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one is by building systems and another is to view them in terms of
levels within a technology sophistication chain.
Many building products play roles in relation to monitoring, control,
and communication systems. Many of these systems sense indoor air
environment characteristics and in turn provide the logic and controls that allow various building environmental systems to maintain design levels. Other systems similarly deal with lighting or
communications. Yet others deal with fire detection, suppression,
or other needs. The list is surprisingly long. Many highvalue products used in buildings find their uses in these systems, typically in
the form of sensors, actuators, or logic controllers. These products
are technologically complex and are in the top range of any kind
of technology sophistication value chain. Most used within the
building industry might have been tailored specifically for building use but usually have underlying technologies that have been
developed primarily by other industries and in response to driving
forces in those industries. This is often the case with mechanical or
electronic products (such as sensorbased control systems used in
everything from heating, ventilating, and airconditioning systems
to escalators). Surely the building industry will benefit from the
many nanobased technologies associated with the expected rapid
advances in electronic and related communication technologies.
Certainly there will be enormous benefits from new optoelectronic
display systems.
Many buildings are literally all about “information” and can be
expected to use new display technologies (Section 9.5). In these
general types of monitoring, control, and communication products,
nanomaterialled innovations will benefit the building industry,
but the industry will probably only rarely provide the primary technology development leadership for these products. It will, however,
provide a big market for tailored products.
Enclosure systems form an essential part of any building. External
enclosures provide fundamental thermal, weather, and sound barriers and mediators. Façade elements, such as windows or glass
curtain walls, provide not only visual access to the outside world
but also are light mediators. Interior walls zone building spaces
and provide their own privacy, sound, and light control functions.
As observed in earlier chapters, the specific thermal, optical, and
sound properties of these many elements are essential in providing comfortable and habitable environments. Both external and
internal enclosure elements also provide the visual statement that
The Building and Construction Industry
one is by building systems and another is to view them in terms of
levels within a technology sophistication chain.
Many building products play roles in relation to monitoring, control,
and communication systems. Many of these systems sense indoor air
environment characteristics and in turn provide the logic and controls that allow various building environmental systems to maintain design levels. Other systems similarly deal with lighting or
communications. Yet others deal with fire detection, suppression,
or other needs. The list is surprisingly long. Many highvalue products used in buildings find their uses in these systems, typically in
the form of sensors, actuators, or logic controllers. These products
are technologically complex and are in the top range of any kind
of technology sophistication value chain. Most used within the
building industry might have been tailored specifically for building use but usually have underlying technologies that have been
developed primarily by other industries and in response to driving
forces in those industries. This is often the case with mechanical or
electronic products (such as sensorbased control systems used in
everything from heating, ventilating, and airconditioning systems
to escalators). Surely the building industry will benefit from the
many nanobased technologies associated with the expected rapid
advances in electronic and related communication technologies.
Certainly there will be enormous benefits from new optoelectronic
display systems.
Many buildings are literally all about “information” and can be
expected to use new display technologies (Section 9.5). In these
general types of monitoring, control, and communication products,
nanomaterialled innovations will benefit the building industry,
but the industry will probably only rarely provide the primary technology development leadership for these products. It will, however,
provide a big market for tailored products.
Enclosure systems form an essential part of any building. External
enclosures provide fundamental thermal, weather, and sound barriers and mediators. Façade elements, such as windows or glass
curtain walls, provide not only visual access to the outside world
but also are light mediators. Interior walls zone building spaces
and provide their own privacy, sound, and light control functions.
As observed in earlier chapters, the specific thermal, optical, and
sound properties of these many elements are essential in providing comfortable and habitable environments. Both external and
internal enclosure elements also provide the visual statement that
The Building and Construction Industry