12:00
Registration and networking with lunch
13:00
Introduction to Radio Technology SIG from John Haine, University of Bristol
13:10
Welcome from event host, Bird & Bird
13:20
Welcome from event sponsor, Lindsay Harris, Rohde & Schwarz
13:30
Wireless friendly energy efficient buildings; Richard Langley, Professor, University of Sheffield
This talk will look at the conflicts for creating wireless and energy efficient buildings. Models for signal propagation within a building will be compared. There will be a focus on reconfiguring buildings for wireless signal propagation and active techniques to achieve this. A case study on a Victorian house will be included.
13:50
Q&A
13:55
Wireless communications and sensing in eHealth; Rob Piechocki, Senior Lecturer, University of Bristol
Public health systems in most developed countries face unprecedented financial pressures. For example, in the UK, ageing populations and spiralling costs of chronic conditions approach 70% the health budget. A completely different approach to the delivery of health services is needed to maintain financial sustainability. An expensive and high precision data capture in a hospital setting will need to be complemented by long term and low cost monitoring. In this talk I will explain the role low cost wireless ultra-low power sensors can pay in residential eHealth systems.
14:15
Q&A
14:20
The impact of new energy efficient materials on wireless propagation into homes; Martin Ganley, Director, Smart Homes and Buildings, BRE
Building entry loss is an increasingly important parameter in link planning but is poorly characterised, partly due to the wide variability of building types. Data relating to domestic buildings is particularly poorly represented. In addition, the increased use of metallic-coated energy-efficient materials is likely to cause increased building losses. This recent study looks at the impact of these new materials and the variability due to different measurement methods.
14:40
Q&A
14:45
Refreshments and networking
15:15
Building-friendly wireless vs. wireless-friendly buildings; Nick Johnson, CTO and Head of PLM, ip.access
Trends in building construction are tending to make them less and less friendly to traditional wireless coverage. The LEED standard, which is more and more the touchstone for modern building construction focuses on eco-friendliness and heat conservation. It’s true to say that, what’s good at keeping heat in, is also good at keeping radio out. Good news for in-building small cells, right? Well it ought to be, but rather than investing in multi-operator licensed radio small cells, end-users are voting with their feet with Wi-Fi as the default in-building wireless solution. Recent forecasts from Mobile Experts are showing promising growth in small cell shipments, but there’s a long way to go before small cells overtake WiFi as the in-building wireless technology of choice.
So, on the face of it, buildings are not particular friendly to small cells, and the only building friendly wireless is WiFi. But is that a sustainable future? Building owners are desperate for cellular coverage, and would take operator managed solutions, but can’t live with single-operator managed solutions. What’s next for in-building small cells, to make them properly building- and building-owner friendly?
15:35
Q&A
15:40
Ensuring building design and materials support health services; Stephen Lowe, Knowledge Transfer Manager, The Knowledge Transfer Network, Modern Built Environment
Wireless is an essential element of many health and personal alarms systems. These have to work at all times and in every part of the building. Is there a conflict between the materials used to maximise building efficiency and the propagation of wireless?
16:00
Q&A
16:05
Panel session with all speakers - chaired by John Haine, University of Bristol
16:35
Drinks reception
17:15
Event closes
