As districts start phasing students back into the classroom after months of online learning, they’re under growing pressure to ensure school buildings and other learning spaces are clean and safe to use.

Experts say that will require delivering cleaner air and managing crowds, which can be accomplished with the help of smart building technologies such as advanced HVAC controls and video sensors.

Some schools have been using smart technologies to measure utility use and efficiency, streamline building maintenance and enhance school safety. Now, these technologies are playing a larger role in keeping buildings healthy and preventing the spread of disease, whether it’s the common cold or a novel virus such as COVID-19.

“Schools are certainly very concerned about how they can open safely and how they can create an environment that’s effective for education and for students and teachers,” says Himanshu Khurana, vice president of engineering, innovation leader and CTO of Honeywell Building Solutions. “But they need to think about it holistically.”