The data layer sits on top of the device and network layers as the data infrastructure for any smart building software application. The applications need an ontology to understand all the data they're consuming, including all the underlying devices and how they fit together into a system of systems.
Independent Data Layer (IDL) vendors provide a data layer solution that is *independent* from the application layer. Meaning Buyers can buy the data layer as a separate product from any applications that sit on top of the data layer.
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The Application Layer needs a way to understand all the data it's consuming, including all the underlying devices and how they fit together into a system of systems. That's where these standard Ontology initiatives fit in. Buyers can adopt these standards for use in their stacks and capitalize on all the work done by the volunteers that maintain each standard.
"Data Layer, coupled with Applications" vendors provide one or more software applications at the Application Layer AND their solution can serve as the central data layer for other applications. Meaning they provide a Data Layer that is coupled with applications. These vendors often use terminology such as Building Operating Systems (BOS), Digital Twins, or Integration Platforms.
This month’s Member Gathering featured a wide-ranging conversation with Becca Timms, Director of ESG at Jamestown. For this recap, we’re formatting it as a written interview to cover the topics discussed in chunks.
Episode 131 is a conversation with Kathy Farrington, Digital Buildings Lead at Google. This is the 4th episode in our Google series, which unpacks different facets of their global smart buildings program and dates back to 2020. This one with Kathy is probably where we should have started because as she shares, she was involved from the beginning when it was just a side project she focused on with her 20% time.
"For us, it's simpler to work with applications that go on top of the BOS because we can control the information being accessed. Without the BOS, transparency is limited, which limits the number of use cases.By adding this data layer, we're dramatically increasing transparency and the possibilities of what else can easily be added on top."
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