building performance. It will also provide a platform for critical analysis of control and operational strategies adopted through techniques such as diagnostics and trend logging of parameters such as energy, water, temperature, humidity, to mention a few.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning
| Study level | Postgraduate |
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| Academic unit | Architectural and Design Science |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. understand the fundamental principles of Intelligent Building Management Systems (IBMS)
- LO2. understand the significance of IBMS within the commercial building contexts of performance and sustainability
- LO3. understand the basic functionality and capabilities of IBMS: lighting, heating and cooling, ventilation, occupancy, energy efficiency, life safety, security, and facility maintenance
- LO4. understand the principles of sensors and their role in IBMS
- LO5. understand the logic and algorithms of IBMS
- LO6. demonstrate skills in critical thinking and critical analysis of evidence
- LO7. demonstrate skills in synthesising and effectively communicating technical information across the multiple disciplines comprising the IBCS/IBMS domain.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 2 2025
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Block mode | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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