Have you ever stopped to think about how technological devices simplify and bring more comfort to your life? Every day, you watch television, get into your car with air conditioning and GPS to know which way to go. There are still many other examples, especially when we think about technology in condominiums.

If, a few years ago, elevators were new, nowadays they are mandatory. The internal TV circuit has brought more security to the residents and helps with the surveillance of the place.

These technologies, which were once trends, are now common and are present in most buildings. However, the changes don’t stop there. Innovations continue to provide luxury, security and convenience to residents.

Technological trends in condominiums are the subject of this article. Here, we will present the main information on this subject, addressing these topics:

• constant innovation in residential condominiums;
• incorporation of technology into everyday life;
• implementation of smart gyms;
• installation of the electronic gatehouse;
• possibility of remote monitoring;
• use of closed social networks.

Curious and want to know more? Follow up!

Constant innovation in residential condominiums

Have you ever stopped to think about what the condo of the future will be like? International publications, such as this one on the CNBC network, show that, in a few years’ time, homes will be super-connected, sustainable and convenient.

This means that the future is not far away and, soon, these technologies will bring more comfort and security to your daily life. In Brazil, innovations are underway and are already being put into practice, mainly by construction companies that work with high-end condominiums.

The idea is to keep up with society’s lifestyle and demands, which increasingly seek security in segmented and modern condominiums. Therefore, another issue in evidence is sustainability – and this can occur in different ways, for example:

• management of water resources, with the rainwater collection system, in addition to treatment and reuse systems;
• use of solar panels for power generation;
• fiber optic data transmission network and underground cabling to offer the best services without harming the environment;
• implementation of selective garbage collection, with adequate waste treatment;
• implementation of a complete sustainability program.

It is important to highlight that all these measures have positive impacts on several aspects, such as the environment, property valuation, safety and convenience for residents and others.

Management is also impacted, as there is more financial transparency and information sharing. After all, the technology can be used in all areas of condominiums — including communication, to improve the relationship between the manager and the residents.

The person responsible for condominium accounts, for example, can quickly provide access to management-related numbers. This way, the unit owners know what the expenses and the value of the contracted services are – and they have easy access through applications or websites on the internet.

Thus, it is clear that there is a new posture for condominiums, since technology is incorporated into the routines of these projects. The result is the aggregation of practicality, speed, sustainability, safety, quality of life and convenience.

Incorporating technology into everyday life

Innovation is directly related to technology. One of its purposes is to improve a procedure already performed. The 24-hour ordinance, for example, has been improved with the use of closed-circuit TV. At the time, this was a change that brought even more security to condominiums.

The other modality of innovation is the breaking of rupture through the implantation of something that did not exist. This is the case, for example, of solar panels and suspended garages, which allow the vehicle to be stored next to the living room or bedroom of the apartment, being routed to this location by means of an elevator.

Anyway, the goal is to incorporate technology into everyday life, creating a more connected environment and meeting the demands of residents.

At the same time, these measures help in the management and organization of residents. Technological tools impact all internal processes, encouraging debates and the participation of unit owners.

Electronic systems and the relationship with the protection of residents

The incorporation of technological solutions guarantee the liquidator — and residents — a protective system capable of identifying, inhibiting and communicating the occurrences that may arise.

Therefore, these systems are required in new buildings. In addition to security, they reduce costs, as they do not require the maintenance of physical gatekeepers, as movement is monitored by a surveillance center.

Other advantages are the higher quality of services and the training of professionals, who value the condominium and bring more convenience to residents. That’s because they are able to access a wide variety of services, such as smart gyms, electronic concierge, remote monitoring and closed social networks.

All these technologies are cost-effective and should be discussed among all unit owners. These are the points that we are going to deal with next. You will see how these trends are currently taking effect and what benefits they provide to residents. Read on and check it out.

Implementing smart gyms

Fitness spaces are increasingly adopted in condominiums, especially those considered to be of high standard. This is a trend that meets the needs of residents.

After all, Brazil is the second-largest market in the segment, if we consider the total number of gyms implemented. Data from the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), presented by Exame magazine, indicate that there are already nearly 32,000 units of these establishments.

These places add up to about 8 million students (which represents the 4th position in the world) and a turnover of approximately 2.4 billion dollars (which leaves the country in the 10th position).

Now, the practice of physical exercises is much easier if you have a gym available 24 hours a day — and best of all: with the values ​​already included in the condo fee. That’s what smart gyms offer — and they go even further.

