Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Transitioning to the autonomous campus

With Siemens as a core technology partner, the Smart Building Living Lab at Mainz University of Applied Sciences is developing an independent, digitally connected campus ecosystem that brings building operations, research, and teaching together on a shared data foundation.

An open data ecosystem for smarter campus operations

Mainz University of Applied Sciences, a German higher education institution, traces its roots to an 18th-century academy. Today, it operates five urban campuses serving about 5.500 students. Strong industry partnerships bridge theory and practice in fields such as autonomous building operation.

The Smart Building Living Lab, part of the university’s “Gebäudebetrieb 4.0” research initiative, is based on an open architecture that

relies on Building X and Desigo CC as core system components
integrates third-party building systems, and IoT sensors
uses open APIs to extract and recontextualize operational data in a university-owned operator data model
makes live building data available for campus management, research, and teaching
supports real-time monitoring, analysis, optimization, and AI-assisted applications
Creates a scalable foundation for interoperable, data-driven, and increasingly autonomous campus operations

The project demonstrates how an open integration architecture can connect diverse systems while giving the institution control over its data and avoiding vendor lock-in.

Smart Building Living Lab at Mainz University transforms the campus into a living lab for smart, energy-efficient buildings.

Data architecture built to evolve

A vendor-independent architecture combines Building X, Desigo CC, third-party systems, and IoT data, giving Mainz University of Applied Sciences control over its data and avoiding vendor lock-in.

One campus, many data sources

Building, occupancy, energy, environmental, and air quality data are integrated in a shared data ecosystem, breaking data silos and creating a consistent basis for campus operations, research, and teaching.

From live data to better operations

Real-time data enables energy and space optimization, demand-driven services, and AI-assisted applications, helping use resources on campus more efficiently and respond to changing needs.

A campus that understands itself

As a key technology and integration partner for the Smart Building Living Lab, Siemens provides core components for cross-system access to operational data, creating a shared data foundation for building operations, research, and teaching.

A person at a desk in front of a curved ultrawide monitor displaying a dashboard for building monitoring on the Mainz campus.

From operational data to insight

Desigo CC captures structured data from building systems, including equipment and energy data, Building X provides operational data through open APIs, LoRaWAN and IoT multisensors add occupancy, environmental, and air quality data. The data streams are brought together in the university's own operator data model and made available for a growing range of use cases, such as space utilization analysis and optimization, real-time energy monitoring and efficiency optimization, sustainability management, and indoor air quality improvement.

The open architecture also allows data from additional systems and manufacturers to be integrated as the Smart Building Living Lab expands. This creates a dynamic environment for testing new applications with real campus data, from demand-driven building operation to AI-assisted analysis.

The building is the smallest unit of an energy system, and a critical one at that. But sector coupling and smart city approaches only work if building data is interoperable, machine-readable, and available across systems through open interfaces, such as those provided by the Siemens Building X API.

Fabian Naethbohm, M. Eng., Head of the Smart Building Living Lab, Mainz University of Applied Sciences

Solutions for data-driven campus operations

Combining building management, cloud-based campus services, IoT connectivity, and intelligent applications, Siemens’ solution portfolio creates an open foundation for managing energy, space, sustainability, environmental conditions, and building operation on campus.

Building X

Manage the operations of your buildings from one platform. Make data‑driven decisions to improve sustainability, operations and performance by optimizing energy use, tenant comfort, safety, maintenance, security and more.

Desigo CC

Discover the full potential of your smart building infrastructure. Desigo CC is the integrated building management platform for managing high-performing buildings.

Building X Space Manager

With Building X Space Manager, get a trusted view of how space is used and how it performs, so your facility teams can spot underused or constrained areas earlier, improve day-to-day operations, and act with greater confidence.

Building X Operations Manager

Remotely operate and monitor a wide range of building assets, in real time. Access on-premise web applications in building management and automation control systems. React faster to disruptions and minimize downtime.

Building X Sustainability Manager

Understand your building's performance and track it against your sustainability and compliance targets. Get insights into energy costs, consumption and more.

Building X Energy Manager

Optimize energy consumption and monitor sustainability KPIs. Track costs and carbon emission footprints with real-time views of scope 1, 2 and 3. Detect anomalies and inefficiencies and use historical data to forecast energy use.

Explore further higher education topics

Whitepaper

Mainz University of Applied Sciences

With Siemens as its technology partner, the Smart Building Living Lab at Mainz University of Applied Sciences developed an open data architecture for autonomous, vendor-independent building operations.

The image shows a person standing in front of a computer screen with a graph displayed.

Solution field

Efficient and predictable campus operations

Streamline higher-education operations with data-driven automation and integrated systems to improve reliability, reduce costs, and adapt to evolving requirements.

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Smart campus with a top-tier energy management program

Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, TX, is leveraging a top-tier energy management program and smart technology to achieve substantial energy and operational savings while creating a more efficient, connected campus.

Let’s turn your campus data into insight!

The Smart Building Living Lab at Mainz University of Applied Sciences shows how a digitally connected campus can turn operational data into actionable insights and new opportunities for research and learning. Connect with our experts to explore how an integrated approach can help your institution make better use of its data and take the next step toward a smarter campus.