Comparison of Workers' Stay and Movement in Territorial and Non-territorial Workplaces: An Analysis Using a UWB Sensor Network

Abstract

This study clarifies how workers stay in a place and move differently in territorial and non-territorial workplaces by using the UWB (Ultra Wide Band-impulse radio) sensor network. The results are as follows. All the investigated workers spent approximately 80% of their time for staying in the working territory in each workplace. Workers in the non-territorial workplace stayed in the "own-seat nearby zone" 8.4% more than those in the territorial workplace; they stayed 11.6% less in the "meeting corner zone", but 1.4% more in the "workstation zone". The working territory space in the non-territorial workplace was used more efficiently than in the territorial workplace, as indicated by its 8.5% higher proprietary occupancy rate and 2.8% higher flexible occupancy rate at workstations, as well as its 6.9% higher occupancy rate in meeting corners. The different work characteristics in terms of worker's post or specialty were also revealed: architects spent approximately 4.5% more time in the "own-seat nearby zone" than engineers, while engineers visited the architects' specialty areas more often; compared with regular staff, the rate at which project leaders stayed out of their workplace was the highest, at over 17%; while the temporary staff stay in the "own-seat nearby zone" the longest.