The Global Sustainability Assessment System ( GSAS ) is the first energy performance-based system in the Middle East and North Africa region. Developed specifically to assess the sustainability of buildings and infrastructure, it aims to establish a sustainable building stock, minimizing environmental impact and resource consumption while considering local needs and regional environmental conditions. The Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Stadium received a four-star rating in the GSAS , with the Beckhoff Automation intelligent building control system playing a crucial role in this achievement.
The Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Stadium is located in the Al Sadd district of Doha, Qatar. It belongs to Al Sadd Sports Club — Qatar's most successful football club, having hosted 67 official football tournaments. The Al Sadd handball team also frequently plays at this stadium. The stadium has a total building area of 16,000 square meters, with a total grass area of 54,000 square meters, and a maximum capacity of 7,700 spectators.
GSAS employs a full lifecycle approach to assess building stock, taking into account both design and operational status. Meeting these requirements necessitates a flexible building management system that integrates all building control and monitoring functions. Lysys Technology Integration was responsible for implementing the building management system, video surveillance system, and integrated building security platform, and Beckhoff's PC- based control technology was selected for the automation layer of the intelligent building management system.
Flexible control of complex systems
The intelligent building control system uses 29 control panels to display over 3,500 physical signals and 15,000 communication variables. The monitoring layer processes approximately 45,000 variables (alarms, parameters, etc.), which are transmitted directly through about 30 CX- series embedded controllers installed within the stadium . An additional 15,000 variables are processed by the integrated security management system platform installed within the stadium. The intelligent building management system provides control and monitoring interfaces to third-party systems via Modbus , RS485 , BACnet , EIB , and passive contacts (when needed). These systems include audio-visual systems, sanitation facilities, chillers and cooling towers, lighting control, photovoltaic solar systems, and electricity meters.
Lysys experts believe that Beckhoff technology's openness and flexibility, coupled with their extensive expertise, guarantee the project's success. The automation layer integrates as many functions as possible to most effectively utilize the physical signals and variables in the communication protocol during operation. Nine CX5020 , fourteen CX8090 , and six CX9020 embedded controllers handle this task. The compactness and flexibility of the Beckhoff bus terminal block system (with nearly 500 bus terminal blocks installed ), combined with the comprehensive and robust functionality of the TwinCAT automation software, allow for the addition or positioning of components for different signals between panels at any time without incurring significant overhead.
Because the system supports various fieldbus signals and protocols, Lysys doesn't need to worry about whether or how to integrate signals into the Beckhoff system. Lysys believes this allows engineers to focus on their core expertise. This enables the provision of a large number of monitored variables at the monitoring layer and their seamless processing. For example, data can be transmitted from meters and generators via Modbus RTU ; from solar inverters via Modbus TCP/IP ; from HVAC controllers via BACnet MS/TP ; and from fire alarm panels and cooling system management systems via BACnet IP . A TCP/IP client is implemented on one of the controllers to transmit selected variables to the IPTV system. All real-time clocks in the controllers are synchronized with a local NTP (Network Time Protocol) server.
Two operating modes
One of the most interesting details of this multi-functional stadium is that it can not only be used as a venue for various traditional events, but also transform into an ice rink. Operators can easily switch from normal operation mode to ice rink mode with the touch of a button. When the stadium is in ice rink mode, the control system changes the HVAC system's operating mode, providing hot and cold water to different ice layers. The system is programmed to operate completely autonomously, simplifying complex operations and freeing stadium operators from monitoring tasks. Operators can access real-time information on the stadium's status and various alarms.
