Gray defines interoperability as integrating multiple building systems in a practical manner. What that means is that the systems should be easy to make interoperable and costs shouldn't be prohibitive. It also means systems should be flexible enough to be installed as individual systems and then made interoperable later. Deciding whether to make a building interoperable depends on a number of factors. Facility executives considering LonWorks technologies should develop an interoperability master plan, says Huston, to identify the affected building systems and to establish the most important systems to put on a control network.
Lighting is a good second choice.
Security, elevators and power monitoring systems can follow depending upon needs of individual facilities. What sometimes makes building owners reluctant to switch to LonWorks technologies is the fact that they have money invested in a proprietary system. For those owners, LonWorks integrators can write computer programs that will allow that existing system to communicate with LonWorks technologies. After that, owners can then begin replacing proprietary systems with the open architecture offered by LonWorks technologies. LonWorks Gives Flight to Competitive Bid Process Lambert Field in St. Louis is one of the largest airports in the United States.