This framework provides ease of use and efficiency, as well as the capability to produce feature-rich charts and dashboards. Niagara 4 is designed to be dynamic and responsive to accommodate changing usage circumstances and changes to individual systems over time. It offers: visualization features, tagging and templating, and advanced security.

Visualization

The HTML5-based, bajaux user interface benefits the end-user as well as provides an improved developer experience. Building owners and facility managers who typically need to locate and visualize data to drive efficiencies can use the dashboard and web chart reporting capabilities. Developers can easily create dynamic, interactive applications and views using bajaux widgets, which display across media, such as Workbench or in a modern web browser (no browser plug-in required). Search functionality integrated in Workbench enables the quick location of data to drop into other views. Optimized workflows for common tasks require few clicks and provide intuitive interaction. Additionally, the look and feel of the interface incorporates a clean and crisp design, as shown here, with a subdued and focused use of color to emphasize important information.

Figure 1.    Workbench interface (left) compared with web browser view (right)

Tagging and templating

Systems integrators can use metadata tagging at the component level to enable multiple ways of finding data via search and navigation hierarchies, as well as ways of narrowing results via filtering. Similarly, creating templates using pre-tagged devices results in built-in reusability, which translates into shorter integration time. Using tag-based hierarchies, multiple navigation schemes can easily serve different user roles. There is no need to update Nav files every time new devices are added to a system.

Figure 2.   Views that support tagging and templating

On the lower left is the tagdictionary Palette.

Advanced security

Developers and systems integrators can easily create secure systems using role-based access control and enhanced encryption features. Security enhancements include configurable authentication based on connection type, code signing, which verifies that modules have not been modified, and improved platform connection security. You do not have to be a cyber security expert to develop a secure system.

Figure 3.   Role Manager view