Communication on Space Sensors
September 26, 2025
Distributed to occupants of buildings with space sensors being installed beginning September 29, 2025.
Campus Announcement
September 25, 2025
To: Faculty and Staff
Sept. 25, 2025
Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to share that UC Merced is launching a significant initiative to better understand how campus space is currently used, how frequently it is occupied, and how it may be utilized more effectively. This effort, resourced by multiple campus divisions, reflects broad recognition of the importance of space management. As a limited and valuable asset, the responsible use of physical space is essential to supporting achievement of the university’s mission and strategic goals.
A comprehensive study focused on work and meeting environments, facilitated by the Office of Space, Capital Planning and Real Estate (SCPRE), will examine how offices, workstations, and collaborative areas are used daily. The findings of this study will inform the development of recommendations for efficient use of existing space and future space planning.
A range of techniques tailored to the nature of each space will be utilized to collect data on building occupancy. Student employees will conduct brief, low-impact walkthroughs of campus buildings to verify occupancy and usage. In select locations, sensor systems will analyze Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals to estimate the number of occupants. Data from both observations and sensors is anonymized so as to not identify who is in a particular building or space, but rather how many occupants are in general areas of a building.
All or portions of the following buildings are included in this effort and will be visited between September 29 and November 14.
- Arts & Computational Sciences (ACS)
- Administration Building
- Biomedical Sciences & Physics (BSP)
- Classroom & Office Building 1 (COB1)
- Classroom & Office Building 1 (COB2)
- Downtown Campus Center (DCC)
- Granite Pass – First Floor
- Health & Athletic Center
- Kolligian Library (KL)
- Science & Engineering 1 (SE1)
- Science & Engineering 2 (SE2)
- Social Science and Management (SSM)
- Student Activities & Athletic Center
- Student Services Building (SSB)
- Sustainability Research & Engineering (SRE)
- Terrace Center
We appreciate your cooperation with this important effort. For more information, please visit the SCPRE website or click here to read the FAQs and click here to view a one-pager about the study.
Should you have any questions, please contact Maggie Saunders (msaunders4@ucmerced.edu) or Jason Doyle (jdoyle3@ucmerced.edu).
Sincerely,
Daniel Okoli
Vice Chancellor & Chief Operating Officer
Monday Memo Announcement
September 22, 2025
UC Merced has launched a campus-wide study, supported by multiple divisions, to evaluate how administrative and academic office spaces are used and how often they are occupied. The findings will primarily support more efficient and effective use of existing campus space, while also informing future planning and design.
To support this effort, POPD Space, Capital Planning & Real Estate (SCPRE) will use a range of data collection methods tailored to each space, including direct observations and sensor-based technologies. Student employees will conduct brief, unobtrusive walkthroughs to verify occupancy, while sensor systems will analyze WiFi and Bluetooth signals to estimate occupant numbers. All data will be anonymized to reflect general occupancy levels without identifying individuals.
Beginning the week of September 29, buildings with office space may be visited periodically through November 14 to conduct scheduled space audits. Additional data collection methods, including sensors and WiFi triangulation, will also be deployed in select buildings during this period. More information can be found by visiting the SCPRE website.
Return to Campus Space Study Page
