Daisuke Matsushita

Behavior Concerning Choosing Workstations in Non-territorial Offices

Abstract This paper attempts to clarify how employees choose individual workstations in a non-territorial office, in which they may locate themselves anywhere as they wish. The authors ascertained the preference of employees with regard to the positions of their workstations and the consistency of choosing the same workstations. The results are as follows: for all the investigated employees, there was a tendency to choose workstations that were adjacent to the main corridors and close to the meeting corners. More than 70% of the employees either chose the same workstation every time or nearly every time. In total, 90% of the employees were found to locate in the same or in adjacent areas. Analysis by group showed that while employees in the engineering groups, the renovation design group (Architecture Group 3), and the competition team were inclined to locate in specific areas and use such areas consistently, employees in the other architecture groups were much more open to choosing workstations far away from each other. Further, the analysis showed that leaders were inclined to occupy workstations beside the main corridor in the center of the office while ordinary staff members preferred workstations near the entrance.

Observations on Primary School Children′s Behavior after School by Using the Global Positioning System

Abstract Empirical studies of human behavior have been developed mainly using methods of interview or questionnaire by researchers themselves. These studies have successfully obtained adequate results. To observe the behavior of many subjects at once, for many hours and in a wide area however, an alternative technological method is required. The purpose of the authors′ work is to develop a better objective method based on measurements, observations and experiments to clarify human behavior in urban environments. The purpose of this paper, as a first step, is to show the availability of research methods concerning children′s behavior after school in a suburban city district. The authors asked each primary schooler to wear a compact Global Positioning System receiver after school and to act casually. The collected spatio-temporal data using the Geographical Information System was also analyzed by developing a denoising technique. As a result, the authors clarified the behavior patterns of 35 primary schoolers′ regarding transportation devices, travelling routes, distances, time to arrive home and duration of outdoor activity. In conclusion, the authors showed the validity of a research method concerning the collective subjects′ behavior for a long period and in a wide area based on more reliable data using the Global Positioning System.

Comparison of Workers' Stay and Movement in Territorial and Non-territorial Workplaces: An Analysis Using a UWB Sensor Network

Abstract This study clarifies how workers stay in a place and move differently in territorial and non-territorial workplaces by using the UWB (Ultra Wide Band-impulse radio) sensor network. The results are as follows. All the investigated workers spent approximately 80% of their time for staying in the working territory in each workplace. Workers in the non-territorial workplace stayed in the own-seat nearby zone 8.4% more than those in the territorial workplace; they stayed 11.6% less in the meeting corner zone, but 1.4% more in the workstation zone. The working territory space in the non-territorial workplace was used more efficiently than in the territorial workplace, as indicated by its 8.5% higher proprietary occupancy rate and 2.8% higher flexible occupancy rate at workstations, as well as its 6.9% higher occupancy rate in meeting corners. The different work characteristics in terms of workers post or specialty were also revealed: architects spent approximately 4.5% more time in the own-seat nearby zone than engineers, while engineers visited the architects specialty areas more often; compared with regular staff, the rate at which project leaders stayed out of their workplace was the highest, at over 17%; while the temporary staff stay in the own-seat nearby zone the longest.

Elderly Chinese Couples′ Primary Room Use in Urban Apartments

Abstract This study aimed to clarify room use in the dwelling units of elderly Chinese couples in their daily lives. For this purpose, the authors used Active Radio Frequency Identification technology (Active RFID) to identify the room (Base) in which elderly Chinese couples stay for the longest duration between rising and going to bed. Findings showed that the surveyed couples could be classified into two types: i.) Those who use and share the bedroom as Base, and ii.) Those who use the living room as a shared Base in the evening and tend to use different rooms as Base during the day. Most elderly men stayed in the same Base during the day, while the elderly women used multiple rooms in the morning. The Base obtained by objective observation (Objective Base) and the Base identified by subjects (Subjective Base) were more in accord during the day. This shows that the Base in the mind of the subjects indicated the room where they spent the most time during the day. In summer, they also chose a north-facing or windowless room as Base. Additional interviews revealed that this choice was made because such rooms were cooler.