FEATURE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Shrikant Sharma, director
of analytics at Buro Happold, explains how data, analytics and insights can mitigate current and future building management challenges
DON’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT WAKE-UP CALL!
I
t’s often difficult to see the positives or silver lining during periods of immense uncertainty,
grief and trauma. However, the optimists among us could see the response to COVID-19 as a wake-up call. It’s provided the realisation we needed about the importance of embracing more flexible ways of working, preparing for the future and better understanding the value in using something we already have access to – data. With data, we have knowledge, and we have
the power to make changes. At a time when adaptability is the key to survival, using data and analytics will be even more important to facilities management teams to manage their buildings and support the return of people back into the workplace. COVID-19 has presented FM teams with
many challenges as they implement social distancing measures and other precautions to maintain staff safety. Data can help to support this process and help with the need to manage the building’s services day-to-day – which can be done remotely.
RETURNING TO THE WORKPLACE The main challenge is how to configure the office to implement social distancing measures – without having to find extra space – so having a better understanding of how the space is used is invaluable. Predictive modelling can therefore be used to scenario-plan how an office can be best utilised with reduced occupancy. In the pre-COVID workplace, businesses
wanted more collision points – i.e. water coolers, entrances, break out areas, open plan spaces – in order to drive more interactions and outcomes among the team. It’s essential that opportunities for interaction and collaboration aren’t interrupted, as they’ll be key in strengthening the economic recovery and are also important for supporting staff welfare and mental health – but in the interim, more attention is focused on minimising these collision points.
BUSINESS AS USUAL This work has placed additional pressure on busy FM teams, who have had to continue managing workplaces throughout lockdown. This is where data can help shoulder part of that burden, by providing insights into how the building is performing to help create a more efficient workplace. Sensors can be installed into overhead smart
20 AUTUMN 2020 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT / ENERGYMANAGEMENT
lighting systems that connect directly to the cloud and allow real-time data to be available for analysis. They can monitor how and where spaces are being utilised; and assess workplace behaviour such as how often people leave their desks for a break, where they start conversations, and how long a ‘one-hour meeting’ actually lasts. They can also help to plan how a reduced
and socially distanced workplace could look. For example, these animations, with varying occupancy rates, demonstrate how data can be used to highlight where any potential breaks in collisions may take place. The red and green circles represent two metre social distancing, with red showing where the limit is infringed and green where it is successfully implemented. By using data in this way, a complete picture can then be built to demonstrate how effective a workplace is in terms of its space utilisation, environmental and energy efficiency, and, most importantly, connectivity, productivity, wellbeing and safety of its people. Sensors and remote monitoring are providing
deeper insights that were previously not possible. For example, workplace analytics are now driving decision making at Vodafone’s London office, in terms of space use, employee productivity through better CO2
30% of meeting spaces by resizing them to meet actual usage demands, as well as highlighting opportunities for significant improvement in productivity. In addition, the sensors revealed
that a third of time seemed to be over the CO2 threshold considered optimum for human productivity, so the team is now able to better manage the levels with a pinpointed accuracy. Not having regular access to the workplace has
certainly made things challenging for building managers. This is where remote dashboards have become invaluable, giving insights and data into how buildings are performing, where changes can be made, and remotely managing key variables such as air quality, lighting, temperature, humidity and space use – at the touch of a button – while working from home.
DON’T WAIT FOR ‘NEXT TIME’ Undoubtedly, COVID-19 has taught us that the physical workplace needs to change, with many businesses adopting more flexible or remote working, and thus may affect how much space is needed going forward. Whatever the future may hold, the biggest
monitoring, and
improved insights into staff collaborations, as well as monitoring other energy services such as lighting and temperature. The analytics have uncovered opportunities to reduce more than
lesson has been in recognising the vital role that data and analytics can play in building management and scenario planning, which will enable us to learn and adapt as we go – rather than wait for the next wake-up call.
Buro Happold
www.burohappold.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
