Spatial Intelligence for CRE: Optimize Occupancy with Thermal Sensing

How thermal sensing works (brief)

Thermal sensors detect heat emitted by people and objects and translate that data into occupancy events. On-device analytics or edge processing extracts counts, motion vectors, and dwell time metrics. Data is then aggregated and analyzed by cloud or local systems to produce dashboards, alerts, and actionable recommendations.

Advantages of thermal sensing include:

• Anonymity: No visual images of occupants are stored.
• Robustness: Works in low light and through visual obstructions where cameras may fail.
• Low bandwidth: Sensor data is lightweight compared to video streams.

Core use cases for CRE

Thermal-based spatial intelligence supports a range of CRE priorities:

• Space utilization and right-sizing
  • Measure actual occupancy across floors, zones, and rooms to identify underused areas.
  • Support decisions to consolidate space, implement flexible leasing, or repurpose areas for higher-value uses.
• Energy and operational savings
  • Adjust HVAC and lighting schedules based on occupancy patterns and predictive forecasts.
  • Reduce energy waste during off-peak hours and quickly react to peak loads.
• Health, safety, and emergency response
  • Use real-time counts and density maps to support evacuation planning and crowd management.
  • Monitor unusual occupancy spikes and trigger alerts for security or health protocols.
• Tenant analytics and amenity optimization
  • Assess amenity usage (conference rooms, lounges, cafeterias) to justify investments and adjust services.
  • Provide landlords with anonymized occupancy reports to enhance tenant retention and renewals.
• Leasing and valuation support
  • Demonstrate verified utilization metrics to prospective tenants.
  • Quantify revenue opportunities from reconfiguration or amenity monetization.

Important metrics to track

Actionable spatial intelligence is grounded in measurable KPIs. Typical metrics CRE teams use:

• Occupancy rate: percentage of space in use versus available capacity.
• Peak density and peak times: highest concurrent occupant counts and when they occur.
• Average dwell time: how long occupants remain in a space.
• Turnover rate: frequency of new occupants entering a space across a period.
• Utilization by zone: percent time each room or area is actively used.
• HVAC runtime vs. occupancy: mismatch indicating waste.

Tracking these metrics over time enables trend analysis, benchmarking, and predictive planning.

Integrating thermal sensing into building systems

Thermal sensors are most effective when integrated with existing building technology stacks. Typical integration points include:

• Building Management Systems (BMS): feed occupancy data to optimize HVAC schedules and setpoints.
• Lighting and controls: enable demand-based lighting and daylighting strategies.
• Space management platforms (CAFM/IWMS): update real-time room availability and utilization reports.
• Tenant dashboards and BI tools: provide stakeholders with tailored insights and reports.

Integration often uses standard protocols and APIs; choose solutions that support secure, well-documented interfaces and flexible data export options.

Privacy, compliance, and trust

Privacy concerns are paramount in CRE. Thermal sensing offers an inherently privacy-forward approach:

• No visual imagery: heat-based sensors do not capture faces or detailed personal identifiers.
• Anonymized data: counts and movement vectors are processed without linking to individual identities.
• Data governance: retention policies, role-based access, and clear use-case boundaries help maintain trust.

Document privacy practices clearly for tenants and staff. Provide transparency about what is measured and how data is used to avoid resistance.

Implementation checklist for CRE teams

• 1. Define objectives
  • Identify primary goals (reduce energy, increase utilization, inform leasing).
  • Set target KPIs and timeframes.
• 2. Map spaces and prioritize zones
  • Start with high-value or high-variance areas: lobbies, conference clusters, shared amenities.
  • Pilot one or two floors before rolling out portfolio-wide.
• 3. Choose the right sensing hardware and architecture
  • Decide between wireless vs. wired sensors based on building constraints.
  • Confirm sensor coverage, range, and mounting considerations.
• 4. Plan integrations
  • Engage BMS, facilities, and IT teams early to map data flows and security requirements.
  • Establish APIs, data formats, and alerting pathways.
• 5. Deploy, calibrate, and validate
  • Calibrate sensors for local conditions and validate data against manual counts or access systems.
  • Iterate placement to close coverage gaps.
• 6. Operationalize insights
  • Create dashboards for facilities, leasing, and operations teams.
  • Translate insights into policies: HVAC schedules, booking rules, or reconfiguration plans.
• 7. Measure impact and scale
  • Compare pre- and post-deployment metrics for energy, utilization, and tenant satisfaction.
  • Use results to expand deployment and refine strategy.

Conclusion

Thermal sensing is a pragmatic, privacy-forward way to bring spatial intelligence into CRE operations. By measuring how spaces are actually used — not how planners expect them to be used — landlords and operators can drive energy savings, enhance tenant experience, and unlock new revenue opportunities. Start with a focused pilot, measure the right KPIs, and integrate occupancy data into existing building systems to realize fast, scalable impact.