Automation Lab – Building Management System (BMS): KNX, DALI, Modbus, MQTT

Lab Objectives

The main purpose of the lab is to introduce students to the key concepts and technologies of home and smart building automation. The experimental environment allows students to learn, through practical simulations, how to use multifunction controllers for the centralised and remote management of:

• Lighting and shading systems
• Heating control and energy management
• Alarm, security and communication systems
• Interfaces with industry-standard protocols (KNX, Modbus, DALI, EnOcean, MQTT, M-Bus, etc.). By configuring the integrated boards and interfaces, students learn to build advanced control architectures without complex programming knowledge, using guided parameter setting in pre-installed software.

Educational Aims

1. Technical Skills The package provides a solid operational foundation for:

• Using real building controllers to simulate automation scenarios;
• Configuring and testing the integration of devices via standardised buses (DALI for lighting, M-Bus for meters, EnOcean for wireless devices);
• Simulating the collection and processing of data from smart devices (water/heat meters, sensors) through gateway interfaces;
• Setting up smart controls and scenarios using cloud services, APIs, voice systems (Alexa) or mobile web interfaces. 2. Developing Analytical Skills Through the practical exercises in the student manuals and TechnoCards, students are guided to:
• Analyse distributed system architectures;
• Identify communication protocols and their configurations;
• Diagnose problems with communication and system operation;
• Explore the concepts of interoperability, energy efficiency, distributed control and multi-protocol home automation management. 3. Career Guidance The lab prepares students to:
• Engage with professional environments in smart building, building services integration and energy control;
• Work in high-tech industrial, commercial and residential settings;
• Take exams and certifications in KNX, DALI and other smart building automation protocols.

Conclusion

The “Building Control Board” package is an advanced training lab in integrated building automation. Thanks to the modular boards, user-friendly software and multi-protocol interface, the system lets students experience first-hand all the typical dynamics of a smart building, enabling immediate, applicable and up-to-date learning. The ability to configure real scenarios, monitor consumption and test professional communication protocols makes the lab a highly effective teaching platform, fully in line with the needs of the job market in the technical, energy and building services sectors.