Fit-for-purpose: Measuring occupancy to support commercial building operations: A review

• Published in: Building and environment 2022-03, Vol.212, p.108767, Article 108767
• Main Authors: Azimi, Sara, O'Brien, William
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Appropriate technology; Asset management; Commercial building; Commercial buildings; Energy efficiency; Facilities management; Facility management applications; Life cycles; Occupancy; Occupancy detection; Occupancy sensor; Resource allocation
• ISSN: 0360-1323; 1873-684X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.108767

The current trend in commercial buildings is moving towards minimizing space utilization, efficient allocation of resources, energy efficiency, better asset management, and increasing productivity by incorporating appropriate technology. The majority of services provided – from ventilation to cleaning and space – are (or should be) a function of occupancy. Yet occupancy is seldom measured in a comprehensive way such that the data can be widely used to improve building operations. There is a wide variety of applications for such data and sensing technologies to collect it, but no existing frameworks for matching the two for optimal life cycle operations. The objective of this paper is to present a framework to select the most appropriate occupancy sensing technologies for a given set of applications. The framework is developed by first identifying the data requirements and characteristics for the selection of applications and defining the characteristics of occupancy sensing technologies, and then analyzing their alignment for optimal occupancy sensing technology selection. This work is built upon a comprehensive review of occupancy sensing technologies and facility management applications. The framework is implemented as a webpage where users can view different occupancy sensing solutions based on the application(s) they select. •Data requirements for a variety of facility management applications were reviewed.•A variety of commercially available occupancy sensing technologies were reviewed.•The framework selects the most appropriate sensors for a given set of applications.