Smart Building Solutions by OpenSensors: Elevating Workspace Performance with IoT and Real-Time Data Analysis

The problem may seem simple, but it's not. OpenSensors' experts have conducted in-depth research to understand how office space is used, identify potential areas for improvement, and suggest practical ways to achieve this. Their solution helps companies make smarter choices when optimizing their offices.

• Things aren't always what they appear. An office might look busy, but a detailed analysis can show that the meeting room isn't always used and the water cooler area is busier than some desks. Observing actual human movements throughout the day provides a clearer picture of space usage, enabling informed decisions.
• Work models are changing post-pandemic. Accurate people flow predictions, based on real data, help management plan occupancy to avoid crowding, offering employees peace of mind and safety.
• Modern technology can digitize and automate observation and analytics, saving time and labor costs. IoT allows sensors and devices to collect data, offering solutions to optimize the workplace.
• Reliable data simplifies long-term planning. Scaling up means new hires that need space. Precise numbers help plan resources and desk arrangements.
• If you're not expanding your team, consider saving on space costs. By optimizing space use, a smaller office might suffice, reducing rent and utility costs.
• The environment impacts people. Observing the workplace quality is crucial to provide a healthy, productive environment. Collecting environmental data in real-time and long-term offers valuable insights into how work processes are affected by negative or positive factors, leading to improvements and better overall performance.

OpenSensors specializes in Smart Building solutions. They focus on a single vertical, which allows them to concentrate their efforts and achieve superior results.

To tackle the challenges mentioned earlier, OpenSensors created a network using LoRa Basics™ Station. All data is forwarded to their AWS IoT Core instance. Several Lambda functions run there, processing the data that connects to their platform's front end and visualizes it. This design enables them to provide a stable service with no downtime and seamless failover. The client's data is safe and secure.

The company chose this approach for its stability. They used to use the Built-in LoRaWAN server model where every gateway runs its own LNS. Devices were divided into groups and whitelisted in gateways, but this proved less reliable for large deployments. Additionally, OpenSensors exclusively uses Cellular for gateway backhaul as their clients have privacy concerns and want third-party devices to connect via their local network.

OpenSensors partnered with RAKwireless to supply the network's backbone - the gateways.

They chose WisGate Edge gateways for several reasons. They are easy to configure, support Basics Station and AWS, and have versions with the required LTE connectivity. They are also cost-effective and have proven more reliable over time compared to competitor devices.

For sensors, the company uses various brands and types based on the client's needs and specific use cases.

The visualization and analytical platform for this solution is entirely crafted by the skilled team at OpenSensors.

The solution combines the gateways, the sensors, and the platform into three distinct aspects, which are also the services that OpenSensors offers to their clients.

• Workspace optimization - These are occupancy monitoring systems designed to help make smarter decisions when optimizing work rotations, equipment use, social distancing rules, and more.
• Workspace health - Analyze equipment use, optimize HVAC, and protect employees' health by boosting productivity with intelligent Air & Climate Monitoring Systems.
• Workspace booking - This solution is designed for hybrid workspaces. It streamlines employee booking with a tool for the hybrid working age, with automated check-in and check-out and a mobile-friendly interface.

OpenSensors is planning to use RAK WisGate Edge gateways for the long-term to build private network infrastructures for their clients. The RAK7268C meets their needs perfectly, and they aim to use it in current and future deployments because it's been more effective than other brands they've used before. Given that thousands of sensors are deployed in the field, support for large-scale networks is necessary. Some clients even have more than 1,000 sensors in a building, making a reliable network critical.

The company is installing more gateways daily as part of projects worldwide. They currently have major clients in cities like New York and Springfield, with large-scale deployments involving thousands of sensors to monitor big offices in the US, Japan, Korea, Australia, UK, and Europe.

End-users report better space use, improved booking of coworking and conference spaces, and overall better data retention due to excellent gateway uptime and network stability. Installers find the gateways easy to install and configure, with some assistance from technical staff.

This solution is proving beneficial for businesses worldwide, and it's expected that such services will continue to be crucial for optimizing office space use and reducing costs overall.