WRITTEN BY NEHA SOOD
Neha Sood comes from India and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Automation and Electrical Engineering at Aalto University. She moved to Finland in 2021 to pursue her master’s and has since been actively involved in various activities. In her free time, she enjoys playing badminton and tennis and lately she has also been captivated by the swirls of salsa dancing.
Why Helvar?
My journey to Helvar began during one of my courses at Aalto University called “Intelligent Buildings D.” This course provided an opportunity to visit Helvar’s office in Keilaniemi, Espoo, where I gained valuable insights into the technologies and techniques of lighting control, including occupancy tracking. The challenge of balancing user experience with energy efficiency in smart building solutions intrigued me, and I was eager to explore this exciting field further. It was this fascination that ultimately led me to join Helvar.
Currently, I am working on my master’s thesis at Helvar, specializing in the field of Embedded Intelligence, focusing on determining the occupancy levels of an indoor space using environment data. My experience at Helvar has been incredibly positive. I have found everyone here to be very supportive, and I appreciate the level of freedom I have been given to plan and execute my research ideas.
I feel my role at Helvar, as a Master’s thesis worker in the field of Embedded Intelligence, is crucial in contributing to the development of innovative solutions for smart building technologies. Specifically, my work focuses on determining occupancy levels in indoor spaces using environmental data. This research provides valuable insights into how indoor spaces are utilized, which is essential for optimizing energy management and building automation. My position allows me to contribute to the company’s ongoing efforts to lead in innovation and sustainability.
The importance of Smart buildings
My journey into the technology field began during my bachelor’s studies when I developed a keen interest in Embedded Systems. This initial fascination ignited my passion for technology. As I progressed into my master’s program, I delved into machine learning, automation, and Smart Buildings. I am thrilled to see how my interests in these diverse fields have beautifully converged into my thesis work at Helvar. In shaping my career, I aspire to bridge these fields further, creating innovative and sustainable solutions that enhance our lives and promote environmental responsibility. I wish to further work in the field of Embedded Intelligence and Smart Buildings.
Smart buildings are not only a fascinating technological advancement but also a crucial solution to address several pressing issues. With a significant portion of our lives spent indoors, the impact of smart buildings on our well-being cannot be overstated. Moreover, considering that buildings are responsible for a staggering 36% of greenhouse gas emissions and account for 40% of energy consumption in Europe, they play a pivotal role in our journey towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, as outlined in the European Green Deal. What kindles my interest about smart buildings is their ability to harness various types of environmental data to serve diverse purposes. Whether it’s optimizing energy management, enhancing building automation, detecting and responding to human activity, or creating a healthy and comfortable indoor environment, smart buildings offer a multifaceted approach to meet these goals. By leveraging data-driven technologies, we can not only reduce our carbon footprint but also nurture our well-being, ensuring that our indoor spaces maximize comfort and productivity. The potential to create spaces that are not just intelligent but also environmentally responsible is what makes smart buildings an incredibly exciting field to explore and work in. My master’s thesis focusing on estimating the occupancy of an indoor space using environment data is a small step towards smarter buildings.
Being motivated
The process of conducting research can be demanding, often involving long periods of uncertainty and experimentation. However, what keeps me motivated is the excitement of witnessing the moment when a hypothesis or an idea finally comes to fruition after days of dedicated effort.
My current role at Helvar, focusing on determining occupancy levels in indoor spaces using environmental data, directly contributes to the company’s broader goals of sustainability. By providing insights into how indoor spaces are utilized, my research enables Helvar to develop more sophisticated and data-driven smart building solutions. As technology continues to advance and the demand for smart building solutions grows, Helvar is well-positioned to be at the forefront of innovation in this field. The company’s commitment to research and development, along with its dedication to creating sustainable and intelligent building solutions, suggests a bright future filled with exciting opportunities for growth and impact.
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