The real estate and community building industry accounts for a large part of Sweden's total carbon dioxide emissions. As one of Sweden's largest real estate companies, Akademiska Hus, together with universities and colleges, has a great opportunity to make a difference, including with the help of digitalisation of our campuses.
What is a digital twin?
A digital twin is a digital copy in 3D of a property, or an entire campus area. We can fill the digital twin generated by the scan with data on how the building is doing and how it is being used. It can be real-time information from sensors in the properties, or documents that show drawings or installations in the property.
Why are digital twins needed?
It gives us the chance to gather several layers of information and get a better overview of the property and everything that goes on there, which means huge opportunities. The digital twin will be a very powerful tool that can help us and our customers use and take care of campus in a smarter and more efficient way. Finding solutions that allow us to use society's resources in a more energy-efficient way will be key to managing the green transition.
What concrete benefits can be achieved through digital twins and sensor data?
Better understanding: This can help us better understand how the building is used. For example, it can be about getting data on when and how often the meeting rooms are booked, but also to what extent students and employees use the rooms that are booked. With the help of sensor data, we can also monitor how the offices are used and how popular different spaces are.
More efficient use of premises. By better understanding how the premises are used, we can design environments in a more efficient way.
Reduced new construction. By optimising the existing property portfolio, we can also reduce the need to build new houses. Regardless of the choice of materials and level of environmental certification, all construction projects involve the use of natural resources and we leave behind a carbon footprint. If we can find ways to become better at using existing buildings smarter with the help of digitalisation, then that is of course something we want to do.
New services. The information in the digital twin can also be converted into services that can improve the everyday experience in our knowledge environments. For example, it can be about smarter booking systems, that booked rooms become available if no one uses them, being able to see if there are many or few people in the restaurant, being able to see where on campus there are available study places, and more.
Better management. The information in the digital twin also means that we as managers have better conditions. Troubleshooting and maintenance can be simplified by allowing our technicians to immediately see what needs to be fixed and where the problem has arisen. We also get a more comprehensive picture of how a building is doing. With the help of sensors that collect data on temperature and humidity, for example, we can create an even better indoor climate. We can also steer efforts where they are most useful, by seeing where people move the most.
How is all the information and personal data collected by the sensors handled?
On the campuses where Akademiska Hus installs sensors, this is always done in close collaboration with the universities and colleges. Personal privacy is always a priority when sensors are installed on campus. The sensors provide a signal if someone enters a room and measure, for example, room temperature, humidity, brightness and/or movement through passive IR technology. From some sensors, we also get an estimate of how many people move around in the premises and can thus show which areas and rooms are popular. Most of our sensors do not collect data that can be traced to any single person. Dis sensor data, through cross-checking with other information, constitutes personal data, we comply with GDPR and other applicable laws and regulations. Separate information on the processing of sensor data that constitutes personal data is available for each individual university and is provided by the university. A copy can also be obtained through gdpr@akademiskahus.se.