ISUMS: Indoor Space Usage Monitoring System for Sustainable Built Environment Using LoRaWAN

In this work we investigate how IoT in conjunction with the data-driven Circular Economy (CE) model can contribute towards a more sustainable Built Environment (ΒE). We address longstanding challenges related to the distribution of resources and the multi-sectoral impact of the buildings sector. We first discuss recent developments in policy making that underpin the recently introduced Green Deal by the European Commission and the paradigm of Circular Economy. This motivates the development of ISUMS; an Indoor Space Usage Monitoring System. The system provides the facilities and the estates management teams of commercial and office buildings with an IoT-enabled system able to provide fine grained and timely data on occupancy rates of shared building spaces. This type of data can then be used to develop new or inform existing action plans towards increasing building sustainability. The development of the system comprises a) a Pre-Analysis Plan (PAP) for a smart campus use case at the Talbot Campus of Bournemouth University; b) a proof of concept IoT end-device that can be integrated in pieces of furniture for occupancy monitoring; and c) a measurements campaign for evaluating the use of LoRaWAN in indoor environments. ISUMS expands the notions of smart buildings and buildings management beyond interconnected actuators and towards adaptive space management with dynamic changes in the use requirements.