by Brianna Crandall — April 2, 2012—Innovative graphic development company QA Graphics, specializing in control system graphics for the building automation industry, has just announced the release of version 3.0 of the Data Manager, an integral component of its award-winning Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard (EEED) solution. The Data Manager is capable of gathering real-time data from multiple buildings across multiple locations, allowing companies to keep informed about their key facilities performance indicators anywhere, anytime.
The changes from version 2.0 to version 3.0 of the Data Manager are significant, says QA Graphics. Version 3.0 was developed in the .NET Framework, evolving the “traditional” solution to a platform. This reportedly offers a much more collaborative environment with limitless connectivity. The solution runs leaner and can handle mass amounts of data from an unlimited number of buildings across multiple locations, adds the company. Now, building performance feedback can be displayed anywhere, anytime. Real-time data can be deployed via touchscreens or kiosks on-site, on the Web, and on mobile devices including Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch), Android and BlackBerry.
As a result, the Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard is even more accessible, adds QA Graphics. The interactive application continues to be a resource used to educate and create environmental awareness through the display of building data and educational features. Now, the solution can be used by organizations to further engage occupants. With energy efficiency information available on the go, occupants can access this information at their convenience. Organizations can incorporate the EEED as part of an ongoing strategy to help building occupants better understand and reduce their energy usage. These enhancements also provide a great opportunity for real-time large-scale energy competitions, social communication and cloud-managed data, suggests the company.
According to QA Graphics, version 3.0 of the Data Manager offers:
Limitless Connectivity
- Access data from multiple buildings/multiple locations
- Display anywhere (via touchscreens/kiosks on-site, Web, mobile devices)
- Opportunity for energy competitions/mass data sharing
Data Capabilities
- Integrated data access within Microsoft platform (Store and report all data for all buildings within one MS SQL database.)
- Access data to develop advanced reports using existing software (Excel or other software)
- Store data in the cloud
- Ability to back up data
- Ability to import benchmark and/or baseline data
- API allowing customers to share data via Web services
QA Graphics offers four different solutions when integrating the Energy Efficiency Education Dashboard to access and display this real-time data. The company offers a fully programmable controller that can act as the gateway between the building automation system (BAS) or meters. It developed an application programming interface (API), allowing clients to write their own Web service and share building data without the use of this gateway device. In addition, QA Graphics offers custom solutions including a JCI Web Interface application and a Module for Niagara AX that eliminate the need for this gateway component.
