Campus Space Study FAQs

The University of Notre Dame is conducting a campus‑wide study to understand how administrative and academic spaces are used and how we can improve their effectiveness. The study focuses on offices, workspaces, meeting rooms, and shared environments to support better stewardship of a finite, valuable institutional resource.

Space utilization analytics have become standard practice across major research universities. Today, 65 of the 69 Association of American Universities (AAU) institutions have implemented some form of space utilization analytics to better understand how classrooms, offices, labs, and shared spaces are used.

Notre Dame is among the small group of institutions that have not yet fully adopted these tools. The current Campus Space Study brings the University in line with national best practices by providing modern, data‑driven insight into how campus spaces support academic and administrative activities. This positions Notre Dame to make more informed decisions about future space needs while maintaining a strong focus on privacy and responsible data use.

We will use two complementary methods:

• Walkthrough Observations: Staff employees will conduct brief, scheduled walkthroughs to record general occupancy and how workspaces are used. Walkthroughs are quick, unobtrusive, and do not enter individual offices.
• Occupancy Sensing: Sensor‑based technologies will analyze aggregated Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth signal activity to estimate overall occupancy levels within general building zones. For smaller spaces, mmWave sensors will be used to measure occupancy more precisely without capturing any identifiable information. Our measurement technology provider, Occuspace, will be on campus to install sensors and conduct calibration headcounts to ensure accuracy.

Privacy protections are built into both methods:

• Sensors: No personal identifiers are collected. Counts are aggregated and reported only at the zone or floor level. For more information on the sensor-technology approach to privacy, please click here.
• Walkthroughs: Observations record general occupancy and use. They do not identify individuals and do not enter private offices.

No. Sensors cannot identify individuals or personal devices. The software does not collect information that could be linked to a specific person. All readings convert immediately into aggregated occupancy counts—how many people are in a general area, not who is present.

No. Sensors report at the zone or floor level and do not monitor activity inside individual offices.

No. Walkthrough observations do not enter private offices. Observers record general occupancy and use of shared spaces only.

Walkthroughs are brief and unobtrusive. Sensor equipment is compact, quiet, and does not interfere with work or building systems. We do not expect any disruption to daily activities.

We will analyze daily utilization patterns to:

• Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of existing space
• Identify opportunities to enhance shared environments
• Inform future planning and design decisions

Data will be retained only as long as necessary to conduct the analysis and develop recommendations. Summary results will guide planning decisions; personally identifying information is not collected.