The right workplace sensors help answer practical questions. Do we have enough desks? Are meeting rooms the right size? Why do people avoid certain areas? Could we accommodate growth within the space we already have?
Each question needs different evidence. OpenSensors provides a range of occupancy, people-counting and environmental sensors, selected around the space, the information required and the decision it will support.
Which types of workplace sensors do you need?
| Sensor type | What it measures | Where it helps |
| Desk and phone-pod presence sensors | Whether an individual space is occupied | Understanding desk use, demand patterns and underused workstations or pods |
| Desk-bank counters | How many people occupy a defined desk area | Measuring demand across groups of desks |
| Meeting-room counters | The number of people using a room | Comparing actual attendance with room capacity and identifying opportunities to change room mix |
| Footfall and entry/exit counters | Movement through defined entrances or access routes | Understanding activity and occupancy patterns in shared spaces and zones |
| Air-quality and environmental sensors | Movement through defined entrances or access routes | Investigating how conditions vary between spaces and throughout the working day |
| Noise-level sensors | Sound levels and patterns over time | Investigating the suitability of spaces for focused work, collaboration and other activities |
Presence and people counting answer different questions. A presence sensor can show that a meeting room is occupied, but it cannot establish whether two people or ten are using it. That distinction matters when deciding whether to retain a large room, divide it or introduce smaller alternatives.
Our meeting-room strategy guide explores how this evidence supports room-planning decisions.
Match the hardware to the space
A suitable sensor arrangement depends on the physical layout as well as the question.
For example, our desk-bank approach can use one overhead counter for a suitable bank of up to six desks, with individual presence sensors covering additional desks or positions where overhead measurement is unsuitable. Ceiling height, partitions, mounting positions and coverage all affect the final design.
Larger rooms may require entry/exit counting, with every relevant access route covered. An aggregate count for a zone provides different information from measuring individual desks within it.
All OpenSensors sensors are battery operated, including our occupancy, air-quality, VOC and noise sensors. This simplifies installation and allows sensors to move between spaces as measurement priorities change. Gateways require mains power. Battery life depends on the sensor, reporting settings and operating conditions.
Combine occupancy with environmental context
Low utilisation tells you that a space is used infrequently. Understanding why often requires more information.
For example, a room may be poorly matched to meeting sizes, difficult to book or uncomfortable at busy times. Occupancy counts, booking records, environmental measurements and employee feedback can help investigate these possibilities.
CO₂, temperature, humidity, VOC and noise measurements add different pieces of context. They should be selected for a defined question and interpreted within the capabilities of the chosen device. A change in a reading is a starting point for investigation, rather than proof of a particular cause.
Choose permanent, rotating or combined coverage
Some spaces need continuous measurement to support ongoing operations and monitor change. Others need a focused study before a specific decision.
A rotating approach uses a reusable pool of sensors across different spaces or sites. This can extend the reach of a measurement programme while controlling hardware investment. A combined approach retains permanent coverage where it is needed and moves other sensors as priorities change.
The study period should reflect representative activity, relevant peaks and the confidence required for the decision.
Make reliable evidence part of the service
Through Observe, OpenSensors brings together hardware selection, deployment, analytics and ongoing monitoring. Floor plans, asset mapping, connectivity, commissioning and data-quality checks all contribute to useful evidence.
That evidence can then feed into Tessellate, alongside information such as bookings, employee feedback, headcount plans and property costs. Teams can compare consolidation, room-mix and workplace-design options, understand the trade-offs and check the effect of changes.
Tell us which workplace decision you need to make, and we’ll help identify the measurements and sensor combination that can support it.
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