
For over 30 years, digital systems have dominated how the Building Automation System (BAS) industry has evolved to control and automate HVAC, security, lighting, vertical transport, and the plethora of other systems found in commercial buildings globally. The vision of practitioners has been consistent and focuses on how to use technology to increase the value of facilities by managing energy costs, improving occupant comfort and safety, adopting sustainable practices, and making facilities more productive for their owners and operators. This article will explore how digital twins can help realize the above vision. From the benefits of including typically non-operation technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), utilizing integration frameworks that can maximize the value of data, focusing on the entire lifecycle of buildings, and enabling building owners and operators to view their facilities as strategic assets, adopting digital twin frameworks has a tremendous promise to make buildings truly smart.... Read more →