Automation systems

I am in the process of being trained to program and configure automation systems. The concept is very interesting in the sense that given a building without any technology on it, it;s practically an empty shell and when we start to place devices in that building to calculate power usage, control lighting, surveillance, controlled access e.g. biometrics, then we transform these empty shell into smart buildings. from here onwards, I intend to apply myself and understand the trade and then later on perhaps conduct a research on the benefits of this kind of technology in a developed country like South Africa compared to a poorer country like Malawi and perhaps suggest recommendations of how we can bridge the IT gap. My ideas at the moment are some what not yet fully developed ad thought through but I should soon be able to identify a problem worth researching that could aid developing countries to catch up with the rest of the developed world.