Space within university campuses is at a premium and all
too often the perceived solution is just to build more premises rather than
utilising rooms, lecture halls and offices in the most effective ways possible.
Effective space utilisation
can proactively manage a limited resource in order to support academic
activity, minimise costs and achieve efficient use of a university’s
estate. Not only can it provide measurable benefits financially and allow
funds to be used elsewhere, it can also enhance the day-to-day experience of
students and staff.
Space allocation should be
planned on the basis of functional need rather than hierarchical structures.
The problem of inefficient space utilisation often arises from traditional room
booking systems, where staff simply reserve a preferred location throughout the
academic year well in advance, with scant regard for whether 200 or 20 people
will be using it. This means that others are left with rooms that are
unsuitable for their needs, or cannot find a room to book despite unused ones
sitting empty.
All for one
Space should be utilised for
the benefit of everyone and by developing a sound knowledge of an estate and gathering
intelligent information, it is possible to enhance operational
effectiveness.
As well as helping to
optimise comfort conditions, enhance wellbeing and save energy, a Building
Energy Management System (BEMS) can use the power of the Internet of Things
(IoT) to connect previously isolated building services technologies. For
instance, Trend’s pioneering IQ®VISION integrates controllers, third
party smart devices and internet protocols into a platform that uses IoT
functionality to optimise university estates.
Get yourself connected
The traditional approach to
building services design is based on the deployment of individual systems, each
with their own endpoints, controllers, servers and cabling infrastructure. However,
an intelligent, smart or connected building creates a single network that acts
as a fully integrated whole, not as a set of disparate functions with different
purposes.
Chris Baldwin, Key Account
Manager at Trend, explains, ‘When it comes to space utilisation, integrating a
room booking system into IQ®VISION provides two sources of data that
can work together. The former can identify whether a room is booked, while the
latter can ascertain whether the room is occupied and what concentration of people
there are using it.’
‘This information can then
be used for forward planning and scheduling, helping to decide where
reconfiguration of existing space, change of occupancy or vacation of space is
necessary. This creates flexible workspaces that can also improve productivity
and lower operating costs.’
Find out more
If you would like to find out more about the features and benefits of IQ®VISION please call or email Chris
Baldwin on 07976663153 or Christopher.baldwin@trendcontrols.com or visit
www.trendcontrols.com
Alternatively, you can contact the Trend team by clicking here.