Human-Computer Interaction and Human-Building Interaction

Space Use Efficiency through Occupancy Monitoring Technologies: A Case Study at KTH Royal Institute of Technology

CHRISTOFFER FORSBERG

Published 2025

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📄 Paper
Buildings account for approximately 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with a growingportion of these emissions stemming from the construction and production phases, particularlyin countries with decarbonized energy systems such as Sweden. This thesis investigates the roleof real-time occupancy monitoring technologies to improve space use efficiency as asustainable alternative to new construction. The study focuses on a case within the Sustainabledevelopment environmental science and engineering (SEED) department at KTH Royal Instituteof Technology, where space utilization was analyzed before and after downsizing from threefloors to two.By comparing sensor-based monitoring systems with manual counting methods, the studyassesses the accuracy, reliability, and practical applications of ICT-based monitoring in officeenvironments. Literature insights and empirical data are integrated to evaluate how real-timedata influences spatial planning, energy management, and organizational decision-making. Keyfindings reveal that sensor data, when effectively calibrated and contextualized, enablesinformed space management decisions, supports passive desk-sharing strategies, andenhances energy efficiency through dynamic control of building systems.The study also considers ethical implications of occupancy tracking, emphasizing transparency,user trust, and the balance between data utility and privacy. The conclusion providesrecommendations for integrating sensor data with building management systems and aligningspace utilization strategies with sustainability goals. Overall, this research contributes to bothacademic discourse and practical frameworks for sustainable office space management.

Abstract

Buildings account for approximately 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with a growingportion of these emissions stemming from the construction and production phases, particularlyin countries with decarbonized energy systems such as Sweden. This thesis investigates the roleof real-time occupancy monitoring technologies to improve space use efficiency as asustainable alternative to new construction. The study focuses on a case within the Sustainabledevelopment environmental science and engineering (SEED) department at KTH Royal Instituteof Technology, where space utilization was analyzed before and after downsizing from threefloors to two.By comparing sensor-based monitoring systems with manual counting methods, the studyassesses the accuracy, reliability, and practical applications of ICT-based monitoring in officeenvironments. Literature insights and empirical data are integrated to evaluate how real-timedata influences spatial planning, energy management, and organizational decision-making. Keyfindings reveal that sensor data, when effectively calibrated and contextualized, enablesinformed space management decisions, supports passive desk-sharing strategies, andenhances energy efficiency through dynamic control of building systems.The study also considers ethical implications of occupancy tracking, emphasizing transparency,user trust, and the balance between data utility and privacy. The conclusion providesrecommendations for integrating sensor data with building management systems and aligningspace utilization strategies with sustainability goals. Overall, this research contributes to bothacademic discourse and practical frameworks for sustainable office space management.

Topics

AI occupancy modelingContext-Aware Spatial IntelligenceCross-Modal Intelligence and Multimodal IntegrationHCI-HBIOccupant Behavior Analysis and Spatial OptimizationSmart Building Systems and IoT IntegrationSustainable Buildingsbehavior modelinghuman-centric IoTmovement analysisoccupant behaviorsensor-driven designspace utilizationspatial analytics

Cite this paper

@misc{840b4dc4,
  title={Space Use Efficiency through Occupancy Monitoring Technologies: A Case Study at KTH Royal Institute of Technology},
  author={Forsberg, Christoffer},
  url = {https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:2004895/FULLTEXT01.pdf},
  year={2025}
}