Information Services

Main Library Floor Occupancy Indicator

A display screen in the forum of the Main Library provides an indicator of the occupancy of study spaces on each Floor of the Main Library. This is based upon student wifi connections, using anonymized and aggregated data derived from wifi access point logs and is updated every five minutes. This is a pilot service running until 27 March.

We are providing a graphical visualisation on a single display screen in the forum of the Main Library as an indicator of how busy the study spaces on each Floor of the Main Library are at any given time, which may be helpful when looking for a study space when visiting the Main Library.  The display screen is in the vicinity of the lifts and adjacent to the café entrance within the forum.

Updated every 5 minutes, you can see an indicator of occupancy based upon connections to the wifi access points in the Main Library

The wifi data is derived from existing information sources – wifi access point logs – determining the number of students currently logged into the wifi spots closest to study spaces at any given time. This data has been anonymised and aggregated using encryption methods and de-identification processes are used to ensure privacy is protected. Any identifiable data held within the system is rendered unidentifiable through the application of a secure crypto-hash and randomly assigned replacement de-identifier mechanism, prior to analysis both for real-time monitoring and scheduled reporting.

We shall be conducting a student led feedback and evaluation during the pilot period in the form of focus groups and informal email feedback – if you are interested in joining in with the evaluation review there will be remunerations for those that attend the focus groups. If you wish to ask a question about the pilot service and the feedback options please email IS.Helpline@ed.ac.uk

We have carried out a detailed privacy impact assessment, which has included reviews by our Data Protection Officer, as well as the Governance & Ethics Action Group on the Internet of Things Programme. We have also carried out a security assessment of the solution.

For further information please contact IS.Helpline@ed.ac.uk

 

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