Case study · Privacy-first sensing

Room occupancy,
without a camera

iThermal tells facility teams which rooms are really in use, using thermal sensing instead of cameras. Privacy and GDPR compliance were designed in from the first schematic.

ClientInnovative & Smart Technologies AS

CountryNorway

UseRoom occupancy for workspaces

SensingThermal, behind an IR window

ConnectivityWi‑Fi, BLE, Thread, Wirepas

PrivacyGDPR-compliant by design

IR window

Vents

USB-C

Interactive model · Production designDrag to rotate

Cameras0Thermal sensing only

Footprint92mm29 mm tall on its ceiling bracket

ComplianceGDPRDesigned in, not added on

[01] The challenge/ Why iThermal

Booked rooms,
empty chairs

Workplaces wanted to know which meeting rooms were actually used — to free up booked-but-empty rooms and plan space on evidence.

But cameras, and anything that can identify a person, are a non-starter in offices under GDPR. The sensor had to answer “is someone here?” and nothing more.

[02] Approach/ Concept to scale

How we built it,
phase by phase

Privacy was treated as an engineering requirement, so every decision — sensor, firmware, data and enclosure — was made against it.

HardwareFirmwarePrivacy by designEnclosure & mechanical

01Concept

Privacy as a requirement

Only anonymous presence data is designed to leave the device — no images, no identities. Every later decision was checked against that rule.

02Prototype

Sensing people, not faces

A thermal sensor looks into the room through a translucent IR window, detecting presence without capturing anything that identifies who is there.

03Production

Made for meeting-room ceilings

A white, vented ABS enclosure on a steel ceiling bracket, powered over USB-C. A dedicated bracket holds the sensor directly under the window.

04Scale

Occupancy data for facilities

Anonymous occupancy data travels over Wi‑Fi to facility systems, so teams see how rooms are really used.

[03] Design/ Production renders

iThermal, assembled: a white hexagonal enclosure with side vents and a translucent window on top — **Assembled**White ABS enclosure, vented on every side, with a translucent IR window over the thermal sensor.

Exploded view of iThermal: cover, thermal sensor, sensor bracket, main board, base and ceiling bracket — **Six parts**Cover, thermal sensor, sensor bracket, main board, base and steel ceiling bracket.

iThermal with the cover removed, showing the sensor on its bracket above the main board — **Inside**The bracket sets the sensor directly under the window; the main board and USB-C sit beneath it.

iThermal installed on a ceiling ventilation unit in an office — **In the field**iThermal installed on a ceiling ventilation unit, powered over USB-C.

[04] Specifications/ iThermal

Spec sheet

The production design, as shown in the model above.

Dimensions	92 × 83 × 29 mm, including the ceiling bracket
Sensing	20 × 15 thermal sensor, under a 24 mm aperture
Window	Translucent white IR film, 31 mm, seated in a recess under the cover
Radio	ESP32 for Wi‑Fi, plus nRF52840 for BLE, Thread and Wirepas
Power	USB-C
Enclosure	White ABS cover and base, vented on every side
Mounting	Steel ceiling bracket; keyhole slots in the base
Privacy	No camera; only anonymous presence data leaves the device

[05] Same client/ More work

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Room occupancy,without a camera

Booked rooms,empty chairs

How we built it,phase by phase