Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Space Optimization Study Using AWS QuickSight

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, a leading healthcare provider in Toronto, was seeking to address challenges in medical space utilization. With a diverse array of clinical services and bookable exam rooms, Sunnybrook faced challenges understanding a perceived shortage of space. Yet, intermittent observations suggested that many exam rooms were frequently empty.

M6 – Multipurpose Clinical Space | Yuval & Lori Barzakay Brain Health Clinic Study

To gain a clearer understanding of space utilization and identify potential inefficiencies, Sunnybrook partnered with HH Angus, leveraging our expertise in digital solutions and innovative engineering. The goal was to implement a robust monitoring system to capture accurate data on room usage, enabling informed decisions on resource allocation.

This project reflects Sunnybrook’s commitment to operational efficiency, ensuring that resources are optimally allocated to improve patient care and support staff needs.

SERVICES
Prime Consultant

PROJECT FEATURES
Digital monitoring system to inform clinical resource allocation | Enhanced operational efficiency | Patient privacy | Scalable design | Predictive analytics

LOCATION
Toronto, Ontario

KEY SCOPE ELEMENTS
Space utilization measurement and analysis | Data acquisition through sensor deployment | Security and connectivity | Data aggregation and storage | Visualization and insights

Solving Space Utilization Challenges

Sunnybrook’s medical staff expressed concerns about limited space availability, particularly for bookable exam rooms. However, casual observations indicated that some rooms appeared to remain empty. Sunnybrook needed a reliable solution to measure actual room usage accurately while addressing two significant concerns:

Privacy: Ensuring patient privacy was paramount, particularly in sensitive clinical settings.

Accurate Detection: Existing solutions struggled to detect minimal motion, such as during procedures like blood transfusions, where patients may remain largely still.

HH Angus was engaged to design and implement a solution capable of addressing these challenges while delivering actionable insights.

Solution | Smart Sensors and AWS Integration

Our Digital Services team developed an innovative solution leveraging cutting-edge sensors and AWS services:

Sensor Deployment:

- mmWave Sensors: Initial deployment involved mmWave sensors capable of detecting micro-motions, such as breathing, to confirm room occupancy. These sensors were equipped with cellular SIM cards to operate independently of Sunnybrook’s network.
- 3D Stereoptic Sensors: To further expand the data gathered from the various clinics, the move to 3D-stereoptic sensors was used to provide not just occupancy status of exam rooms, but also the near real-time occupancy count data. Enhancing scalability, these sensors could monitor multiple rooms simultaneously, offering greater hardware efficiency.

Security and Connectivity:

- mmWave sensors utilized mTLS (mutual Transport Layer Security) for secure data transmission.
- Custom authorization for 3D-stereoptic sensors was implemented using AWS Lambda.

Data Aggregation and Storage:

- Data was streamed via Amazon Data Firehose and AWS IoT Core, stored in AWS S3, and processed through AWS Lambda.
- A centralized S3 data lake provided a secure, scalable repository for all processed data.

Visualization and Insights:

- Data queries were conducted using AWS Athena, while AWS QuickSight offered intuitive 2D dashboards for near-real-time analysis with minimal latency.

This comprehensive approach ensured seamless integration, robust data security, and actionable insights for Sunnybrook.

Outcome | Actionable Insights and Future Expansion

The solution provided Sunnybrook with detailed, data-driven insights into space utilization:

Initial Findings: The installation was completed in December 2024, and data collection began in January 2025. Analysis of the 11 monitored exam rooms in Sunnybrook’s M-Wing, conducted from January to March 2025, revealed a surprising utilization rate of only 33%. This insight challenged initial staff assumptions and highlighted opportunities for more efficient space planning.

Future Outlook: New medical clinics, which opened in January 2025, will contribute additional data to further refine Sunnybrook’s understanding of space usage and inform future expansion strategies.

