Indoor localisation methods are an essential part for the management of COVID-19 restrictions, social distancing, and the flow of people in the indoor environment. Moving towards an open work space in this scenario requires effective real-time localisation services and tools, along with a comprehensive understanding of the 3D indoor space. This project’s main objective is to analyse how ArcGIS Indoors can be used with location awareness methods to elaborate and develop space management tools for COVID­-19 restrictions in order to reopen the workspace for TU Delft Campus. This was accomplished by using six Arduino micro controllers, which were programmed in C++ to scan all available Wi-­Fi fingerprints in the east wing of the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment of TU Delft and send over the data to an ArcGIS Indoor Information Model (AIIM). The data stored on the AIIM is then accessed using the app on the user’s Android device using REST Application Programming Interface (API) where a kNN based matching algorithm then identifies the location of the user. The results show that the localisation is not consistent for rooms that are directly above each other or share common access points. However, when functioning to locate different tables inside a room, the system proved to uniquely distinguish between the specific tables. As a result, we can conclude that based on the size of the rooms, more Arduino devices should be installed to achieve an ideal accuracy. Finally, recommendations are made for the continuation of this research.
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On January 30, 2020, the WHO Emergency Committee declared a global health emergency based on increasing reports of Chinese and international cases. The unprecedented impact of COVID-19 has also affected education systems around the world. This means that more than 1.6 billion students, representing 91% of all students in the world, have felt the impact of COVID-19 on their study environments. The Smart Campus Tools and SCT 2.0 research has revealed that the use of SCTs is well known among Dutch and foreign universities. But, because the COVID-19 crisis is a recent and still current event, there is a gap in the literature with the insights on how universities and organizations have utilized SCTs during this period. This research aims to reflect the use of SCTs in the COVID-19 period at universities and other organizations. In addition, it identifies differences in the use of SCTs in the intervening years between the SCT 2.0 research and this study. This was ascertained through a literature study, the first brainstorming session, a case study at nine Dutch and five foreign universities and at three other organizations, and finally a second brainstorming session. Based on the outcomes of this research, it can be concluded that since the changes around the COVID-19 virus, existing or new SCTs have contributed to the ‘back-to-campus/office’ phase. This has been achieved through reservation tools for individual study places and/or tools that display crowding indications in the buildings. This has facilitated the monitoring of the number of users in the buildings and the ability to regulate capacity. Recommendations are provided to show campus managers the possibilities around the newly created problem; the "digital towel" in reservations (no-shows). Lastly, the research stresses the importance of quantitative research for further research on this topic. ... Read more

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to add to the existing body of knowledge and increase the understanding of the contribution of current smart emergency applications to the facility manager with the focus on required information during building fire emergency response operations. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews with different safety professionals from Dutch universities are used to identify their role during a fire incident, an acceptable level of fire cause, necessary information items and, their viewpoint on the use of smart emergency applications. The results are translated to a multi-criteria analysis in which different smart emergency applications are evaluated according to a variety of information items. Main finding – This study reveals that not all required information is integrated into the current smart emergency apps. In fact, each smart emergency apps have a unique information provision which can be useful during a specific phase of a building fire emergency operation. In addition, the findings show that the use of smart emergency apps is partially supported by the participants of the interviews. Research limitations/implications – This study was confined to universities in The Netherlands and the semi-structured interviews have limited population size. A larger population with the focus on international universities would have allowed for more important data, but the findings do provide valuable and essential insight into the contribution of smart emergency apps to the facility managers. Practical implications – The empirical results provide guidance to the emergency and facility managers to opt for the smart emergency app(s) according to their required information and, give valuable insight to app developers and researchers for further improvement and development of the emergency apps. Originality/value – Most studies focus on the benefits and technical aspects of the smart emergency app. This research provides readers with more insight into the extent of the required information on current smart emergency apps in favor of the facility manager who needs to perform during a building fire emergency operation ... Read more

