With the application of architectural lighting, intelligent systems represent highly integrated engineering projects. They demand strong technical integration and compatibility, and cover a wide range of fields. As one of the most widely applied systems, intelligent lighting systems are often incorporated into building automation systems. Intelligent lighting automatic control systems can not only save energy, reduce maintenance costs and improve lighting quality, but also realize intelligent lighting control for buildings. However, an intelligent lighting control system is only a part of a building control system. So how do we distinguish between intelligent lighting systems and building automation systems?

In the lighting system design of current intelligent buildings, traditional design methods are generally still adopted. Or, based on conventional lighting design systems, special control, regional control, timed switching are simply realized by connecting contacts controlled by the building automation system in series in lighting circuits and adding central monitoring functions, while infrared sensors are added to achieve pattern control. Naturally, this control method has obvious limitations, which are mainly reflected in the following aspects. 1. Economic Efficiency To cut costs, investors usually design only a small number of electrical circuits, focusing merely on large-area control. Refining circuits for better humanization and energy efficiency would lead to a sharp rise in upfront investment, which is undesirable for investors. However, fewer circuits in turn significantly increase the operating costs for the property owner. 2. Convenience Such designs generally do not provide on-site switches; all lighting circuits are centrally controlled via the BAS central control room. Users cannot switch or adjust lighting according to actual on-site conditions, nor can they intervene in lighting status or illuminance, causing great inconvenience in practical use. Meanwhile, due to overly simplistic control functions, traditional lighting design can only achieve basic timed switching within the building automation system. To realize scene presets, scene switching and brightness adjustment in specific areas involves considerable technical difficulty. 3. Independence The lighting system formed by simple superposition is not a truly independent subsystem. When the building automation system breaks down, the lighting system will also be affected. This is unacceptable especially for lighting circuits with emergency escape lighting functions. The intelligent lighting system is an intelligent system developed specifically for lighting needs. It can not only operate independently but also achieve effects unattainable by traditional lighting designs in existing intelligent buildings.