180 range of scenarios,” said Nick Beresford, head of data and analytics at Heathrow Airport. “Our platform on Azure gives us actionable insights to direct investment and planning decisions. And it affords us the freedom to experiment with new ‘what-if ’ scenarios – and this is key to pushing the boundaries of innovation and sustainability.” Urban environments have a major impact on the way we all live our lives, affecting where we choose to live, work and socialise. Public and private sector adoption of remote and hybrid work has varied widely since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, but with many employees valuing the balance of remote and in-office work environments, it is essential that city and business leaders create workplaces that accommodate these needs. And employee well-being and safety must be at the heart of these decisions. For example, Italy’s National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL) has launched a new virtual badge system using Microsoft Azure IoT Hub smart building technology to safeguard its workspaces, optimise building operational costs and promote sustainability. INAIL employees create invitations for visitors from Outlook accounts for each room. The building’s Access Control system – a solution based on Azure internet of things (IoT) technology – interacts with Azure IoT Hub to allow and monitor visitor access. Restricted areas are secured with electronic locks and an IoT sensor that allow only those with current Outlook invitations to enter the room. The system has enabled INAIL to streamline visitor access while ensuring that employees can easily move around the workplace. But while city leaders explore the accessible and safe expansion of our built environments, it is essential that sustainability remains front of mind. F E ATUR E
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