Alan McGibney

Bio: Alan McGibney is an academic researcher from Cork Institute of Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Computer science & Wireless sensor network. The author has an hindex of 8, co-authored 30 publications receiving 240 citations.

A wireless sensor network design tool to support building energy management

Abstract: The physical location of sensor nodes strongly influences the performance of the network from the perspective of accurate data sensing and reliable communication. Therefore deployment planning can be regarded as an essential stepping stone to producing a viable network infrastructure. The research presented in this paper aims to assist the deployment of a Building Management System relying on wireless sensors and actuators. This is accomplished by the development of a WSN design and optimization software tool to support designers and system integrators when undertaking the difficult task of WSN deployment for building energy management.

Influence of people shadowing on optimal deployment of WLAN access points

Abstract: With their low cost and high-speed data rate capabilities, installations of IEEE 802.11-based wireless local area networks (WLANs) are growing exponentially. Although many organizations have started using WLANs, there are still very few tools available that can help the design of WLAN networks. As a result, the current deployment remains ad-hoc in nature. The objective of this work is to develop modeling tools for performance optimization of WLAN networks and WLAN access points. In particular, propagation models are available that can predict the signal strength and interference in a WLAN system by taking into account environment specific parameters such as the structure of the building, presence or absence of stationary obstacles etc. This paper investigates the influence of moving obstacles, such as people, on radio wave propagation inside a building and the effect on received signal quality in a WLAN. Our findings suggest that the presence of moving obstacles seriously affects the performance of the system by introducing heavy variations in the received signal strength.

Influence of people shadowing on bit error rate of IEEE802.11 2.4 GHz channel

Abstract: Installations of IEEE 80211-based wireless local area networks (WLANs) have been growing exponentially over the past two years due to their low cost and high-speed data rate capabilities Although many organizations have started using WLANs, there are still few tools available that assist in the design of WLAN networks As a result, the current deployment of WLAN networks remains ad-hoc in nature The objective of the research reported here is to develop modeling tools for performance optimization of WLAN networks In particular, we attempt to develop propagation models that can predict the signal strength and interference in a WLAN system by taking environment specific parameters into account such as the structure of the building, presence or absence of stationary obstacles, etc (COST231 Final Report, 1998) This paper investigates the influence of moving obstacles, such as people, on radio wave propagation inside a building and the effect on received signal quality, in particular the bit error rate in an IEEE80211 24 GHz channel Our findings suggest that the presence of moving obstacles, such as people, causes strong variations in the received signal, which seriously affects the quality of the received signal

Predicting the expected accuracy for fingerprinting based WiFi localisation systems

Abstract: WiFi localisation has become very popular in recent years. Most widely used are fingerprinting based techniques where a map of received signal strengths is used to infer the position based on comparing the current signal strength measurement to this map. Most research focuses on this inference itself and on the creation of accurate fingerprinting maps. In this paper we will not address those issues in depth but focus on analysing the fingerprint maps themselves in more detail. By looking closely into the maximum likelihood estimation for the position we will derive its expected uncertainty and show that it can be calculated for every possible position in advance from the fingerprint maps alone. This allows to derive an expected localisation accuracy map of the environment that can be used to assess and optimise the WiFi design based on localisation accuracy needs rather than relying on given access point placements solely based on coverage or signal-to-noise criteria.

Architecture for self-organizing, co-operative and robust Building Automation Systems

Abstract: This paper provides an overview of the architecture for self-organizing, co-operative and robust Building Automation Systems (BAS) proposed by the EC funded FP7 SCUBA1 project. We describe the current situation in monitoring and control systems and outline the typical stakeholders involved in the case of building automation systems. We derive seven typical use cases which will be demonstrated and evaluated on pilot sites. From these use cases the project designed an architecture relying on six main modules that realize the design, commissioning and operation of self-organizing, co-operative, robust BAS.

A framework for integrating BIM and IoT through open standards

Abstract: The built environment provides significant opportunities for IoT (Internet of Things) deployment, and can be singled out as one of the most important aspects for IoT related research. While the IoT ...