Through this project, Sunnybrook is well-positioned to optimize its clinical spaces, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively to enhance both staff workflows and patient care delivery.

Key Outcomes Summary

Accurate Space Utilization Data: Revealed underutilization of monitored exam rooms, providing actionable insights.

Efficient Resource Allocation: Enabled informed decisions about space planning and allocation.

Scalability: Designed for expansion, with sensors deployed to additional clinics.

Improved Patient Care: Enhanced operational efficiency supports better patient care delivery.

Predictive Analytics: Tool for staff to forecast resourcing needs based on the day of the week using historical trends

Privacy Assurance: Leveraged secure sensor technologies to maintain patient confidentiality.

AWS Services Used

AWS S3 (Simple Storage Service): Acted as the central repository for storing and
retrieving large datasets, facilitating data analysis and accessibility.

AWS IoT Core: Enabled secure, scalable connectivity for IoT devices, allowing for efficient data collection and integration into the cloud.

AWS Athena: Offered an interactive query service to analyze data in Amazon S3 using SQL, simplifying the extraction of actionable insights from complex datasets.

AWS QuickSight: Provided visualization tools and dashboards for business intelligence, enabling Manulife to derive and act upon insights from their data effectively.AWS Lambda: Supported serverless computing, automating data processing and transformation tasks without the need for server management.

Amazon Data Firehose: Streamlined the capture, transformation, and loading of streaming data, ensuring efficient data flow from IoT devices to storage and analysis tools.

AWS IoT Events: Monitored sensor data for specific conditions, facilitating real-time alerting and response mechanisms to optimize building operations.

AWS Step Functions: Orchestrated complex data processing workflows, coordinating the various components of the ETL pipeline for streamlined operation and maintenance.

Confidential Client

Space Utilization Dashboards

This dashboard solution transformed challenging conversations around space allocation into more informed decisions, enhancing efficiency and maximizing resource utilization for the organization.

This Canadian healthcare campus is comprised of three acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation facility, and various specialized and support facilities, making it one of the busiest hospital networks in the country.

In an environment where clinical space is constantly in high demand and various departments are always seeking additional space allocations, the campus network faced the challenge of balancing the ongoing demands for more space against the available assets. The need to gain insights into how these spaces were utilized and by whom was paramount in effectively optimizing space allocation.

To address this challenge, the client enlisted the expertise of HH Angus, a long-standing partner, to implement an occupancy monitoring solution. The project goal was to assess the utilization of clinical spaces and identify opportunities for improvement. A longer-term goal was to gather real-world data to inform the design of new spaces, ensuring they met needs identified through the measurement and analysis of current use data.

As part of the collaboration, numerous IoT devices were deployed across two rapid assessment centres, utilizing a variety of technologies to capture occupancy data. This near real-time data was then seamlessly integrated into a unified platform hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS).

HH Angus designed and implemented a strategic approach to efficiently manage administrative department requests for additional space. Specialized occupancy sensors were tailored to meet the client’s requirements for accuracy and data granularity. Collaborating closely with the hardware vendor, HH Angus managed the entire installation and commissioning process. The result was a sophisticated cloud-based database and dashboard that empowers campus staff with comprehensive insights into space usage.

Road mapping and prioritizing sites were essential for large-scale implementation, and ongoing collaboration with the client ensures alignment with their long-term goals. The solution has already facilitated a departmental reallocation, demonstrating the practical benefits of the implemented system. Another benefit of the occupancy data collection is the ability to reallocate space to other departments as work-from-home initiatives create a more flexible work environment.

The sustainability features of this project are evident through its efficient use of office space, enabled by data driven insights. By implementing a tailored occupancy sensor solution, the project minimizes wasted space and energy resources, aligning with sustainable practices.

Medical privacy considerations, such as avoiding image processing, ensure that ethical guidelines are reflected in the technology deployed. Additionally, a continuous focus on accuracy maintenance enhances the longevity and effectiveness of the solution, reducing the need for frequent hardware replacements and minimizing associated environmental impact.

