Cloud computing centralised everything, but sending every camera frame, sensor reading and control signal to a distant data centre and back adds delay, cost and a dependency on the internet link. Edge computing puts processing power back inside the building.
What the edge solves
When AI video analytics, access decisions or building controls run on local hardware, they respond in milliseconds, keep working if the internet drops, and keep sensitive data on site. The cloud is still used, for dashboards, long-term storage and coordination, but the time-critical work happens locally.
Where it helps in a building
- Real-time video analytics on cameras or local servers
- Access control that keeps working during an outage
- Building automation with fast local control loops
- Reduced bandwidth and cloud costs
- Keeping personal data on premises for privacy
A hybrid future
The practical model is hybrid: edge for the fast, private and critical work, cloud for scale, analytics and management. Designing where each workload runs is becoming a core part of smart-building network design.
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