Investigation of indicators for personal exposure and occupancy in offices by using smart sensors

Despite the advent of smart building sensors, real-time methods for capturing inhalation exposure and occupancy are limited. This study utilized stationary and wearable environmental sensors, along with Decision Tree and correlation analyses, to determine the optimal set of indicators for approximating dynamic inhalation exposures and occupancy in office environments. In a 2-week field campaign in two Swiss office buildings, real-time measures of air temperature, relative humidity, CO2, and size-resolved particle concentrations were taken at two scales: personal – via personalized vests with sensors for personal exposure detection; and room – via stationary sensors at sidewalls and office desks. Occupancy and activity profiles were collected at three scales: personal – via smartwatches; room – via visual inspections; and building – via a cloud-based location service system. A desk-mounted CO2 sensor in the center of an office was an effective indicator of personal exposures to CO2, PM2.5, and PM10. Sidewall CO2 measurements accurately captured room occupancy in open-plan offices, while desk-mounted PM10 sensors were effective in areas with transient occupancy (e.g., cafeteria). Findings from this study aid improved understanding of the complex dynamics of air pollutants in offices, and could support the development of refined methods for smart building monitoring and ventilation control.