State-of-the-art of intelligent building envelopes in the context of intelligent technical systems

The high and increasing requirements concerning energy consumption and the interior comfort of buildings result in a demand for more efficient facade constructions. In its role as a mediator between the exterior and interior of a building, the facade takes on a multitude of functions with effect on the building’s performance. Intelligent facades offer higher performances compared to static constructions, achieved by dynamic adjustments to changing environmental influences and interior requirements. Such systems are being explored and already applied. The concept of intelligent facades exists since the beginning of the 1980s. Since then, the technological possibilities for the implementation of intelligent systems have multiplied. Today, the fourth industrial revolution is based on the implementation of intelligent and networked production facilities. Considering the current exploration of intelligent technical systems in the industry, the understanding and the demands on the intelligence of a system change. The aim of this study is to examine the comprehension of an intelligent system in the context of the facade and in the context of the industry. This is to provide the basis for subsequent research on the transferability of strategies. The study provides used terms, relevant aspects, current definitions and characteristics of the respective intelligent system.