New Work & Covid-19: Designing offices & workplaces for the future with sensor data

Our working world is in a state of upheaval. The coronavirus crisis has further fueled this development. Flexible working models, a “healthy” indoor climate and ecologically sustainable building operation are no longer issues for the future. They are already specific requirements for employers, facility managers and real estate owners.

If you act blind in this situation, recognize changes too late and chase trends, you have almost lost. Only those who help shape developments at an early stage, make fact-based decisions and analyse the measures taken in detail can actively shape them. The necessary database can be easily created with the LineMetrics sensor data platform. Existing areas can be retrofitted wirelessly and without an IT network.

Challenges

Changed and more flexible use of expensive office space
Employee health and productivity as a key factor
Unsettled employees due to the risk of infection

A platform for future-proof offices and workstations for retrofitting

Sensors and gateways with wireless connection

The LineMetrics platform includes wireless sensors for 50+ applications as well as gateways for simple data transmission via mobile radio.

Evaluation, alerting and documentation

Measurement data is stored and analyzed in the LineMetrics Cloud or integrated into any system (API).

Creating transparency and seamless documentation

Analyze the long-term development of land use, humidity and CO2 values. Evaluate the effects of measures in a targeted manner.

Receive warning messages for critical values

Receive messages when certain values are exceeded or not reached so that appropriate measures can be taken immediately.

Easy retrofitting without cables and network

One wireless gateway is often sufficient for the entire building. Data is sent to the cloud via mobile radio. Cables, IT and network are not necessary.

Secure jobs for just a few euros a month

24/7 monitoring with critical value alerts at a fixed monthly price: from €9 per month per room, all inclusive, without investment costs.

Increase well-being and productivity

When it comes to optimizing building operations, many people first think of functioning services and reduced operating costs. However, according to JLL, the greatest leverage lies with the employees: typical employee costs per sqm amount to around €300, while the rent of €30 and ancillary costs of €3 play a lesser role.

The indoor climate has a massive impact on the well-being and health of employees. A pleasant indoor climate is therefore a basic prerequisite for employees to be able to work efficiently. Data and facts are necessary for active management of the indoor climate. This can increase productivity and the feel-good factor as well as employee satisfaction. The optimization of heating, cooling and ventilation becomes possible, which allows energy savings.

Reduce the risk of infection

Aerosols (airborne particles) can be contaminated with viruses and pose a risk of infection (e.g. Covid-19). The German Federal Environment Agency confirms that CO2 sensors can significantly reduce this transmission risk. They sound the alarm at critical values and enable targeted ventilation. Humidity (ideal: 40 to 60%) also plays a key role: it reduces the survival time of viruses and the time they remain in suspension. It also supports the mucous membranes in the defense against viruses.

LineMetrics makes it easy to monitor the indoor climate at any point in the building. This lays the foundation for targeted measures and monitoring their success.

Using expensive office space more efficiently

New working time models, home office and desk sharing are becoming increasingly popular. The coronavirus crisis is accelerating this trend. Employees’ attendance times in the office are becoming increasingly individualized. Periods of higher occupancy alternate with rooms that are vacant for longer periods. But facts and figures are usually missing.

LineMetrics enables the wireless and anonymous recording of actual building usage: wireless sensors record the movements in a room and thus provide a good overview of its use. This makes the actual space requirements transparent, expansions and conversions can be better planned and meeting rooms can be used more efficiently.

Only clean used surfaces

Building cleaning is the second largest cost factor in building operations. It is usually carried out at fixed intervals – without taking actual usage into account. This causes unnecessary costs, all the more so as the COVID-19 crisis increases cleaning costs anyway – depending on whether a more thorough cleaning or even disinfection is carried out.

Anonymous monitoring of actual usage quickly reveals potential savings. While parts of the building are used intensively, other areas are hardly used at all. This data can now be incorporated into cleaning planning: All types of cleaning, from maintenance and basic cleaning to disinfection, can be planned individually – and thus reduced or adapted as required.