ABSTRACT
Smart offices can help employers attract and retain the best people, as they can positively impact well-being and productivity thanks to the efficient operation and maintenance of the indoor environment. However, due to the distinct environmental preferences of individuals, only a small proportion of people are satisfied with the environment of their current workplaces. This chapter introduces new research in smart building management during operation and maintenance phases to mitigate this gap. Specifically, limitations in existing approaches to indoor environment management are discussed, such as lacking a human-centric approach. This chapter summarizes recent research that integrates human-centric data with environmental conditions in a holistic way to enhance the cognitive human-building interaction and improve the efficiency of building management. Personal prediction models for human comfort and work engagement are incorporated. Based on the prediction results, people with distinct characteristics are assigned to different indoor spaces. Meanwhile, the room conditions such as temperature, humidity, and lighting levels are adjusted autonomously to achieve optimal comfort while reducing energy demand. As a result, the individual experience in the building can be significantly improved while a non-negligible amount of energy can be saved.
