Sensor Network for Hagerty Library

For my term project I am working in a group with Jeanine Lancellotti and Rita Pauliushchyk. We knew we wanted to further explore the role of sensors in intelligent building design. Clearly that is an incredibly broad topic and needed to be narrowed down significantly if we wanted to write a successful research paper. We met in the basement library to discuss different possibilities and directions we could take the project, when inspiration struck us. We were in a study room in the basement of the library; it was stuffy, hot, and hard to concentrate in those room conditions. We decided we would explore how sensor technology can be applied in the W.W. Hagerty library to create a more suitable and comfortable study environment for Drexel students.

The physical environment is very important in a library because there are specific conditions ideal for academic work.  Conditions such as temperature, humidity control, lighting levels, and heating and cooling requirements for computer rooms must be considered.  Sensors can help building systems efficiently control any condition within a building through monitoring indoor and outdoor climates, occupancy, energy usage patterns, lighting, and water usage.  Implementing a sensor network would greatly improve student comfort levels as well as help increase overall building efficiency.

We will be using a survey consisting of nine simple questions to collect feedback from students on the conditions of the library.  These questions address issues such as temperature, humidity and “stuffiness”, noise and light levels, energy and water consumption, and overcrowding.  After analyzing the survey answers, we will be able to determine what qualities most affect students and explore sensors that can best address those issues.  We will be able to create a network of sensors that could theoretically be utilized throughout the Hagerty library.  Factors we will consider include cost, efficiency, ease of maintenance, and how easily integrated the sensors can be into the existing building systems.