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Customer Success Story - VIA University
Technology Category
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - API Integration & Management
- Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
Applicable Industries
- Education
Applicable Functions
- Facility Management
Use Cases
- Building Automation & Control
- Building Energy Management
Services
- System Integration
The Challenge
VIA University, established in 2008, has grown significantly over the years, expanding from 38 sites to 18 sites across Denmark. As part of this expansion, the university began construction of new facilities and sought new options for building management solutions. The university required a software vendor who could provide a cost-effective, open building management solution for their Aarhus N and Aarhus C campuses. The primary concern was the monitoring and control of campus buildings’ daily operation, especially the comfort of occupants, as the university believes that an optimized indoor climate is the best environment for learning. Minimizing operational cost was also a factor in the school’s decision. The university has its own building management user’s manual, revised once or twice a year, which is considered essential to optimal operations. With this in mind, the school sought a software vendor that would reduce complexity in operations, while ultimately reducing associated costs.
About The Customer
VIA University was established in Denmark in 2008, originally spread across 38 sites throughout the country. Today, the university has been consolidated within 18 sites in eight cities. The school provides a variety of educational disciplines, including Business, Design, Movies/Animation, Education, Social Sciences, Healthcare and Technology. Over the past seven years, VIA University recognized their growth within Denmark, even as it sought to consolidate its campuses from 38 sites to 18. Today, the school’s 18 sites are spread across 238,000 square meters, with a population of 25,000 people, including students, teachers, technical personnel and more (14 percent of which are international).
The Solution
Working with system integrator/design consultant, Balslev Automation A/S, VIA University selected ICONICS GENESIS64™ HMI/SCADA suite, along with AlarmWorX™64 Multimedia OPC alarm management software. ICONICS was selected for being more cost-effective and for its open system based on open standards. ICONICS GENESIS64 now connects to the university’s WAGO PLCs using OPC communications. The software provides interfaces with alarm system, fire detection, access control, UPS and cooling systems, easily handling the school’s approximate 15,000 tags. The university is now considering ICONICS for its future expansion efforts. The school is considering integration with solar panels as well as facility management within other locations.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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