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Workplace space utilization data reveals patterns of space usage, the occupants’ presence and mobility within the office building. Nowadays, emerging technology such as smart sensors and devices can revolutionize the measurement of space utilization data, which is originally dominated by human observers with paper and pencil. However, these novel instruments are often used in an old fashion, which restricts the exploitation of their full potential. This study aims to shed new light on the benefits and limits of using smart technology in measuring space utilization data and discusses the challenges and opportunities in analyzing the data measured by smart sensors.

First, the literature regarding common methods and previous studies about office space utilization measurement was reviewed. Then, a data set consisting of space utilization data collected through Passive Infra-Red sensors for 35 meeting rooms in a bank building was carefully evaluated. Finally, the space utilization results based on methods calculated in two different granularities were compared.

The number of occupied hours calculated at an hour level was 1.32-hour larger than that calculated at a minute level. As both results show the concept of space utilization, which was the amount of time that the space was occupied, this paper revealed a gap between the two space utilization calculation methods and further discussed the issues and challenges for future space utilization data analysis and benchmarking.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study critically addressing office space utilization issues by comparing calculation methods in different granularity.

The purpose of this paper is to establish novel business metrics of laboratory space utilization for a large, multi‐client R&D organization and to describe their use in space planning to meet strategic objectives. The paper aims to show that traditional methods for measuring and managing laboratory space utilization are impractical in a dynamic environment where there are frequent and significant changes in the use of the space.

The integration of disparate databases – financial, facilities management, and project R&D – enables financial performance data to be explicitly resolved to individual laboratory resources. In turn, this allows determination of the efficiency with which laboratory space is being utilized in meeting the organization's financial and strategic objectives.

Unique and actionable insights were generated in applying the methodology. It provided bases for the identification of both over‐ and under‐utilized laboratory spaces, as well as the means of assessing the efficacy with which space assets are being used in achieving the organization's strategic missions.

This departure from more conventional concepts of occupancy‐based metrics of space utilization treats R&D laboratory space explicitly as a business resource.

The emerging business‐based metrics of lab space utilization are proving to be increasingly valuable tools in both short‐term and strategic space planning.

Across the world, many universities are dealing with a pressure on resources, caused by both organisational developments and ageing campuses. Space utilization studies have a strategic role, providing information on how space is being used, thereby informing decisions about the type and scale of facilities that are needed.

This study reports on the space use measurements conducted at TU Delft over the past five years, complemented by their use to make decisions about the university's real estate portfolio.

The education spaces of the university are found to perform well in terms of frequency rates and can be improved in terms of occupancy rates. The information helped to support short- and long-term decision-making. The study places of the university have a satisfactory occupancy in some types of study places, while in others there is room for improvement. More research is needed here to understand the relationship between space norms and space use.

The space utilization studies have supported discussions with the student council and decision makers on which interventions are required and which current facilities meet students' needs best.

Not much space utilisation studies are reported in the academic literature, and those that do have several limitations. This study may serve as a best practice for benchmarking by other universities and as evidence in other research for the planned and actual use of university facilities.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a building information modelling (BIM)-based multi-objective optimization (MOO) framework for volumetric analysis of buildings during early design stages. The objective is to optimize volumetric spaces (3D) instead of 2D spaces to enhance space utilization, thermal comfort, constructability and rental value of buildings

The integration of two fundamental concepts – BIM and MOO, forms the basis of proposed framework. In the early design phases of a project, BIM is used to generate precise building volume data. The non-sorting genetic algorithm-II, a MOO algorithm, is then used to optimize extracted volume data from 3D BIM models, considering four objectives: space utilization, thermal comfort, rental value and construction cost. The framework is implemented in context of a school of architecture building project.

The findings of case study demonstrate significant improvements resulting from MOO of building volumes. Space utilization increased by 30%, while thermal comfort improved by 20%, and construction costs were reduced by 10%. Furthermore, rental value of the case study building increased by 33%.

The proposed framework offers practical implications by enabling project teams to generate optimal building floor layouts during early design stages, thereby avoiding late costly changes during construction phase of project.

The integration of BIM and MOO in this study provides a unique approach to optimize building volumes considering multiple factors during early design stages of a project

This paper outlines how Design for Lean Six Sigma methods aided a medical device manufacturing company in developing a new strategic space management and approval process for its manufacturing site.

The project demonstrates the application of the Design for Lean Six Sigma and structured Define, Measure, Analyse, Design, and Verify methodology in designing and implementing a process that enables the case study manufacturing site to improve its space utilisation and free up space.

The project was validated in one manufacturing department, and the Design for Lean Six Sigma methodology resulted in creating 15% new space for that area, with opportunities identified to free up 44.7% of the total manufacturing floor space and realise over €2.2 million cost savings as well as start to manufacture new products launched.

The manuscript highlights for the first time how the Design for Lean Six Sigma methodology can be utilised for space utilisation and can be leveraged by other manufacturers. The current study's limitations are that it is a single-site case study application. Future longitudinal case studies on Design for Lean Six Sigma application in more manufacturing space utilisation projects would be useful. This study has implications for identifying best practices for Design for Lean Six Sigma methodology application in the device industry, thus improving the state of the art for introducing new manufacturing lines.