More than just an environment with weight machines, weights and weights, the smart gym has modern systems, such as cooling, bringing more efficiency and economy — while having little influence on the visual standard of the space.

In the case of refrigeration, intelligent equipment can be turned on and off remotely and programmed to work — or turn off — automatically at different times during the week. Thus, sustainability is guaranteed, offering maximum comfort to the owners who use the place.

The gym offers space and equipment for cardiovascular and weight training so that everyone can enjoy the environment and make the best use of it. Among the advantages of implementing a space like this in your condominium are:

Building valuation growth

A gym is a place shared by all residents and that values ​​residential units. The more intelligent equipment and resources it has, the greater the possibility of recognition from potential residents.

It is worth mentioning that there are still few condominiums that offer this option, as the older ones need to implement it later if the desire exists.

To give you an idea, data from the Síndico Net website show that only 10% of the 28,000 buildings in São Paulo have gym and weight training rooms. Therefore, a gym in the building is a big plus.

Promoting integration among residents

The presence of an academy transforms the environment into a space for integration, where residents can get to know each other and make friends.

This even further encourages the practice of physical exercise and generates other activities, both sports and leisure.

The result is greater interaction between residents and the creation of a community within the condominium, which increases the quality of life for everyone.

Increased convenience for residents

The condo’s gym lets you work out when you can — anytime. Thus, it is possible to save time by not having to travel to other places, in addition to choosing the best time for the activity.

This measure also brings more security and offers the chance to complement the exercises with the purchase of some individual weights and weights.

Another benefit is the encouragement of physical exercise, especially for people who have little time to work out.

Possibility of hiring a personal trainer

The condominium itself can hire a professional responsible for guiding the use of the equipment, but this is still not common.

This situation, however, does not prevent you from receiving the necessary guidance from an individual personal trainer or sharing the expense with a neighbor. With the space available, the specialist will see what can be done to make the best use of the environment — and ensure your return is the best it can be.

The installation of the electronic concierge

This technology has become a way to increase security while the condominium saves significant value. The purpose is to exchange doormen for remote operators, who open and close the gates and monitor the movement at the site through the internet and installed cameras.

It is important to highlight that one of the biggest expenses of condominiums is, precisely, the maintenance of the doormen. It is necessary to hire several professionals or a company that outsources this activity. With the electronic ordinance, on the other hand, it is possible to reduce the condominium fee.

This system is complemented by other equipment, such as:

• tag systems, biometrics or apps: to monitor the movement in and out of residents and visitors;
• remote opening and closing of gates: performed automatically by the operator, who is installed in the central;
• internet/telephone system with redundancy: fundamental to communicate between the central and the condominium. The phone, in this case, serves as an alternative plan in case of connection problems;
• IP cameras: transmit the image over the internet and facilitate communication between the operator and the visitor or resident of the condominium;
• generator or nobreak system: necessary for security and communication equipment, in addition to the gates, so that they continue to function in the event of a power outage;
• electric fence: used to maintain the security of the condominium perimeter;
• panic button: serves to quickly trigger the company and the police in case of any problem. Generally speaking, a finger is registered for the resident to ask for help if they are in an emergency. The advantage is that no suspicion is raised if this happens;
• backup of images: can be used as evidence and, therefore, should preferably be stored in a cloud computing system.

Among the main benefits achieved with this measure are:

Cost reduction

The absence of a physical doorman and the reduction in the condominium’s labor liabilities are important factors in reducing costs. In addition, the manager is no longer concerned about the absence or delay of any employee. The monitoring center, in turn, can manage several gates at once.

Another relevant issue is that the savings generated make it possible to make more investments in security equipment and systems, such as motion sensors in outdoor and indoor environments.

Thus, if an intruder enters the condominium, he is easily identified, even with the activation of searchlights and siren sensors.

Increased security and control

These two aspects are assured because it becomes impossible to surrender the gate if the condominium is invaded – and this is usually the first attempt.

However, since the switch has access to everything, it can quickly call the police and prevent the intruders from taking longer action.

Monitoring of condominium information

Access data are registered in a computerized control system, which ensures the monitoring of the flow of people and cars.

Finally, any resident can request this information if he has any questions.

Guarantee of qualified professionals

The electronic entrance is monitored by specialized professionals, whose objective is to guarantee the interactivity and safety of residents.

They have high-tech support and modern security to make sure that people entering the building are actually authorized.

