Many colleges and universities already have implemented Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to help improve safety, boost student experiences, facilitate parking and even enhancing service in dining halls. Connected devices on campus collect data that can be used to improve teaching and personalize learning. And smart technologies also can help institutions save energy – and money – by using networked sensors and data analytics that optimize systems across campus.
IoT technologies have also become indispensable to facilities managers and engineers, who use the technologies to maintain an expansive variety of dormitories, classroom buildings, lecture halls, dining halls and research facilities on college campuses. School buildings are complex and have varying maintenance requirements, and facilities managers know they need to stay ahead of potential issues before they become more serious.
IoT sensors work together with analytics software, which takes the sensor data and converts it to usable information to help facilities managers understand what’s going on within their buildings and help them make informed and timely decisions. Smart technologies can help busy facilities managers detect problems in their early stages by allowing them to monitor indoor spaces and mechanicals, detecting anomalies and sending alerts to personnel
According to Digiteum, IoT applications can help facility managers boost efficiency and cut costs in these ways:
Get timely insights. Sensor-based automation enables managers to gain insight into space usage, empower predictive analytics and automatically respond to alerts to neutralize a safety threat without human supervision.
Optimize energy efficiency. IoT data and environmental sensors that optimize temperature and humidity levels can help managers identify space usage patterns and then reduce lighting and heating to specific areas when demand is lower than usual, decreasing energy costs.
Boost productivity. Connected systems can automatically provide managers with facilities data, so maintenance teams can more easily keep track of work orders and perform more tasks each day.
Improve threat detection. IoT technologies like connected cameras, implanted tags, ID confirmation beacons and other tools can help detect and eliminate threats.
Provide high-value data to inform decisions. IoT tools like sensors and analytics software work together to provide high-value data to support decisions on everything from contingency planning and physical security to planning optimal building design and workflows.
IoT tools and technologies also help universities remotely manage facilities, which proved especially helpful during COVID-19 shutdowns. When the pandemic hit, the solution allowed facilities team to manage buildings remotely to it could work seamlessly during the campus shutdown. The institution was able to maintain and operate its facilities and provide occupant comfort when students, faculty and staff returned to campus.
The University of Notre Dame implemented a building management system in more than 95 buildings across its campus to increase data visibility and control to manage building performance, occupant comfort and energy efficiency. The university has 132 buildings covering more than 7 million square feet.
The EcoStruxure Building Operation system gives facilitate management anytime, anywhere access control and data management and visualization tools for smarter, insight-driven decisions. The solution gives the university visibility, analytics and automated controls, letting the management team oversee and manage energy use, power quality and building performance.
The multiple systems include EcoStruxure Building Advisor leverages legacy and new IP controllers to collect and analyze data for insights that give facility managers the ability to improve energy efficiency, address maintenance problems and correct occupant comfort issues. EcoStruxure Energy Expert helps the university manage its domestic hot and cold water and steam usage.