Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Dashboard Framework and Index for Higher Educational Institutions

Abstract

This research proposes a 10-step methodology for developing an enhanced IAQ dashboard and classroom index (CI) in higher educational facilities located in arid environments. The identified parameters of the enhanced IAQ dashboard–inspired by the pandemic experience, result from the literature review and the outcome of two electronic surveys of (52) respondents, including health professionals and facility management experts. On the other hand, the indicators included in the CI are based on (80) occupant survey responses, including parameters related to IAQ, Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), and thermal comfort, amongst other classroom operative considerations. The CI is further tested in four learning spaces at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. The main contribution of this research is to suggest a conceptual visualization of the dashboard and a practical classroom index that integrates a representative number of contextual indicators to recommend optimal IAQ scenarios for a given educational facility. This study concludes by highlighting several key findings: (1) both qualitative and quantitative metrics are necessary to capture indoor air quality-related parameters accurately; (2) tailoring the dashboard as well as the CI to specific contexts enhances its applicability across diverse locations; and finally, (3) the IAQ dashboard and CI offer flexibility for ad-hoc applications.