It is an unfortunate fact that shopping centres are prime targets for crime, but technology is helping to address this challenge.

One advance is the wider availability of IP-based (internet protocol) networks in centres which management can use to deploy more cameras around the centre. An increase in the number of cameras results in greater storage requirements and demands faster ways of reviewing images. However, new technology such as digital image retrieval is helping operators and police identify the images they need more quickly and easily.

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) is another tool to help the retail centre's security team spot known criminals before they enter the centre. By linking the system with the police, the centre's ability to react to potential threats in a timely manner is further improved.

Furthermore, alerting software, such as Vicinitee Retail's REACT product, gives the security team the ability to alert the centre's retailers to potential threats and other important security matters - and to get immediate feedback. In an emergency, the security team could even take control of the centre's plasma screens and kiosks and use them to provide additional directional signage for centre visitors.

As the steam runs out of ever-increasing property values, attention turns to exploring revenue-earning opportunities and reducing the costs of running the centre.

Technology systems, based on common IPs, are enhancing the facilities management (FM) team's ability to fine-tune the property's building management systems such as cooling and ventilation. Lighting (which can account for up to 40 per cent of a building's energy usage) can also be controlled and delivered more efficiently. Systems now enable lighting to be adjusted automatically according to the available ambient lighting and whether or not there are personnel in a given area - for example, a service corridor.

Monitoring systems can also help the management team spot issues or failures before they become serious. This enables the impact on the customer to be minimised and a tighter control can be kept on maintenance costs.

Technology can contribute directly to the centre's sustainability credentials - and monitoring a centre's energy usage is the first stage to managing it.

Products can provide centre managers with an easy means of recording salient environment and sustainability metrics - as well as analysis and reporting capabilities to help manage the centre's environmental impact - Vicinitee Retail's forthcoming SUSTAIN module is an example.

The increased complexity of the various technologies and sustainability measures - including water reclamation, co-generation, load balancing of systems, and CO2 sensors to manage airflow in buildings - requires technology to help measure, manage and report on these new approaches.

Furthermore, the arrival of commercial CHP (combined heat and power) units, solar panels and rainwater harvesting units - to name only a few - is also increasing the complexity of the FM function and resulting in a demand for ways to manage these technologies cost-effectively.

This is without doubt an exciting time for the FM team working within the retail sector. The growth of systems based on common IP standards, and the emergence of management systems such as Vicinitee Retail, is enabling the relationship between technology and FM finally to come of age.

Peter Earl is managing director of Comgenic, developer of Vicinitee Retail

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