The collection of data and its use through the application of artificial intelligence has gained momentum with respect to a broad variety of applications and business areas. Many of these applications are generating entirely new opportunities and benefits. In the building sector, for example, the use of data from the planning, construction, and especially the operating phases is able to reduce costs and CO2 emissions, as well as improve the user comfort. To this end, a large number of methods are currently investigated in the area of the “Internet of Things” and are already offered as services on the market. The possibilities range from visualizations using dashboards and Building Information Modeling to control strategies supported by operational data, self-learning, predictive building control and multiple forms of digital building twins.

The present focus of the magazine “sustainable technologies” gives an overview about the status quo of international activities and presents an outlook on future developments.