Meet The Milesight BACnet Driver
Overview
Many organisations are deploying wireless IoT sensors across their buildings, but integrating these into existing Building Management Systems (BMS), particularly Niagara-based platforms, can be challenging. Protocol differences, limited native support, and complex middleware often lead to higher engineering effort and increased project costs.
The Milesight BACnet Driver for the Niagara Framework available from our Forest Rock Downloads Site provides a simplified, native method for integrating Milesight LoRaWAN® gateways directly into Niagara. This removes the need for custom development, reduces configuration overheads, and allows seamless access to wireless sensor data within standard Niagara workflows.
About the Niagara Framework
The Niagara Framework, developed by Tridium, is a widely adopted software platform for smart building control. It provides a unified environment for integrating and managing disparate building systems including HVAC, lighting, security, energy, and metering.
Niagara supports open protocols such as BACnet, Modbus, and KNX, allowing integrators to create interoperable, scalable automation architectures that improve energy performance and occupant comfort.
Why Integrate Milesight LoRaWAN® with Niagara?
Milesight offers a comprehensive portfolio of LoRaWAN® sensors covering:
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Temperature & humidity
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Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
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Occupancy & people counting
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Energy & environmental monitoring
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Industrial sensing applications
These sensors connect via Milesight LoRaWAN® gateways. Using the BACnet Driver, gateway data can be delivered directly into Niagara seemlessly, enabling users to visualise trends, trigger alarms, implement control strategies, and develop applications without additional middleware or scripting.
This architecture is particularly suited to:
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Retrofit projects
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Large estates and campuses
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Buildings where wiring is impractical
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Quick deployment or scalable sensor expansions
What Is the Milesight BACnet Driver?
The Milesight BACnet Driver is a free integration tool designed for Niagara-based BMS platforms.
It communicates with Milesight gateways using their native RESTful API and exposes sensor data as standard BACnet objects within Niagara.
Key Capabilities
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Native Niagara driver package
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REST-to-BACnet translation handled automatically
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No external middleware required
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Secure communication using API credentials
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Real-time data exchange for monitoring and automation
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Two-way interaction where supported
The driver is compatible with:
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Niagara versions N4.10 to N4.15
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Niagara Supervisors and JACE hardware
Purpose of the Driver
LoRaWAN® is widely used for long-range, low-power sensing but has traditionally lacked straightforward integration with building automation platforms. Previous solutions often required customisation, third-party gateways, or manual data mapping.
The Milesight BACnet Driver was developed to:
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Simplify LoRaWAN® integration within Niagara
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Reduce engineering effort and project risk
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Provide a scalable method for onboarding new IoT devices
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Support wireless-first sensor and automation control strategies across modern buildings
Key Benefits
1. Wireless Sensing Without Complexity
Use Milesight’s LoRaWAN® sensors to enhance visibility of environmental and occupancy conditions within Niagara, supporting more intelligent automation.
2. No Custom Code Required
All configuration tasks are completed in Niagara Workbench using familiar workflows. No scripting, API coding, or bespoke connectors are needed.
3. Centralised Configuration in Workbench
Gateways, devices, points, and alarms can all be managed directly within Niagara, streamlining commissioning and reducing manual processes.
4. Broad Niagara Compatibility
Supports mainstream Niagara versions and hardware platforms. Built on widely used standards:
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BACnet (data structure)
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REST API (gateway communication)
5. No Licensing Costs
The driver is free to use with Milesight hardware, helping reduce project overheads, especially on large-scale deployments.
6. Simple Scalability
New sensor types can be added by updating the gateway decoder, no driver modifications required.
7. More Than Basic Data Upload
The driver supports enhanced interaction capabilities, enabling smarter automation compared to basic, one-directional BACnet integrations.
Quick Start Guide
Step 1 - Install the Driver
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Power on the Milesight gateway and connect it to the local network.
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Download and install the Milesight BACnet Driver in Niagara Workbench.
Step 2 - Create the Milesight Network
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Add the LoRaWAN® gateway in Workbench.
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Configure network parameters and API credentials.
Step 3 - Add Devices
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Discover or manually add Milesight sensor nodes.
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Save their exposed BACnet points.
Step 4 - Build Niagara Applications
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Use the imported points to create graphics, logic, alarms, and histories in Niagara.
For system diagrams and example configurations, refer to the official Milesight integration guide.
Conclusion
The Milesight BACnet Driver offers a streamlined, cost-effective way to introduce wireless LoRaWAN® data into Niagara. Whether used for IAQ monitoring, energy management, occupancy analytics, or environmental sensing and zone control, the driver provides a robust method of integrating IoT sensors without the usual complexity.