The purpose of this research is to extend knowledge on adding value to office employees (end users) due to smart technology implementation. The focus of this research document is given to end users since the problem statement emphasises a need of a strategic change in CREM’s activities related to smart technology implementation. The problem statement explains the recognized paradox. On the one hand smart technologies are the components of Smart Office Real Estate which should serve its end users – office employees. On the other hand , it seems that smart technology implementation initiative is a top-down process which causes issues such as peoples’ fear or privacy concerns. The proposed in this research strategic change implies focusing on employee-oriented IoT implementation initiative. The research main question is ‘how can Corporate Real Estate Managers (CREM) shape Internet of Things (IoT) initiative which adds value to office employees?’. The research methodology combines systematic literature review and case study methods. The case study method consists of two parts: in-depth interviewees (incl. appendage) and desk research. The research have an explorative character. The appointed mixed methodology allows to gather information from practice and at the same time ensure its reliability. The research analysis presents a comprehensive process design. The process design framework visualises actors, steps and phases of IoT implementation initiative. Additionally the research addresses implemented within investigated case studies smart technology and its explains its added value. Both findings guide CREM on how to shape an IoT initiative due to: (1) clarifying their role in the comprehensive IoT implementation process and (2) indicating application functionalities and data which CREM should pay attention to in order to add value to office employees. The research findings are highly relevant to the multiple actors, primarily CREM’s practices in current changing RE market. ... Read more

Today’s stadiums face increasing competition from home-viewing options, powered by better camera angles and multiplatform, multimedia experiences. Concurrent with these trends is the increase in computing power and near ubiquity of the smartphone. These technological developments create new opportunities to measure real-time space use. The service or product that can measure (real-time) space use is called a ‘smart tool’. There are some studies about smart tools, but these are not focussing on the integration in stadiums. This resulted in the following research question that will be addressed in this research: which smart tools can be identified in stadiums, and how can the use of these smart tools be optimized? Due to this nascent character of the research topic qualitative research is conducted, whereby literature is reviewed in combination with an exploratory case study. The case that is studied is the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam, the stadium has the ambition to be the most innovative stadium by 2020. Based on the case study, nine different smart tools are identified, whereby the main goals of the tools are to reduce costs and to support user activities. Based on the outcomes of this research it can be concluded that the integration of smart tools in stadiums are in their ‘infancy’. From these nine smart tool projects, only five were in use at the moment of the research, the other four were still under development. As a result, concrete numbers of the effects of integrating of smart tools are missing. However, the current experience of integrating smart tools in stadiums did generate some valuable insights on how the use of the tools can be optimized by linking the findings to innovations from practice. Recommendations are provided to guide stadium managers in the effective management of smart tools. Lastly, the research stresses out the importance of future research on this topic ... Read more

Today, the deregulated Dutch healthcare system, the changing demographics and the growing shortage of medical specialists is putting pressure on the entire hospital and its employees. Thus, improving the patient experience, medical specialist’s workflow and utilisation of space would enable hospitals to provide better care to its patients, while dealing with the deregulated healthcare sector, changing democraphics and pressures on the hospital and its staff. However, buildings today can perform better when being a ‘smart’ building and smart tools can help optimise buildings, by first measuring something about the building or something is requested from the user; This data is then used to achieve a goal.There are some studies about smart tools, but these studies are not focussed on integrating smart tools in the outpatient department. Therefor, the following research question has been developed: Which ‘smart’ optimisations of the outpatient department could improve patient experience, medical specialist’s workflow and utilisation of space? Qualitative research is conducted, whereby literature is reviewed in combination with comparative research of four different Dutch hospitals. Based on the case study, in total fourteen potential optimisations are distinguished in three different focus areas (from most desired to nice to have): (1) Workflow: Diagnostics, finding workplace, digital forms, finding colleague, information (EPD), self measuring / controlling, and e-consult. (2) Patient experience: Information provision, wayfinding, check-in, and senior service. (3) Utilisation of space: Space use, Maintenance / tracking of (medical) equipment, and cleaning. The focus of potential optimisations is mainly focused on functional objectives with supporting user activities, increase patients’ and employees’ satisfaction, and improving productivity. Therefor, the advice is to look at mutiple potential optimisations at the same time and try to come to an integrated solution. This will create new valuable insights, improve the performance of the individual optimisations and stimulates automation. And ultimately, improving the patient experience, the medical specialist’s workflow and the utilisation of space. ... Read more