By leveraging AWS Quicksight, the collected data was transformed into actionable insights. Some of the notable benefits include acquiring reliable and actionable data, receiving an easy-to-understand insights dashboard, and utilizing this data and visualization tool to gauge the effectiveness of the client’s new Rapid Assessment Centre layout to inform future space layout decisions. This initiative reflects the client’s commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and improving patient care through innovative solutions.

SERVICES
Smart Building Consultants

PROJECT FEATURES
Tailored space optimization | Reliable accuracy | Privacy-compliant technology | Accessible data insights | Status: Completed 2023 plus continuing contract

LOCATION
Toronto, Ontario

KEY SCOPE ELEMENTS
Designed and implemented strategic approach to efficiently manage administrative department requests for additional space | Road mapping and prioritization of sites for large-scale implementation | Manage installation and commissioning process.

Infrastructure Ontario

Grandview Children's Centre Redevelopment

The Grandview Children's Centre is the new headquarters for Grandview Kids, specializing in care and support for children and youth with physical, communication and developmental needs, and their families.

The 94,744 ft2, 4-storey educational and treatment facility includes centre-wide therapy services, such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech-language pathology, therapeutic recreation, audiology, infant hearing, blind low vision and social work. The building contains a therapy pool area which includes an integrated AV system to create a more relaxing and therapeutic environment. It also offers autism services, a preschool outreach program, school-based rehabilitation services, developmental pediatrics, including specialized medical clinics, and family/caregiver resources and support. The facility is home to the Grandview School, as well as a branch of the Ajax Public Library. The building site also features a therapeutic trail that integrates security into the landscaping for added safety while maintaining the appearance of being surrounded by nature.

The project was delivered through the P3 (Design Build Finance) model and won the Award of Merit for Project Development at the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnership’s (CCPPP) 2022 National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Public-Private Partnerships.

Image courtesy of Grandview Kids

SERVICES
Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering | Information and Communications Technology | Vertical Transportation

PROJECT FEATURES
Size: 94,744 ft2 | Status: Completed 2024 | P3-DBF | CCPPP 2022 Award of Merit for Project Development

LOCATION
Ajax, Ontario

KEY SCOPE ELEMENTS
Integrated Grandview School and Ajax Public Library branch

Build Nova Scotia

Cape Breton Hospital Redevelopment

The value of an integration strategy is to streamline integration use case development and to implement only the integrations that are most useful to the users.

Angus Connect was engaged as a Master Systems Integrator by Build Nova Scotia (BNS) to produce an Integration Strategy and Implementation Plan for Cape Breton Regional Hospital (CBRH). CBRH is currently undergoing a large, multi-year redevelopment to redesign and rebuild healthcare infrastructure to support patients, families, healthcare staff, and researchers. The existing facility is undergoing a renovation in addition to construction of three new buildings:

Energy Centre - to provide power and heat to the new expansion and the existing facility
Cape Breton Cancer Centre - to house dedicated services for patients undergoing cancer treatments, and their families
Clinical Services Building - to serve as main referral and trauma centre for Cape Breton Island

Initial Goal of the Project

Angus Connect collaborated with BNS, CBRH, and other key stakeholders to create a comprehensive integration plan aligned with the redevelopment project’s overall vision, and the building and clinical systems in the existing and new buildings. The focus of the integration strategy and implementation plan was to:

Achieve a thorough understanding of existing building conditions
Define the organization’s vision and goals related to integration
Develop a complete list of user requirements in the form of integration use cases
Identify gaps or issues with existing systems and recommend high level strategies for resolution
Develop implementation documents for further planning and costing
Manage potential risks through early identification and discussion
Facilitate a smooth deployment of new system integration

The value of an integration strategy is to streamline integration use case development and to implement only the integrations that are most useful to the users. Often integrations are noted in
engineering design documents; however, they are generally high level and may not include actual use cases that describe the action the client wishes to achieve. Our role is to delve more deeply into processes, determine which use cases the users want, and determine feasibility. We can then produce design documents for those integrations that describe how the integrations will take place, and how to assess success.

