Almost simultaneously with the first men made huts, thermal comfort indoors has been an issue and interest. Although nearly every building, in the western world, has a temperature conditioning unit or at least a thermostat, indoor human comfort is not only affected by temperature. Next to temperature, there are parameters like air quality, humidity and CO2 levels, but also sunlight penetration. The IoT (Internet of Things) has increasingly infiltrated the architecture, specifically offices and workspace. High thermal comfort and therefor a productive workforce has become of high interest for a work-life-balance sensitive generation of talent, as well as for company leaders and their facility managers. Understanding how spatial configuration and proximity to specific building elements, like lift-shafts, windows, doors etc. impact the thermal condition of space can help designers to make better architecture and space for high comfort. A first step towards modelling or even predicting productivity is by using sensors to collect data in a diverse workspace over a long period. OpenSensors is providing a network and platform to deploy sensors on office floors. Questionnaires are giving insight into how measured environmental data can be related to spatial configuration and combined consequent potency of workforce productivity.
OpenSensors PIR (passive infrared) sensor deployed in Zaha Hadid Architects design studio in London.
Environmental Qualities
CO2 Levels
in PPM (parts per million)
Sunlight penetration
in LUX (luminous flux per unit area)
Temperature
in Celsius Degree
Humidity
in percentage