The visitor, on the other hand, arrives at the place and has an intercom available to contact the concierge or the resident. Through the call, everyone knows that the person has arrived — barring an unauthorized third party from entering.

The possibility of remote monitoring

This technology is not so new, but the innovation here is in the expanded use of remote monitoring. It can cover different equipment and systems such as CCTV cameras and the virtual gatehouse.

In some places, remote monitoring allows you to adjust even the playground lights, adapting the lighting at every moment of the day. For now, the most common is to follow up through a computer or smartphone.

With these devices, the resident can even follow the interior of his apartment to identify the need for an emergency and check the security of the place when he is traveling. This is called mobile monitoring.

Check out other technologies that are already in use and considered trends in remote monitoring:

Drones

These equipments have features that help remote monitoring. As they can even be equipped with infrared cameras, they serve as a complement to fixed equipment.

However, they are more effective because they keep the operators safe (who stay at a distance) and make it possible to control distant locations where cameras cannot be installed so easily. In this way, the existence of so-called blind spots is avoided.

Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) and Lightfinder Cameras

WDR is a technology that facilitates monitoring in environments with large variations in light. Even if the image is against the light, it remains sharp, which is a great advantage for controlling movement in the condominium.

Lightfinder technology works the other way around. This type of camera is very sensitive to light and therefore can record images even in very dark spaces. This provides a broader view of the environment — an advantage over other similar equipment.

Both WDR and Lightfinder cameras are perfect for specific situations. However, they improve the monitoring of spaces through high-definition footage.

Video Analytics

This tool allows you to analyze behavior patterns automatically. Thus, it is not necessary to maintain a team to verify the images, because the cameras are connected to software that reads the movement parameters of vehicles, objects and people.

With the technology, it is possible to count individuals by environment, remove equipment, monitor vehicles and detect invasions, among other situations. From the collected data and careful analysis, security personnel can be called upon to verify any occurrence that deviated from the standard.

Biometrics and facial recognition

These two technologies are useful, especially, in cases where there are no physical gatekeepers — and they prevent residents from passing on passwords to third parties, completely preventing the entry of strangers without the permission of any tenant.

Both biometrics and facial recognition can be used to enter people and also to trigger elevators. With this, the access control to the dependencies is monitored.

The use of closed social networks

This last trend is aimed at communication between the residents — and between the unit owners and the manager. The idea is to facilitate this process and serve as a message board even for employees working in the building.

In addition, closed social networks allow you to forward exclusive messages to some participants. This means the possibility of holding condominium meetings online, making it easier for everyone to participate and record the minutes.

The main benefit of closed social networks is easy access through tablets and smartphones, encouraging communication between unit owners and better coexistence.

There are apps for this, but there is the possibility of using groups in messaging apps, serving to reinforce routine warnings and reminders or indicating that, on a given day, garages will be washed and cars should be removed.

Another idea is to use private groups, which can only be used by the team that manages the condominium. In this way, the debate on specific issues becomes simplified and decisions are made more easily.

The closed groups of social networks, on the other hand, are used to share subjects of personal interest. Owners can interact, but this is a less invasive way to do it.

All these technologies mentioned throughout this article are already being implemented in several countries, including Brazil. They are more common and easy to implement in high-end condominiums, as they require some investment and adequate infrastructure, for example, for cabling and installation of equipment (in the case of gyms).

In addition to them, there is also the Internet of Things (IoT, or Internet of Things). The idea is to interact with electronic equipment for more convenience and comfort. Some examples of connected devices are:

• locks: there are locks sold in Japan that do not require the use of keys. Locking and unlocking the ports takes place via the smartphone;
• lamp: the command is carried out by cell phone, and the lamps can change color and intensity or be programmed to turn on and off at predetermined periods;
• air conditioning: there are versions that are already on sale and allow the device to be activated from any room, in addition to accepting personalized programming and allowing the definition of times, temperatures and days of the week so that the device can turn on and off by itself;
• shutter: can open and close at the press of a button or via a smartphone app. In addition, they have a solar plate that directs the correct position according to the light intensity.

Despite the high values ​​of such technologies, the cost-effectiveness is quite interesting, because condominium security is a key point in many of these innovations.

The return in the medium and long term also pays off — both for residents, who can pay less on the condominium bill, and for the manager, who doesn’t have to worry about so many details because of the automation of the systems used. If you are interested, remember to suggest to the other tenants the installation of these items during an Assembly.

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