Higher Colleges of Technology runs 11 campuses and needed indoor air quality monitoring in existing buildings with no wired infrastructure. MachineSens IoT installed 10-parameter LoRaWAN air quality sensors in 59 buildings. Sensor data was made available to the campus BMS over BACnet, so teams work in the system they already use.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Client | Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) |
| Location | UAE |
| Sector | Higher education |
| Scale | 11 campuses, 59 buildings |
| Devices | 10-parameter LoRaWAN IAQ sensors |
| Network | LoRaWAN EU868, BACnet gateway |
| Integration | Data available to the campus BMS over BACnet |
Results at a glance
- 11 campuses and 59 buildings covered
- 10 parameters per sensor
- Air quality data available to the existing BMS over BACnet
- No cabling in existing buildings
1. Client
Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) is a federal higher education institution in the UAE with 11 campuses.
2. Challenge
- Existing buildings had no wired infrastructure, and wired IAQ retrofits were too costly.
- Live readings were needed for temperature, humidity, CO2, TVOC, PM2.5, PM10, ozone, light, noise and motion.
- Data had to reach the existing BMS for central monitoring.
- The solution had to be low cost, low power and low maintenance.
3. Solution
- Devices: configurable, battery-powered LoRaWAN IAQ sensors measuring 10 parameters.
- Network: LoRaWAN EU868 gateways across the campuses.
- Integration: a BACnet gateway makes sensor data available to the campus BMS. Alerts follow WELL v2 limits.
4. Deployment
Sensors are wireless and non-intrusive, so buildings stayed in use. Gateways are placed to cover each campus.
5. What results did HCT see from air quality monitoring?
- Air quality monitoring now spans 59 buildings on 11 campuses.
- Staff see air quality inside the BMS they already use.
- Battery-powered sensors on a LoRaWAN network keep maintenance low.
- The setup can grow with the campuses.
Products used
- Indoor air quality sensors
- LoRaWAN gateways
- BuildOT One module: Air Quality and Wellbeing
Related: Education | Indoor air quality sensors | See all smart building case studies
Frequently asked questions
Which parameters do the HCT sensors measure?
Temperature, humidity, CO2, TVOC, PM2.5, PM10, ozone, light, noise and motion.
How does the data reach the campus BMS?
Through a BACnet gateway, which makes the sensor data available to the BMS.
Why use LoRaWAN on a campus?
It covers long distances on low power and needs no cabling in existing buildings.
What is the best indoor air quality monitoring system for schools and universities?
One that measures air quality room by room, installs without new cabling and feeds the BMS staff already use. At HCT, 10-parameter LoRaWAN sensors in 59 buildings did this over BACnet.