CoSMoS: A BIM and wireless sensor based integrated solution for worker safety in confined spaces

Abstract: Within the construction industry, accident statistics indicate that there are fatalities and serious injuries in confined spaces due to exposure to hazardous environment. A review of international safety regulations suggest that lack of oxygen and temperature extremes contribute to make these work environments hazardous. Building Information Modeling (BIM) platform has the potential to provide improved visualization for effective monitoring of confined spaces on construction sites. In an attempt to reduce Health and Safety (H&S) hazards, this work reports upon an integrated solution based on BIM and wireless sensor technology. A literature review has led to conceptualize a model for a BIM based technology application. This was later shaped into a scenario through industry feedback followed by a prototype development as a proof of concept. The prototype system uses BIM to present data received from wireless sensors placed at confined spaces on a construction site. Industry feedback on the prototype indicates that the proposed solution will facilitate intelligent monitoring of confined spaces through real-time sensor data to avoid time sensitive emergency situations typically encountered by workers operating in such work environments.

A testbed for evaluating human interaction with ubiquitous computing environments

Abstract: Core to ubiquitous computing environments are adaptive software systems that adapt their behavior to the context in which the user is attempting the task the system aims to support. This context is strongly linked with the physical environment in which the task is being performed. The efficacy of such adaptive systems is thus highly dependent on the human perception of the provided system behavior within the context represented by that particular physical environment and social situation. However, effective evaluation of human interaction with adaptive ubiquitous computing technologies has been hindered by the cost and logistics of accurately controlling such environmental context. This paper describes TATUS, a ubiquitous computing simulator aimed at overcoming these cost and logistical issues. Based on a 3D games engine, the simulator has been designed to maximize usability and flexibility in the experimentation of adaptive ubiquitous computing systems. We also describe how this simulator is interfaced with a testbed for wireless communication domain simulation.

A Review of Wireless-Sensor-Network-Enabled Building Energy Management Systems

Abstract: Reducing energy consumption within buildings has been an active area of research in the past decade; more recently, there has been an increased influx of activity, motivated by a variety of issues including legislative, tax-related, as well as an increased awareness of energy-related issues. Energy usage both in commercial and residential buildings represents a significant portion of overall energy consumption; however, much of this may be categorized as waste, that is, energy usage that does not fulfil a definite purpose. In the past decade, the viability of Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) technologies has been demonstrated, leading to increased possibilities for novel services for building energy management. This development has resulted in numerous approaches being proposed for harnessing WSNs for energy management and conservation. This article surveys the state-of-the-art in building energy management systems. A generic architecture is proposed after which a detailed taxonomy of existing documented systems is presented. Gaps in the literature are highlighted and directions for future research identified.

Design and development of BIM models to support operations and maintenance

Abstract: Building Information Modelling (BIM) is one of the most significant technological advancements in recent years that has been adopted by the design and construction industry. While BIM adoption is growing, it can be witnessed that adoption is relatively weak within operational and maintenance (O&M) organisations such as Estate and Infrastructure Management, who would ultimately gain the highest value from utilising BIM. While the challenges of BIM adoption are multifaceted, there is a recurring theme of poor data integration between BIM and existing information management systems. There is a clear gap of knowledge on how to structure a BIM model that allows its efficient use in the O&M phase. Furthermore, there is a lack of claritiy on how to exchange information from a BIM model into an Asset Information Model (AIM). This paper outlines a methodology that enables extraction of BIM-related data directly from a model into a relational database for integration with existing asset management systems. The paper describes the BIM model requirements, development of the extraction platform, database architecture and framework. Furthermore, a case study is presented to demonstrate the methodology. The case study demonstrates that if the BIM model is designed from the start with consideration for the O&M requirements, it can be exploited for development into an AIM. It also shows that a structured approach to object classification within a BIM model supports the efficient exchange of data directly from the BIM model.