Challenges/Solutions
The client wanted an integration strategy and implementation plan that would:

Complete a current state assessment of the existing facility and the redevelopment design documents to identify current challenges, opportunities, and integrations that were already included in the redevelopment cost
Develop an integration vision to help guide the organization in the implementation of integrations
Ensure the integrations being implemented were helpful to users (not just done for the sake of being done)
Ensure the integrations being implemented had a good ROI
Identify potential issues or risks, such as technology decisions not yet taken
Develop a ‘roles and responsibilities’ matrix for integration use cases

Essentially, the client wanted to implement realistic integrations that made sense for the use case, helped staff and users, were not too complex, and not too expensive. Similar to many other rural healthcare organizations, the project was sensitive to cost and to ongoing support requirements (ie. staff who know how to manage these integrations in future)

How It Was Achieved
Through leadership interviews, visioning session, and end-user meetings, we developed an integration vision and list of integration use cases to improve the user experience, allow for seamless communications, and improve situational awareness of building operations. Our team’s technical knowledge of building systems, clinical systems, and integration models ensured our recommendations were grounded in reality while also meeting CBRH’s vision for an integrated and connected future.

Key Takeaways
As a part of our current state assessment, we visited CBRH to see the building and clinical systems in action and met with users to better assess their current workflows. We believe this step to be vitally important to truly understanding existing conditions. While review of existing documentation and virtual meetings are a critical component to gathering information on existing systems, understanding current workflows, identifying potential issues, and brainstorming potential improvements all benefit from in-person consultation

SERVICES
Master Systems Integrator

PROJECT FEATURES
Size: 5,600,000 ft2 | Status: Ongoing

LOCATION
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

KEY SCOPE ELEMENTS
A comprehensive integration strategy and implementation plan | Ensure ROI | Identify potential issues or risks | Develop roles & responsibilities matrix

Fraser Health

New Surrey Hospital and BC Cancer Centre

Surrey BC is a fast-growing community in need of additional healthcare resources. The New Surrey Hospital and BC Cancer Centre will provide 168 hospital beds and 55 Emergency Department treatment spaces in a state-of-the-art facility to improve health services in the region.

The $2.88B hospital project reached its one-year construction milestone in August 2024 and is anticipated to be completed in 2029 and open to the public in 2030. Additional features of the fully-electric facility include a surgical/perioperative suite with five ORs, four procedure rooms and virtual care options in all clinical service areas to increase capacity and expand care. The new BC Cancer Centre is expected to provide approximately 105,000 ambulatory oncology care visits, 50,000 radiation therapy visits and 22,000 chemotherapy visits each year. The facility is being built under a Design-Build Agreement with EllisDon Design Build Inc.

Leading BC's first generation of smart hospitals, the new Surrey hospital will embed data insights and new technologies into both the design of the facility and delivery of clinical care. The Angus Connect team is providing a full spectrum of ICAT/IMIT design and AGV consulting, and HH Angus’ Vertical Transportation team is designing the elevator systems.

Images courtesy of Fraser Health and EllisDon Design Build – conceptual renderings, subject to change

SERVICES
ICAT/IMIT Design | AGV Consulting | Vertical Transportation Consulting

LOCATION
Surrey BC

KEY SCOPE ELEMENTS
Information, communications and automation technology | Automated guided vehicle design consulting | elevator design consulting

New BC Cancer Centre

The facility will provide ~105,000 ambulatory oncology care visits, 50,000 radiation therapy visits and 22,000 chemotherapy visits annually.

Smart hospitals

The NSHBCCC is one of BC's new generation of smart hospitals.