Modern buildings are no longer static structures. Thanks to building automation technology they are now living environments that can sense, think and optimise their performance in real time. But what is the sensor technology that is enabling this smart building revolution?
Rapid advances in material science, design and manufacturing technologies are making sensors smaller, smarter, more robust, and energy-efficient than ever before.
Here are six sensor technologies that are transforming the quality of real-time data flowing into today’s BAS (Building Automation Systems):
The days of basic PIR motion detectors driving simple occupancy tracking and small scale energy efficiencies are long gone.
Modern occupancy sensors are now powered by advanced technologies, including thermal imaging, radar, LiDAR, and optical sensing. These sensors are connecting with powerful building automation software, to deliver data about movement and occupancy, while never compromising occupant privacy.
Today’s occupancy sensors are not only compact and rugged enough for long-term deployment in diverse environments, but also viable for mass production at scale.
Haltian's Thingsee PRESENCE, for example, is a compact, wireless occupancy sensor designed for modern smart workplaces. Weighing just 37 grams and powered by user-replaceable batteries, it delivers up to five years of maintenance-free operation.
The device uses Time-of-Flight (ToF) technology to detect both active and passive occupancy without the need for cameras, preserving user privacy.
Its small form factor allows discreet installation under desks, in meeting rooms, booths, and washrooms. With seamless integration into digital twin and building automation platforms, Thingsee PRESENCE enables real-time space utilisation insights - helping organisations optimise energy use, cleaning schedules, and space planning.
As demand grows for richer spatial data and more intelligent sensing, OEMs are still pushing the boundaries of what occupancy sensors can deliver. This often requires expert support to integrate new sensor functionality, while ensuring manufacturability, and accelerating time to market.
To discover how deep D&D partnerships are facilitating new breakthroughs, read how ESCATEC's microelectronic's expertise helped Blickfeld bring the world’s first 3D smart LiDAR sensor to market faster.
Indoor air quality sensing has advanced rapidly beyond basic CO₂ detectors. Modern IAQ sensors use laser-based particulate measurement, electrochemical gas detection, and VOC-specific sensor arrays to build a detailed, real-time picture of indoor air. These technologies can monitor PM1–PM10, CO₂, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, VOCs, humidity and temperature with far greater precision than earlier generations.
Laser-scattering particulate sensors detect microscopic particles by measuring light diffraction, enabling highly sensitive PM readings. Electrochemical sensors measure gases through chemical reactions at the sensing surface, allowing accurate detection of targeted pollutants. Devices such as the Kaiterra Sensedge Go combine these methods into compact, modular units that track a wide range of IAQ parameters with strong accuracy and minimal maintenance.
With broader detection ranges and continuous monitoring, these sensors allow building automation systems to adjust ventilation and filtration dynamically - improving comfort, reducing energy use, and supporting modern health and wellbeing standards.
Water leak detection demand sophisticated systems that combine flow monitoring, pressure sensing and distributed point detection. Whole-building solutions such as WINT Water Intelligence now use flow and pressure signatures to identify abnormal consumption patterns, from sudden bursts to slow, hidden leaks. Point detection devices like the Milesight WS303 or similar cable-based leak sensors offer fast, localised response under sinks, HVAC equipment or raised floors.
These technologies can detect issues early, often before damage occurs. When connected to a building control system they support automated isolation of water lines, targeted alerts and data driven maintenance decisions. This combination of whole-building flow analytics and localised sensing gives facilities teams a clearer view of water usage and risk across their sites.
Modern parking systems make use of optical, radar and magnetometer-based sensing to understand how vehicles move through car parks and wider campus environments.
Overhead camera systems, such as TKH’s M5 Smart-Sensor units, use computer vision to detect bay occupancy and vehicle direction in real time.
In other settings, technology like the Bosch Parking Lot Sensor (PLS) combine magnetometer readings with short-range radar to determine whether a vehicle is present in a space. The magnetometer detects subtle changes in the earth’s magnetic field caused by a car, while the radar verifies above-ground movement and object presence, giving reliable occupancy data even in low light, heavy rain or snow.
Puzzle parking systems, such as those produced by Kleemannlifts, move platforms horizontally and vertically within a compact mechanical frame.
These installations use combinations of ultrasonic distance sensors, photo-electric detectors, load sensors, limit switches, laser alignment sensors and position encoders to monitor platform position, confirm vehicle placement and control mechanical travel.
This sensing network ensures each movement is accurate, controlled and free from collisions between platforms and vehicles.
In regions where seismic activity threatens building and occupancy safety, sophisticated networks of structural sensors provide vital data to engineering and facility management teams.
Structural health monitoring relies on compact accelerometers, strain sensors, tilt sensors and vibration monitors that continually measure how a building behaves under normal and extreme conditions. Wireless systems such as the Resensys sensors use low-power strain and tilt nodes to track changes in beams, slabs and structural joints over time. Accelerometers used in commercial SHM kits provide real time insight into how structures respond during wind events or seismic activity.
By establishing a baseline profile and identifying deviations early, these systems help building operators evaluate structural performance without relying solely on visual inspection. The result is a more informed understanding of risk, resilience and maintenance priorities for high value or safety critical sites.
Ruggedised environmental sensors are designed for factories and warehouses where extreme conditions make standard commercial sensors unsuitable.
In the world of cold storage, temperature control is crucial. But you need sensors that can actually function and feed reliable data to connected platforms in environments that routinely drop below -80°C. Traditional commercial probes simply can’t cope with the frost, condensation and constant thermal cycling inside ULT freezers, leading to drift, failure or data gaps exactly when accuracy matters most.
The Elemental Machines’ Cold Storage Monitoring System is designed specifically for life-science labs and manufacturing facilities where cold is king. The platform pairs ruggedised, battery-powered sensors with ultra-thin thermocouples engineered to operate reliably in harsh sub-zero environments, including ultra-low temperature freezers that drop below –80°C. Their Element-T sensor delivers high-frequency readings every 15 seconds, capturing subtle fluctuations during door openings, compressor cycles and frost build-up — the kinds of micro-events that standard commercial sensors routinely miss.
All data flows into a cloud dashboard that provides floor-plan visualisation, contextual alerts and an AI-driven Freezer Health Score that helps teams detect deteriorating equipment performance before a failure strikes.
From occupancy detection and air quality monitoring to precision temperature control, smart buildings depend on advanced sensors to feed real-time data from every area of their real estate to HVAC systems, FM software, and building management platforms.
These integrations not only help organisations save money and improve occupancy experience, they are increasingly important in helping companies meet a range of compliance and sustainability goals.
OEMs operating in this space often need help finding manufacturing partners with the right blend of capabilities and expertise to deliver the precision engineering demanded for cutting- edge sensor delivery.
For example, finding global partners with expertise in active optical alignment may be crucial for companies integrating micro-optics or imaging into their sensor devices.
Other companies may need help with specific areas of design and development, like prototyping and DfM to bring their products to launch. Blickfield’s Qb2 device - the world's first smart 3D LiDAR sensor with integrated software and WiFi - demanded high-precision micro-assembly expertise and PCB design innovation to industrrialise the offering.
As discussed above, ESCATEC’s engineering team worked side-by-side with Blickfeld to transition the device from prototype to scalable production, enabling over 25,000 units to be manufactured and delivered for use in security, automation, and crowd analytics applications.
Building sensors are powering a new era of environmental optimisation, building safety, and occupant comfort. OEMs innovating in this space must choose manufacturing partners who offer not only advanced assembly capabilities - but also the cutting-edge design and development support that can bring them an enduring competitive advantage.