At first, my mind didn’t immediately connect the dots.
IoT (the Internet of Things). Real estate footprint.
Okay. So, where’s the connection?
As I conducted more research, things became clearer once I read about AVUITY, the company’s history, and its VuAI sensors and systems.
First, a little backstory: With nearly a decade of experience under its belt (plus tens of thousands of sensors deployed globally), AVUITY’s team remains focused on AI-focused sensor measurement and modeling; from occupancy sensors and room-booking, to precise space measurement and customized reporting, the team is adept at helping organizations understand their spaces and what can be better utilized within.
So AVUITY, provider of IoT capabilities that enable the collection of meaningful data on how to make organizations’ work spaces work better, also recently announced its VuAI line of sensors. AVUITY describes them as “state-of-the-art technology with advanced algorithms to deliver unparalleled precision in real-time data collection and analysis,” given the sensors can detect occupancy, utilization (activities, trends, etc.) and even slight variations in temperature, light, noise and humidity. These prove useful in really understanding how often a space is used, how many individuals regularly enter and exit it, whether or not it’s a “comfortable” space or if tweaks could be made, and more.
This is reliable real estate footprint comprehensivity made smarter. The VuAI sensors offer enterprises a more affordable entry point for obtaining and understanding data for making quicker and better-informed decisions regarding office space usage and niche details about real estate footprints. And as Ian Iliff, Director of IoT & Artificial Intelligence at AVUITY described, the sensors are “easy to install and operate, which ensures seamless integration with existing building management systems and processes.” Iliff also noted how they can be “converted to Power Over Ethernet (POE) and daisy-chained together, allowing our clients the ability to customize the system to suit their needs.”
AVUITY's CEO, Brad Johnson, expressed understandable excitement about the launch of the new VuAI system.
“Our team has worked tirelessly to develop a product that sets a new standard in the industry,” Johnson said, “This is a standard with up to three times the detection area of our previous sensors and twice the battery life. We believe these sensors will be a game-changer for clients who require the highest level of accuracy and efficiency."
To Johnson’s point, a single upgraded VuAI sensor can independently monitor the utilization of 20 individual desks within an area of over 1,000 square feet (when installed on a 9-foot ceiling, for example). It can also report both active and passive occupancy (i.e. “signs of life,” as they’re called here) while maintaining a battery life of between 4 and 10 years. This expanded coverage area and lifespan equip customers well, in terms of reducing the total number of sensors required by more than 30%, a stat that points to significantly lowering hardware and installation costs.
Brad Johnson commented again, this time on the implications for current and future customers. According to Johnson, "The wider coverage area will materially reduce the total sensor cost for customers. We are preparing by building out our international presence as current customers demand rolling out the new sensor across their entire global real estate portfolio."
Edited by
Greg Tavarez
