What is an occupancy sensor and how does it work?
An occupancy sensor detects when people are present in a space and measures how that space is used over time. It works by using technologies like infrared, ultrasonic or radar sensing to count people entering, exiting or occupying an area—without capturing personal data.
At Density, our occupancy sensors use anonymous depth or radar data, not cameras, to provide real-time, highly accurate headcounts in offices, universities, airport lounges and other shared spaces. The data is used to analyze patterns of usage, identify underused areas and support decisions about office layout, cleaning schedules, energy efficiency and real estate planning.
Why are occupancy sensors important?
- Improve space utilization: See which areas are overused or underused.
- Enhance employee experience: Avoid crowding and provide better amenities.
- Reduce real estate costs: Identify opportunities to downsize or reconfigure.
- Support return-to-office strategies: Make data-driven decisions about hybrid work.
How Density’s occupancy sensors are different
- Privacy-first: No cameras or personally identifiable data.
- Accurate and scalable: Used by Fortune 100 companies in global workplaces.
- Real-time insights: Understand how every square foot is used, hour by hour.
- API-ready: Integrates with workplace apps and dashboards.
Summary
Occupancy sensors track how many people use a space, when and how often. They help companies optimize their workplaces for cost, comfort and performance—especially in today’s flexible work environment.
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How do I improve the employee experience with workplace analytics?
You can improve the employee experience by using workplace analytics and occupancy sensors to design better spaces, support hybrid work, and make data-driven decisions that align with how people actually use your office.
Workplace analytics helps you understand how your environment supports (or hinders) focus, collaboration, well-being, and productivity—all of which directly impact engagement and retention.
What are the advantages of occupancy sensors?
Occupancy sensors provide real-time, accurate insights into how spaces are used—helping companies reduce costs, improve office design, and make better business decisions.
They eliminate guesswork from space planning and empower workplace, facilities, and real estate teams to optimize every square foot.
What are effective workplace strategies for the return to office?
The most effective return-to-office (RTO) strategies combine clear policy, human-centered flexibility, data-driven decisions, and office designs that employees actually want to use.
RTO success isn’t just about mandating a presence—it’s about building a workplace that drives collaboration, morale, and performance.
How do I know if my office space is being wasted?
You can tell if your office space is being wasted by measuring how often each space is used—and occupancy sensors provide the real-time data you need to find out.
If desks, meeting rooms, or entire floors are consistently empty or underutilized, that’s space (and money) going to waste. Tools like Density’s Waffle and Atlas help companies assess usage accurately so they can cut costs and improve the workplace experience.