Developing a smart washroom monitoring system with Dexterra

Using connected sensor technology and real-time monitoring to improve washroom maintenance, cleaning efficiency, and facility management.

Parker Christie and Dushyant Puri, SMART Centre

About the project

Dexterra partnered with Conestoga to develop a smart washroom monitoring system for commercial facilities and high-traffic public washrooms. The project focused on designing a scalable platform that uses connected sensor technology to monitor washroom conditions and provide facility management teams with information to support cleaning, maintenance, and supply replenishment.

The challenge

Maintaining washrooms in busy commercial and public facilities requires regular inspections to monitor cleanliness, supply levels, and equipment conditions. Manual inspections can be time-consuming and may not identify issues as they arise. Dexterra sought to explore how real-time monitoring and automated notifications could help facility teams respond more efficiently to maintenance and servicing needs.

Approach

• Designed a system architecture integrating embedded sensors and connected devices for washroom monitoring
• Developed capabilities to monitor waste container levels, dispenser supplies, occupancy, and device status
• Incorporated automated alerts to notify facility teams when cleaning, refilling, or maintenance may be required
• Designed a real-time dashboard to display washroom conditions and sensor information
• Established support for multiple buildings, user access levels, and devices from different manufacturers
• Developed a scalable architecture capable of accommodating additional sensor technologies

Results

• Developed a scalable system architecture for smart washroom monitoring
• Established capabilities for monitoring waste levels, dispenser supplies, occupancy, and connected devices
• Designed dashboard functionality for viewing washroom conditions in real time
• Incorporated automated alerts to support timely cleaning and maintenance decisions
• Established a framework for integrating sensors from different manufacturers
• Created a foundation for future monitoring capabilities without requiring major architectural changes

Why it matters

• Creates opportunities to reduce time spent on routine washroom inspections
• Supports more efficient scheduling of cleaning, maintenance, and supply replenishment
• Helps facility teams identify servicing needs through real-time information
• Provides a scalable approach to managing washrooms across multiple buildings
• Supports future integration of technologies for air quality, leak detection, and predictive maintenance

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We acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).