Is IP everywhere the way ahead for building automation?

Conventional wisdom suggests that the complete integration of building automation systems is the final outcome in the evolution of intelligent buildings. Security systems, energy management systems, fire alarm systems are some of the automation systems that are converging to produce a single integrated environment for building automation. These systems can execute global strategies so that the building is able to function in harmony. But one question is starting to emerge from this seemingly inevitable convergence. Is the consolidation of a single building automation protocol actually precluding possibilities for communication beyond the building automation sphere? The organic nature of the modern built environment requires cooperation between organizational activities, means of production and the facility itself. This process of integration cannot be achieved whilst the building operation is seen to be independent from other communication and control systems. Argues that the process of integrating building systems may in fact isolate such systems from a much broader range of information technology systems. Describes the use of embedded Web servers, an area where open integration might be developed. Divergence rather than convergence appears to be the future for building automation systems.