This is the first published work to utilise Design for Lean Six Sigma methodology for space utilisation in a medical device company. This review will provide medical devices and other manufacturing organisations with recommendations on utilising Design for Lean Six Sigma and design for improved space utilisation to reduce costs.

Replacing space is a challenge in maintaining public open space after land consolidation. Mojosongo subdistrict, Indonesia, also experienced replacing space due to social, economic and physical changes after more 20 years of consolidation. This study aims to analyze the replacing space of public open spaces after land consolidation in the Mojosongo Berseri I Housing.

This research uses a qualitative method through a case study approach. Secondary data from document reviews land consolidation. Primary data were collected through observation and in-depth interviews using snowball sampling techniques with 35 informants. The analysis techniques used are qualitative descriptive, spatial analysis and pattern matching analysis through comparing empirical case studies with relevant literature.

Public open spaces have changed function and form. The “replacing space” carried out by the community involves converting public open spaces into built-up areas used for residential purposes and commercial activities. Driving factors for “replacing space” include increase in family members, economic pressures, inflexible building concepts, lack of meaning of space, no supervision/sanctions and not optimal space.

The meaning of replacing space does not only change “space” to “place,” but can also cause changes in the form and function of a place carried out by communities. Thus, space allocation is needed according to community needs, preferences and activities to create a sense of place that is supported by regulations and supervision.

The purpose of this paper is to understand and explain how firms use simulation-based decision support systems (DSSs) to optimize container space utilization.

Using a case study of a logistics company, this research analyzed the application of optimization software through simulation to make efficient loading decisions. The current study attempted to find a method for optimizing and making a loading plan to achieve higher container space utilization using a simulation method.

A simulation-based DSS and application of an optimization method contributes to the reduction of container shipment volume, and saves logistic costs and its delivery time. This research offers a method for optimizing a loading decision to optimize container space utilization.

The present study is based on a single case study of only one specific type of product, i.e., motorcycle spares parts within a specific industry.

Apart from adding value to the shipment process and improving the efficiency of loading plans, with the use of optimization software, the collaboration between buyers and suppliers can be encouraged to reduce response time and bringing transparency in the pricing process of the shipment.

This research addresses a key concern in the transportation industry: how to reduce the logistics costs and the delivery time. This study demonstrates how a simulation-based tool can be used to reduce freight cost, cycle time, instill waste minimization and improve overall value addition.

The office is considered as a strategic resource that can support knowledge‐based organisations to gain competitive advantage and operational efficiency. Although the modern scholar emphasises the role of user involvement in workplace design and management, there is little evidence showing how it can be linked to occupancy cost performance. The purpose of this paper is to investigate benefits of a user‐centric workplace practice by focusing on working time and space utilisation practice of office users.

A scenario‐based approach was designed to analyse office occupancy cost performance. A questionnaire survey was conducted from a number of UK‐based offices to create three workspace utilisation scenarios, namely, existing, property‐centric and user‐centric. Key comparison criteria include potential areas of savings, potential total cost savings and cost saving per person.

It was found that a user‐centric approach reflects an opportunity to save annual occupancy costs in terms of total costs and cost per person where users indicated how they utilised working time and space. In return, the organisations can gain more productivity from office users who are likely to perform better when they can work in the preferred workplace practice.

By adopting this approach, organisations can understand the occupancy characteristics of the offices from multi perspectives, leading to better management in office premises.

This paper is concerned with the analysis of how to achieve higher office efficiency by focusing on office user's working time and space utilisation practice.

The aim of this research is to evaluate the current operational status of fresh produce distribution centres in the UK and identify the nature and magnitude of the main logistical problems within them.

A critical evaluation of space and time utilization efficiency has been achieved by studying on‐site operations in a multiple produce handling and short‐term storage facility in Kent, UK. The objective of this research was to measure operational performance of distribution centres for agricultural perishables in terms of through‐put and space utilization.

The inefficient utilization of storage space within cold rooms has been identified and quantified accurately, whilst the quality control task has been recognized as the most time‐consuming task and a critical cause for hindering product flow.

Despite their importance, distribution centres for fresh fruit and vegetables have received little attention in the distribution and performance management literature. Given the lack of robust performance measurement systems reported, the measurement of operational performance in distribution centres for agricultural products was a challenge.

The measurement and improvement of the operational performance in each linkage of the fresh produce supply chain – such as a distribution centre – can lead in achieving higher levels of service at substantially reduced costs. A small number of publications are found in the literature providing information on physical distribution of agricultural perishables, and how the key features of perishability and voluminosity of the produce affect the distribution efficiency. In this research, a step towards the improvement of the fresh produce distribution industry operational performance has been attempted, by evaluating the current operational status of a leading multiple produce distribution centre in the UK.

The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the merits of occupancy planning as a means for improving strategic decisions regarding real estate portfolios and strengthening the credibility of corporate real estate (CRE) professionals.

The authors' extensive experience is combined with survey results and case examples of how two global companies are benefiting from occupancy planning.

Occupancy planning programs lead to better data and forecasting, which in turn create a more accurate portfolio‐wide view and improved space utilization.

This article demonstrates the link between effective occupancy planning and sound CRE decisions.