JEDDAH: ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won an order to provide a complete smart building management system for Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Higher Education. To be implemented by Riyadh-based ABB solution provider Nassli, the project will transform the Ministry of Higher Education's head office in Riyadh into the Saudi government's first smart building. The building's lighting, HVAC, public address, fire fighting, access control, IPTV and CCTV systems will be integrated through an open protocol IP solution. ABB's KNX-based technology will provide the Ministry's facility management with the ability to control all of the building's functions from a single interface, both on site and remotely. ABB's lighting control system will provide the Ministry with controllers for maintaining constant lighting levels through a combination of natural and artificial light as well as motion and presence sensors for the automatic control of lighting and other consumer loads according to need, both indoors and externally. ABB presence detector sensors and dimming modules will allow for automatic lighting management to significantly reduce energy usage. Solution partner Nassli has deployed ABB's IP interface module to allow communication between the company's KNX intelligent control system and technology from other providers. “The building is the first in the Kingdom's public sector to enable communication between devices from different companies. ABB's solutions will be able to interact with any device that is IP-enabled,” said Samer Mustafa, executive manager, Nassli. In addition, a lighting server has been installed on site which will allow a single user to manage all of the lighting in the building. Any error in the lighting system will be instantly reported in detail to facilities management in the building's main control room for immediate repair. “The government of Saudi Arabia is taking the lead in terms of deploying energy saving solutions,” said Ali Nazzal, senior sales and operation manager for Smart Home and Intelligent Building Controls, ABB Saudi Arabia. “As the country's real estate sector expands it is important that the government presses ahead with setting an example as to the importance of green solutions.” The head office of the Ministry of Higher Education is a 12-floor building which will house over a thousand employees. The Ministry of Higher Education is responsible for affairs relating to educational activities across universities in Saudi Arabia as well as Saudi students pursuing further studies outside of the Kingdom.
