Microsoft rolls out digital twin using sensors, IoT and AI

By William Smith
Microsoft has created a digital twin of its regional Singapore headquarters, in collaboration with Bentley Systems and Schneider Electric. Digital twin...

Microsoft has created a digital twin of its regional Singapore headquarters, in collaboration with Bentley Systems and Schneider Electric.

Digital twins offer a way of representing the real world in a digital space, in turn gaining insights which can be applied to drive efficiencies back in the real world. Volker Busch, Chief Data Officer of professional services firm Arup, gave a helpful definition of the concept in the company’s digital twin report: “A digital twin, as a means to link digital models and simulations with real-world data, creates new possibilities for improved creativity, competitive advantage and human-centred design. Digital twins can help deliver on the grand challenges facing society, including achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and addressing rapid urbanisation, population growth, and escalating infrastructure costs.”

179 Bluetooth beacons and 900 sensors from Schneider Electric have been installed to collect data on topics such as lighting, air quality and temperature, which are in turn aggregated through the Microsoft Azure cloud platform.

SEE ALSO:

The creation of the digital twin had the joint ambition of increasing comfort for employees as well as improving energy efficiency. The project also integrated with the Smart Building CampusLink application to make smarter the practice of booking rooms, for instance determining occupancy and turning on lighting on-demand.

Ricky Kapur, Microsoft’s VP for Sales, Marketing and Operations for Microsoft in Asia Pacific said: “The workplace of the future is about embracing innovation into the very fabric of our space, so that we create multiple touchpoints of connectivity, are intentionally inclusive and accessible, while being very mindful of sustainability and the environment. At Frasers Tower in Singapore, we worked closely with Bentley Systems and Schneider Electric to implement sensors and telemetry to create a connected workplace, that allows us to adjust the space based on usage, therefore improving energy efficiency.”

Microsoft is far from alone in the race for smart buildings, with International Data Corporation expecting IoT devices to generate 79.4 zettabytes of data by 2025.

(Image: Microsoft)

Share

Featured Articles

Orange cyber report: highest number of victims ever recorded

Orange Cyberdefense's Security Navigator 2024 reveals the highest number of cyber extortion victims recorded, with an increase of 46% worldwide in 2023

ChatGPT turns one: How AI chatbot has changed the tech world

One year on from its launch, OpenAI's groundbreaking language model ChatGPT continues to transform and evolve with ever-increasing capabilities

AWS announces AI tool Amazon Q to reimagine future of work

AWS has announced Amazon Q, a generative AI-powered assistant empowering businesses unlock the potential of AI for every employee

Deloitte & IBM: Data solutions driving tech sustainability

Data & Data Analytics

Carlsberg Group is using IoT to make data-driven decisions

Data & Data Analytics

Capgemini: Gen AI accelerating software-led transformations

Enterprise IT