The IFMA Foundation announced the release of the “FM Technology Update,” a detailed report on the current state and future outlook of technology in facility management. Comprised of 10 chapters, each written by a facility manager with extensive experience on the subject, the new publication focuses on the evolution of traditional technologies such as Computer Aided Facility Management and explores cutting edge technologies just beginning to impact the profession.

Written with non-information technology professionals in mind, each of the report’s chapters is divided into four sections: basic technology concepts; current use of technology; future use of technology and its impact on the profession; and case studies. The report contains chapters covering CAFM; sustainability; security and emergency preparedness; building automation; life cycle analysis; and other topics.

Chapter authors include representatives from organizations and institutions such as Facilities Solutions Group, Green IT, Johnson Controls and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“Our constituency has really identified a strong need to understand what emerging technologies are going to be important to facility managers, why they’ll be important, and how they’re going to impact the profession. So, that was the driver for us,” said Eric Teicholz, IFMA Fellow, IFMA Foundation trustee and editor of the report. “You cannot Google all this information. It’s for the most part forward-looking, with a focus on the near-term future — not something you can get off the shelf now.”

The “FM Technology Update” is available for purchase on the IFMA Foundation Web site and in the IFMA bookstore.