A Digital Twin-Driven Strategic Plan For University Expansion Focused On Space Utilization, Network Enhancement, And Sustainable Water Management

Client’s Objective

The client was experiencing several challenges in managing accommodation and other facilities at the campus. The client was planning to move to a new campus and wanted us to study their current infrastructure and underlying challenges and come up with a strategic plan and potential solutions to enhance their facility operations at the new proposed campus. 

Primary Challenge: The client plans to construct a new building in an area equivalent in size to the existing facility, with a vision to accommodate a larger student and staff population. Notably, the new facility must include staff rooms capable of accommodating ~2X more number of persons, compared to existing capacity per room.

Supplementary Challenges: The university's current network infrastructure faced significant hurdles with the existing Wi-Fi infrastructure's bandwidth limitations and connectivity disruptions significantly hindering student learning experiences and faculty/staff productivity. The university also wanted to address its water scarcity issues.

We carried out a comprehensive analysis by combining secondary research from academic journals, industry reports, case studies with primary expert consultations with university IT managers, technology vendors, and other industry experts. This mixed-method approach enabled us to provide thorough analyses and tactical suggestions for utilizing digital twin technologies for better planning as well as clear strategic support for university campus expansion.

We utilized the research data, including conducting vendor analysis and due-diligence for potential technology vendor and developed a digital twin prototype to analyze the potential campus expansion

Utilizing the research data, we uncovered key insights and themes from interview discussions.

For vendor analysis and short-listing, an in-depth due diligence was conducted to evaluate technology vendors across the digital twin spectrum. Key metrics were analyzed to identify and prioritize vendors for potential technology integrations and implementations. This stage also included a review of previous implementations by each vendor within the same or similar domains to gauge their suitability.

A digital twin prototype was developed in collaboration with the shortlisted vendor and internal technology teams. This prototype showcased how digital twin technology could effectively address challenges related to facility expansion and accommodation. Additionally, it highlighted potential solutions for managing network infrastructure and addressing water management issues.

Utilizing Digital Twin Technology For Optimizing Campus Space Utilization, Adaptive Design, Scenario Planning, and Real-Time Monitoring

• DataM recommended that the university use Digital Twin technology to optimize space through simulation, enabling exploration of various layouts and configurations to maximize utilization. By redesigning room sizes, configurations, and common areas based on these recommendations, the university can effectively meet increased capacity needs, promoting a collaborative and conducive learning environment. Digital Twin technology also enhances collaboration among architects, designers, and stakeholders, helping develop tailored solutions aligned with evolving community needs.
• DataM recommended a multifaceted approach to comprehensively address the university’s network infrastructure issues, with a strong emphasis on sustainability. Firstly, the adoption of 5G technology was proposed to mitigate connectivity issues and enhance network performance, reliability, and bandwidth capacity across campus. Additionally, the digital twin technology integration helps the university in identifying key areas of network connectivity router placement across the campus so that the bandwidth and connectivity remains consistent across each and every corner of the campus an issue that the university’s current campus was grappling with.
• DataM suggested implementing a state of the art greywater recycling system integrated with Digital Twin technology to optimize water reuse on the university's campus. In addition to greywater recycling, we recommended deploying rainwater harvesting systems across the university’s campus to capture and store rainwater for various non potable applications Integrated with Digital Twin technology, these systems can be monitored and managed remotely, allowing for precise control of water storage and distribution based on real time weather data and campus water demand