A Review of IoT Network Infrastructure in Building Environment Transition From Environment-Centric to Occupant-Centric

Abstract

Buildings are shifting from static, environment centric control schemes toward dynamic systems that adaptively respond to individual occupants. To clarify how this transition affects building operation, this paper reviews recent advances in occupant centric control from three dimensions: physical control systems, data and network infrastructure, and occupant interaction mechanisms. The review draws from research in building science and computing and organizes key developments using the trinity of transformation, resilience, and sustainability. The results show that the shift to occupant centric requires high-density sensing, distributed data processing, interoperable protocols, and feedback models that integrate occupant behavior. The paper also discusses how concepts introduced from Web3 can support decentralized data management and long-term trust in occupant participation. This work provides a technical and conceptual basis for researchers and practitioners involved in the digital transformation of smart building operation.