How can having real-life data change the way we design or plan?
When I worked as an architect, I designed workplaces based on assumptions and previous experience, considering the client’s wants and needs. What would have happened if I had developed my design by studying actual behavioral and performance data?
The Lunchroom Table Case Study
Several case studies show how collecting and analyzing behavioral data with digital sensors and other technologies can yield surprising insights. For example, some case studies have confirmed that the size of the lunchroom tables in a company canteen correlates with office workers’ productivity.
Big tables enable more interactions to happen between workers during the lunch break. The positive impact on productivity has been measured to be up to 10%!
In other words, a simple design choice of table size can directly impact a company’s bottom line.
Discovering jobsite productivity killers
Real-life behavioral data is also critical in improving productivity on construction sites.
Aalto University’s researchers collected HVACE installation data using hardhat video cameras, indoor positioning technology, interviews, and surveys.
The data-backed conclusion was that HVACE workers used barely 20% of their work time for installations (Figure 1). For example, material handling (long and short distance) takes over 10% of the workers’ time on the jobsite. Providing the necessary materials at the right time and place could increase productivity by 50%.
Office interactions analyzed
Humanyze, a people analytics company, has analyzed office worker behavior and its outcomes. In a project with a Japan-based tech company, they collected data from its IT, HR, and real estate functions over four weeks.
The analysis revealed that only certain types of collaboration significantly influenced performance. Analysis of face-to-face and digital collaboration revealed that salespeople who regularly interacted with sales engineers at the office were much more likely to perform better.
The following technology super cycle is about data
So, if analyzing real-life data is valuable, how can we start doing it systematically?
In a recent WDBE Talks podcast episode, I interviewed Amy Peck, CEO at Endeavor XR, and Mark Bryan, Senior Foresight Manager at Future Today Institute. They discussed the upcoming technology super cycle, which will bring advancements in AI, biotechnology, and IoT sensors.
Both speakers underscored the need for the AEC industry to leverage digital twins to understand human experiences and behaviors in spaces. By collecting and analyzing data on how people interact with various environments, companies can design spaces that cater to individuals’ needs and preferences.
Do you dare to collect and use data?
Social media users seem comfortable sharing their personal lives with large tech companies. However, people have become much more concerned about privacy in workplaces.
In the WDBE Talks discussion, the interviewees emphasized the importance of finding ways to share sanitized information. The goal, after all, is not to spy on individuals but to improve well-being, safety, and productivity.
I wish designers, planners, and decision-makers would use more data instead of basing their choices on opinions and assumptions.
