Smart technologies and optimizing building performance in focus at INTELLIGENT BUILDING GULF

INTELLIGENT BUILDING GULF will be held April 20-23, 2008 simultaneously with three other building shows under the umbrella of the BUILDING FUTURES GULF by BATIMAT Exhibition & Conferences, BUILDING FUTURES GULF by BATIMAT is organised by Reed Exhibitions Middle East and will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

The umbrella event will consist of four shows devoted to high performance buildings and will include besides INTELLIGENT BUILDING GULF, HVAC GULF (Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning), STRUCTURE GULF (Structural products and Components), ENVELOPE GULF (Façade systems and Joinery). The four shows under the BUILDING FUTURES GULF by BATIMAT umbrella target architects and designers, consultants, engineers, property developers, equipment distributors, contractors and industry associations. Reed is partnering with the International Union of Architects (UIA) to organise the show.

Leonard Lecoq, Show Manager, BUILDING FUTURES GULF by BATIMAT, noted that the market had responded very positively to the specialized shows under BUILDING FUTURES GULF by BATIMAT. "Key stakeholders in the building sector have been genuinely appreciative of the show's format and we are pleased to offer this networking, knowledge-gathering and business platform for the building industry".

Elaborating on the key aspects of the INTELLIGENT BUIDLING GULF Exhibition, Lecoq said that the show would offer providers of security, temperatue regulation, networking, renewable energy, access control and lighting management solutions, an ideal platform to target decision makers.

"Our research has shown that decision makers in the building sector give little or no importance to integrating advanced technology solutions into their building projects at the initial stage. We think there are two reasons for this: firstly, there is a lack of awareness of new technologies in the sector and secondly because service providers have focused excessively on the technological aspects rather than on the value their solutions can bring to the end user," he said.

"Via INTELLIGENT BUILDING GULF, it is our intent to highlight to decision-makers the importance of making investments in intelligent building technologies at a very early stage in the project so that pay-back on their investments can be maximized", he added.

A variety of networking and digital systems, security management and control solutions, climate management and renewable energy systems, electrical equipment and lighting, lifts, elevators and systems providing access for persons with reduced mobility, facility management and centralized vacuum systems and ducts will be on display, as part of the INTELLIGENT GULF Exhibition.

In parallel with the show, a leading industry conference will be conducted by IBG (Intelligent Building Group) to share information and insights on the growth of intelligent buildings worldwide and how the region can benefit from the global experience. The IBG is an international association of leading professionals from all sectors of the industry, striving to strengthen contacts, share knowledge and propose solutions for the "sustainable advancement of the built environment".

Martyn Harrold, Chairman of IBG, said:

"We are pleased to contribute and lend our support to BUILDING FUTURES GULF by BATIMAT, by taking a lead role in organizing this conference. The Gulf's rapidly growing building industry has the opportunity to create stunningly intelligent buildings, while simultaneously making existing real estate smarter, more intelligent and less expensive to operate and manage. That should be the region's option rather than creating buildings that are visually iconic but poor in optimizing resources."

Harrold explained that although the industry's initial focus was on implementation of advanced technology to improve the performance of buildings where more technology meant more intelligence, the approach has matured over the years, embracing low energy design, incorporating sustainability features and offering resource saving benefits to the occupier of an IB (Intelligent Building). Now it is the entire fabric of the building that was being used rather than just technology, he said.

Added Lecoq: "We are pleased to welcome IBG's involvement with the show. Efficiency of buildings is emerging as a key theme in the rapidly growing Gulf construction industry and all four areas of our show are focused on promoting elements that when combined optimally result in a high performance building. I am convinced that the IBG-led conference will enjoy strong participation from stakeholders in the region's building sector. We are also certain that people who are environmentally-conscious, particularly investors, will find the conference very interesting."

The conference sessions by IBG will focus on how the application of the intelligent building concept can enhance the user experience in malls, retail outlets, hotels and residences. Speakers will also shed light on the Eco Data Centre concept, the impact buildings have on the carbon footprint and the complex factors at play in the building of Intelligent Cities.

According to a study conducted by AMR International for Reed Exhibitions, the building construction market in the Middle East is worth over $272bn (Dhs1 trillion) and is set to grow more than 10 percent annually until 2009.