{"id":3361,"date":"2021-06-04T16:20:50","date_gmt":"2021-06-04T20:20:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eptura.wpengine.com\/discover-more\/blog\/digital-twin-for-space-optimization\/"},"modified":"2024-09-10T00:33:56","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T04:33:56","slug":"digital-twin-for-space-optimization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eptura.com\/discover-more\/blog\/digital-twin-for-space-optimization\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Twin for Space Optimization"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s no shortage of software out there to support facility managers as they seek to maximize the potential of the workplace. IWMS and CAFM platforms come to mind first, because they offer the broadest level of support. But even these systems aren\u2019t a silver bullet for optimizing workspaces and floor plans\u2014they merely aid in putting ideas into motion. Today, the most powerful insights come from a digital twin for space optimization<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Digital twins offer an abundance of context for workplace data. Rather than coordinating a floor plan based solely on space or occupancy, digital twins provide facility managers with dynamic data about the space. Sure, the room capacity is 40 people, but did you know that seat sensor data shows the average occupancy rate at just 25 people? It\u2019s these kinds of insights that make digital twin technology<\/a> instrumental in optimizing workspace design, layout, and function.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at why digital twins are becoming an integral part of workplace planning and how they optimize the efforts of facility managers.<\/p>\n

Digital twins add contextual data<\/h2>\n

Digital twins are as dynamic as the physical spaces and assets they represent. This opens up a whole new segment of contextual information for facility managers. For example, floor sensors in conference rooms can add context to room reservation metrics provided by your booking system:<\/p>\n

Booking data shows Conference Room 402 at a utilization rate of 60%, with an average room reservation time of one hour. While this is great information, it\u2019s static. Floor sensor data aggregated by the digital twin might show that, despite an average one-hour booking time, employees typically only remain in the room for 45 minutes. There\u2019s a period of roughly 15 minutes of dead space, when the room shows occupied but there\u2019s no one in it. The real utilization rate is closer to 45%. <\/i><\/p>\n

In this example, context from the digital twin can help the facility manager optimize the room booking process. Instead of 30-minute booking increments, employees can now book in 15-minute increments. The expectation is that utilization will rise.<\/p>\n

How to turn IoT data into action<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s an abundance of smart sensors in workplaces today. Many of them are always-on, constantly streaming data. A digital twin is instrumental in harnessing and aggregating this data, to make it actionable. This is especially important as the network of devices grows and becomes more robust. Consider the impact of IoT automation through a digital twin:<\/p>\n

Conference Room 402 has A\/V capabilities, which make it the de-facto space for presentations. Employees often complain about not being able to reserve the room because it\u2019s in such high demand. Floor sensor data puts occupancy at roughly 80% each day. However, the light sensor only registers 50%, which means only half of occupants turn off the lights to present. The facility manager adds a question to the room reservation system: \u201cDo you need to present anything?\u201d If the answer is no, the booking system excludes Conference Room 402, to leave it more accessible to those who need A\/V capabilities. <\/i><\/p>\n

In this example, IoT data comes together to paint an even broader picture of space utilization. It allows facility managers to intervene in a tactful way, instead of jumping to conclusions\u2014such as investing in additional expensive A\/V equipment.<\/p>\n

Space optimization with digital twin technology<\/h2>\n

Space optimization is the key to getting more out of leased space. With digital twins to provide context for data points, it becomes possible to optimize in strategic ways, with the goal of enabling better interaction with space. Based on digital twin data, FMs might choose to:<\/p>\n