Department of Engineering and Communication
Cool room without air conditioning - app pilot project launched
Optimized building automation is a major lever for heat regulation for a better and healthier working and learning environment. However, different usage requirements for shading, ventilation or heating control can be associated with conflicts.
Inspired by the "Digitalization and Sustainability" specialist team of Sustainability Management, headed by Stephanie Lorek, and with the support of numerous colleagues from Department 1 and ITS, an idea from Prof. Ingo Groß, who teaches "Automation Technology" in the IWK department, was successfully implemented in an initial prototype: A "shading and ventilation app" that could allow employees of the university to (de)activate certain automated systems for their course or in their office/laboratory very individually by simply scanning a QR code in all rooms.
After the event, a sophisticated automatic system then ensures optimum ventilation and shading. The existing air flaps above the windows in all seminar rooms can make a significant contribution to this. In the past, the automatic operation of the ventilation flaps was often not desired and there were always complaints about the operation of these flaps, as there is currently only one overall command for all ventilation flaps. Shading could be controlled individually with the solar circulation system based on the orientation of the rooms.
Successful piloting in B101
This app was installed as a prototype in room B101 in the IWK department. Employees of Department 1 under the direction of Ute Schmitz, Mr. Strotmann from the building management system and Mr. Beyer, who is responsible for the KNX bus technology, converted the flap control of the air flaps in B101 to the university-wide so-called KNX bus. Mr. Becker and Mr. Weiß-Gräf from ITS set up and connected a server that provides the app. Aspects of IT security have also already been taken into account at the suggestion of Prof. Böhmer.
Room B101 now offers a very pleasant working atmosphere in the summer heat; you have the feeling of "working outside under a shady tree", says Prof. Ingo Groß, who uses the room regularly. Other colleagues from the department are also enthusiastic. The room will now be used to evaluate whether this prototype idea could be extended to other rooms at the university. The idea for the pilot project was introduced as part of the sustainability roadmap process (here the "Digitalization and Sustainability" specialist team with the speaker duo Prof. Dr. Dirk Reith and Prof. Dr. Stefan Böhmer).
Ideas for research project
There are already further ideas for a larger "Smart Facility" research project, in which data could be scientifically analyzed using additional sensor data (temperature, CO2, presence, etc.) or by connecting an existing weather station from another research project. This opens up the potential to optimize the heating and ventilation of rooms for greater comfort and minimal energy consumption in winter too.
