8 Examples of Smart Campus Technology (2023)

With the advent of IoT and the rapid advancement of smart technologies, many campuses are realizing its importance in optimizing student and faculty success. The number ofThe number of IoT-connected devices is expected to exceed 75 billion by 2025. Today, connected devices, cameras, sensors, and machines, all loaded with smart technology, are increasingly deployed on campuses across the country. So much so that we refer to some of them as “smart campuses”.

Why is smart technology fast becoming an important part of college campus infrastructure? Well, many of these IoT devices also compute and produce valuable data by monitoring security operations, classroom usage, student attendance, and more. This data can be used to make more effective decisions. A smart campus not only contributes to safety, but can also improve student success, community, and outreach.

Students are also consumers and today they have the power of choice. In addition, students are very socially aware and make their decisions based on goals and experiences. So, going forward, campus locations must transform the way they work to meet changing expectations. Other sectors have already implemented smart technologies, and it is up to universities to use innovative practices to improve customer experiences in the digital age. But it's not just students who expect a more digitized and automated environment: faculty and staff expect the same.

What is a smart campus?

Like smart cities, a smart campus uses smart technologies to create new experiences and services. These intelligent, Internet-connected, AI-powered technologies can enhance various aspects of the campus experience for students and faculty, including:

• Improvement of the concession process
• Improve student services
• reduce waiting times
• Mitigate compliance errors
• Reduction of human errors
• Automate workflows
• Conserve energy and resources.

Why a smart campus and technology?

Our lives are already equipped with smart technologies in our cars, in stores, at banks, and in our homes. We regularly interact with intelligent environments. And yet, many universities are still inundated with siled infrastructures that often do not function or communicate outside of their connected stakeholders. There are distributed systems and large ERP/SIS systems that do not communicate in a perfectly integrated way. But imagine a different kind of infrastructure, one that intelligently communicates so that every interaction and scenario produces positive results.

A smart campus helps universities differentiate themselves from their competitors by enabling efficient practices and eliminating outdated transactional processes. Some examples of smart campus technology are:

• Location-based systems that help students locate their lost textbooks or other personal belongings
• network computing
• Pay for meals with digital devices
• Find the time, cost and location of student events

Digitizing the learning process gives students the power to choose when and where they want to learn. For example, students can use their smart devices to do homework. Plus, they can now easily take classes remotely. Smart technology can also alert school officials that students are struggling with their grades or not attending classes regularly.

Examples of smart campus technology in universities and colleges

Let's take a look at how universities across the country are using smart technology.

1.arizona state universityThe soccer stadium underwent a $300 million renovation that used smart cameras and sensors to improve operational efficiency. For example, the sensors send data on water consumption, concession sales, and even noise levels.

2. In the same condition,Northern Arizona University (NAU)it is already in the transition to a smart campus. In fact, the university has set up a lab designed to study cities and campuses and how they use AI, robotics, the IoT, and more.

3. In 2019Portland State Universityfounded the Digital City Testbed Center (DCTC), which is also part of a network of test sites that includes theUniversity of British Columbia. PSU is also working with the City of Portland on these smart technology trials and is working with the Portland Office of Planning and the Portland Office of Transportation. One of his projects is titledPDX smart city. Much of the focus is on air quality sensors and traffic sensors (200 sensors that calculate real-time data on bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicle traffic).

Test sites serve to ensure that smart city projects work as intended. It's really about experimenting with smart technologies before they're rolled out across the city.

4. SoyUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison, are preparing for an autonomous vehicle test zone that will include sensors on traffic lights at the 32-acre site.

5 amUniversity of Texas at AustinThey are 20,000,000 square meters. ft. The campus, complete with 150 buildings, is powered by the largest microgrid in the United States. The microgrid manages and delivers all power, heat, and cooling on campus.

There is no doubt that both WiFi and IoT technologies have accelerated tremendously and are now making campuses safer in the form of digitized lighting systems, network security cameras, geofencing, and more.

6. In Cleveland, bothCase Western Reserve University and Cleveland State Universityhave joined forces to work together on the Internet of Things. The focus is on how smart technologies can improve the city's urban and industrial infrastructure.

7. Not far,boston universityalready worked on itOpen smart city cloud-based platform and ALCANCE ecosystemfor five years. The goal is to test sensor networks in innovative environments.

8.An der University of MichiganHuei Peng, a professor of mechanical engineering, serves as director of Mcity, a public-private partnership between the university and the city of Ann Arbor. Mcity's purpose is to develop intelligent and automated technologies for transportation, such as driverless vehicles. Within Mcity, participants can test theories and collect data.

The association has already connected more than 2,800 trucks and private vehicles through smart devices with GPS antennas and dedicated short-range communications. The data collected shows the vehicle's speed, direction, position in relation to other Mcity vehicles, and speed. Not to mention, 65 intersections in Ann Arbor have been equipped with DSRC devices.

For local volunteers, all identifying data will be removed. Data is stored on SD cards for analysis. It is exclusively researched by the university, which is why Mcity has been such a hit with local residents. In addition, the driverless electric shuttle is calledAutonomous was first introduced to the nation in 2016 at the Mcity test facility. The French company NAVYA, which made the Autonom, is a subsidiary of Mcity.

The University of Michigan has successfully partnered with local and regional communities to explore the possibilities of the IoT. Funding and research capabilities are already available. A community collaboration takes it to the next level. However, one of the biggest advantages is for students. They will learn first-hand about smart campus technologies that could soon be deployed in the cities where they will later live and work. The tests also make the campus much safer and more efficient. At the same time, universities carry out research and support cities in solving complicated and real problems.

What types of smart campus technologies can we see trending soon?

smart colorcomes to a city near you. Developed by Ohio State University, the paint is mixed with a rust additive that can be detected with a sensor-equipped wand. It's smart because it can provide real-time location assistance for people with vision problems, and it's better at marking dangerous areas.

smart streetlightsbecome increasingly important, such as the Hello Lamp Post. This type of street lamp has a code that you can send by SMS to get useful information about the area, such as: B. the next fish restaurant or the next ice cream parlor. Smart streetlights are already installed in Tokyo, Austin, and PSU.

Smart facility managementit's also trendy because you can use WLAN to determine how many people are in a room. This data is then sent to the HVAC system to automatically adjust cooling, heating, and lighting to ensure both comfort and energy savings.

Colleges and universities are beginning to recognize the importance of smart technologies in their desire to better serve and educate their students and communities while optimizing their resources. With smart campus technologies, the potential is limitless.

The digital transformation of the campus is gaining momentum across the country and will continue. Your campus may be left behind if you don't join the smart technology revolution.

*Turn your university into a smart campus. Download our white paper “iBPMS in higher education” or sign up for one7 days free trial