OPINION
campus. Reducing consumption is, therefore, a critical part of any net zero strategy. While university campuses vary in size, the majority tend to span numerous buildings or sites. Knowing when those buildings are in use and therefore when heating, cooling and lighting is necessary can be difficult. However, with the right technology in place, campuses can monitor occupancy and use the data to trigger energy‑saving action. On a small scale, this could be turning on air conditioning at a specific temperature and level of occupancy, turning lights off in buildings and rooms that aren’t occupied or switching equipment off when desks are vacant. On a larger scale, this could include restricting access to rooms, floors and perhaps even whole buildings that are not being used so that energy is not wasted. supported by effective technology is key to balancing the issue of limited resources with an increasingly demanding campus environment. This means limiting time spent on remedial tasks, such as data collation and in-person monitoring of buildings for maintenance. Effective use of technology here can automate key functions, provide data insights on how and when space is used and support engagement with campus stakeholders, while also freeing up precious time for lean teams. • Tackling skills shortages Developing lean and agile campus operations teams Creating smart campuses isn’t just about solving problems; it’s also about creating aspirational features around experience and community. While community has always been a key difference between a campus and a workplace, this is likely to be much more amplified in the post‑pandemic era as the purpose of the campus shifts further towards connection. By taking an open source, modular approach to the technology solutions that can achieve real impact, and allowing systems to talk to each other, opportunities to connect campus communities to goods and services that improve experience can be unlocked. Tying those experiences to wider strategic goals is key to connecting digital and physical worlds, as these will create holistic campus experiences that drive the right outcomes.
Instead, it’s important to understand how people are working and what their needs are when onsite. It’s then possible to develop user journeys and identify the spaces, technologies and interfaces that enable ideal working practices. That could be using a mobile app to enter the building and discovering the best place to work based on desk availability or location of colleagues, or booking a collaborative space for a team via a web form. The key thing is that hybrid working isn’t just about using Microsoft Teams, Zoom or other online collaboration tools; it’s about creating a connected experience across physical and digital environments that allows people to work effectively. • Managing demand for space on campus From teaching and research to events, conferences and productive working environments, the breadth of activities on campus means that space has always been a precious commodity. Despite teams spending less time there, the willingness to give up dedicated space is not forthcoming. As a result, estate teams could be holding unused space while juggling the many requests for its use. Understanding when and how space is used is key. Data of this kind can not only support difficult conversations with teams moving to a more agile way of working post‑pandemic, but it can also help with the design of new spaces, identifying potential commercial opportunities and more. Buildings have a range of different data sources in different systems that together can provide an accurate picture of occupancy by building, floor, room and even desk. Building access systems, wifi connection, docking, sensors, conferencing systems – the data is vast, but bringing it together is more complex. A flexible integration platform can join them together, layering the information to give a detailed picture of occupancy in real time and over specified periods. This provides reliable information on when and how space is being used to support key strategic decisions. It can also help to identify any vacant space that might offer revenue potential from, for instance, hotdesking, with external booking and chargeback facilities integrated to enable these opportunities. This may be particularly useful in the summer, when large amounts of space may be vacant and could easily be repurposed. • Achieving net zero Linked to the challenge of attracting students is the issue of achieving net zero. In the UK, for example, more than half of students now say that net zero policies influence their choice of where to study, according to figures from the Students Organising for Sustainability charity. Research suggests that energy consumption can account for up to 50 per cent of carbon emissions on a university
Charlie MacDowall is a smart places consultant at Tokyo‑headquartered digital consultancy Monstarlab, where she leads the development of its practice in the UK. Her work supports clients in the creation of buildings, campuses and cities that effectively leverage technology to create positive outcomes for people, communities and the environment
Ambition | JUNE 2023 | 37
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