F R M e W O R K
Hobson et al. (2020) Gunay et al. (2017)

Occupancy

The occupancy function generates daily occupant count profiles and calculates typical occupant arrival and departure times.

Inputs

Wi-Fi Device Count

The occupancy function can input Wi-Fi device count data. These data count the number of actively recognized, but not necessarily connected, devices by a building's Wi-Fi access points. The function uses device count data as a proxy for occupant count by equating 1.2 devices per occupant. These data should be formatted in a spreadsheet seen in Figure 1 below.

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Figure 1: Example of Wi-Fi device count input data format.

The first column should contain the timestamp at which the device count is measured. The timestamp must include the numerical date and time and in the following format: [yyyy-mm-dd hh-mm]. The second column should contain the number of devices recognized by a Wi-Fi access point. This column should only contain whole numbers (i.e., 2.4 is not an acceptable entry).

A minimum of one (1) CSV file containing Wi-Fi device count data for the whole building can be supplied to this function. However, if there is greater certainty amounting in floor-level device count data (i.e., you have device count data for each floor of the building), you may input several CSV files whereby each file contains the data pertaining to a different floor. If the function recognizes that more than one CSV file is provided, floor-level occupant count profiles will be generated. See outputs for information about generated KPIs and visuals.

Motion Detection

Alternatively, the occupancy function can input motion detection data instead of Wi-Fi device count data. Though the same function, inputting motion detection data will not yield the occupant count profiles as it would with Wi-Fi device count data; key performance indicators will also vary. See outputs for motion detection data for more information. Motion detection data should be formatted as in the example spreadsheet seen in Figure 2 below.

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Figure 2: Example of motion detection input data format.

Like Wi-Fi device count data, the first column should contain the timestamp, which must include the numerical date and time and in the following format: [yyyy-mm-dd hh-mm]. Each subsequent column should represent one instance of a motion detection sensor and contain either a zero (0), indicating no presence detected, or a one (1), indicating presence detected.

Only one (1) CSV file containing motion detection data can be supplied to this function.

Actively in development, an open-source project by the Data-driven Building Operation and Maintenance team within Carleton University's Building Performance Research Center.