PAŽANGIŲJŲ MATAVIMŲ SISTEMŲ DIEGIMO PROBLEMATIKA DARBUOTOJŲ KOMPETENCIJŲ KONTEKSTE
PROBLEMS OF INTEGRATED MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS IN THE CONTEXT OF EMPLOYEES' COMPETENCES
Author(s): Gediminas Bačkys, Renata Černeckienė, Birutė DalmantienėSubject(s): Labor relations, Human Resources in Economy
Published by: Panevėžio kolegija
Keywords: smart metering; smart accounting; home automation; communication systems; network protocols;
Summary/Abstract: The adoption of energy efficiency measures is shifting the building installation industry towards green technologies, such as smart metering and home automation, bringing significant changes on workplace requirements and training. Electricians, apart from technical proficiency, require a combination of digital and environmental skills to respond to the installation, maintenance, and programming of smart metering and energy efficiency home automation systems. Although the adoption of energy measures for building installation is promoted under national and EU initiatives, the provision of relevant vocational education and training (VET) is insufficient in quality and quantity, fragmented and infrequent, not adequately addressing the needs of the sector. There is, thus, a clear challenge to increase the quality of VET provision for electricians to match their competences and skills with smart metering and home automation needs of a fast-changing market and to promote employability within the sector.The aim of the research - to analyse the opinion of employers of the energy sector in different European countries on the need for the employees‘ competence in smart metering and home automation.The objectives of the research: 1. Compare the level of implementation of smart metering and home automation in the EU countries.2. Identify the key knowledge and competences of smart metering and home automation needed in today's labor market.3. Offer VET providers and employers ways of improving the competences of their employees in the field of smart metering and home automation.The level of implementation of smart metering and home automation in the EU countries is very different. The data generated by the survey show that the most commonly used smart metering and management systems are the ones communicating by KNX and IP protocols. Companies in most countries use smart metering and management systems provided by the manufacturer (supplier). All the countries where the survey was conducted use the PLC (Power Line Communication) system. Compared to the other EU countries, the developments in smart metering related services are still delayed in Lithuania, with only some pilot projects being implemented. In 2017 the company „Energy Distribution Operator“ („Energijos skirstymo operatorius“, ESO) completed a pilot project on smart metering, with more than three thousand smart meters installed.In collaboration with the experts from the AIE (European Association of Electric Contractors), 14 statements were developed on the knowledge and skills required by the employees dealing with smart devices and home automation technologies. The respondents were asked to assess the importance of electricians' skills and competences in smart metering and automation in the European labor market for the coming years.The survey questionnaire was completed by 86 respondents who represented electrical installation companies, employer associations, vocational training providers, working electricians from five SMARTEL partner countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania, Spain).Respondents in different European countries have been fairly ambiguous about the importance of employees‘ competences in implementing smart metering technologies and home automation systems. This could be influenced by the different experiences of the countries and the level of implementation of smart metering.The results of the research show that knowledge of the network infrastructure and a wide range of smart devices including Internet systems, the impact of smart meters and home automation systems on the environment are among the key knowledge and competences of the EU labor market in the field of smart measurement and home automation. The most desired technical skills of employees are related to the implementation of smart devices and automatic systems in new buildings and the modification of housing automation technologies in the existing buildings, the technical skills of incorporating smart metering technologies into automated housing infrastructure. Sufficiently important respondents consider skills such as customer consultation about the right choice of automation systems, the use of systems and their environmental and economic impacts, and a deeper knowledge of home automation systems and smart devices.Having summarized the results of the research, the working group of Electrical and Electronics Study lecturers of Panevezys University of Applied Science together with partners from the SMARTEL project, suggested a solution to the problem: to create an open virtual training course on smart metering and home automation systems employed electricians and vocational training providers.After defining the outcomes the training course on smart metering and home automation based on survey results from five European countries, European employers and vocational training providers are offered an open training course "Smart Metering and Home Automation Skills for Electricians", consisting of 6 parts: building engineering systems automation, energy management, intelligent control systems networks, sensors, intelligent device programming and installation, programming of user interface for automated devices.
Journal: Taikomieji tyrimai studijose ir praktikoje
- Issue Year: 14/2018
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 127-134
- Page Count: 8
- Language: Lithuanian