Is the smart campus at WUT getting closer?

Conceptual research into possible solutions, designing the smart device, and analyzing implementation possibilities are some of the tasks the research team has time until mid-November 2024 to complete. At that point, the first stage of the project will end. If the project qualifies for the second stage, the researchers will work on the full concept and either complete or partial implementation and testing of the device functionalities by the end of 2025.

One such smart device, though not the only one, is the smart lantern. It will measure various environmental parameters (such as temperature, pressure, humidity, brightness, and nearby people) and respond accordingly, for example, by adjusting the lighting based on external conditions and the presence of people. The network of interconnected devices will enable the creation of maps showing the presence of individuals and their movement paths, allowing the campus to be adapted to the real needs of its users.

“Many factors influence the implementation, including obtaining permission from the heritage conservation officer,” says Piotr Pałka, PhD,  from the Faculty of Electronics and Information Technology at WUT. “We are currently considering adding a module to the existing lanterns that will house all the electronics, designed to blend with the campus’s aesthetic. 3D printing provides us with this possibility.”

The team is also considering either installing the electronics inside the lantern's housing or designing entirely new devices.

The researchers also plan to make the collected data—such as temperature and pressure measurements, and recordings of passing individuals—available in the form of an open data repository. This will allow the data to be used for educational purposes and for designing new services for campus users.

One element of the project is conducting social research.

“We want to understand how campus users perceive these types of devices, and whether they agree to the collection of data that will later contribute to improving campus use, such as addressing light pollution,” explains Pałka, PhD.

The project is being carried out by an interdisciplinary team, ensuring a comprehensive approach to the developed concept. The following faculties are involved: Electronics and Information Technology; Geodesy and Cartography; Architecture; and Civil Engineering, Mechanics, and Petrochemistry.

The project is being carried out under the "Excellence Initiative – Research University" (IDUB) program at the Warsaw University of Technology (STRATEG PW II competition).