Over 50 years ago, I founded a consulting company that provided simulation services. It was a tremendous learning experience that I shared with the consulting industry and everyone I came into contact with.
Computer simulations allowed us a new way to look at the world. I feel we are at the same point now, with many dynamic twins able to converse with the simulation, making them feel real. Using two-way communication, they grow and evolve from simulations to dynamic bidirectional interactions.
System of Systems Models Enabling Interoperability for Value Creation
We are currently discussing the definitions of Models, Simulations, Dashboards, Digital Twins, and Digital Twin Systems, as well as their interoperability and our ability to interact with them, both as humans and AI.
If it sounds complex, it is indeed complex. This is a complex tool that will change the way buildings are depicted forever.
This work presents a system for the classification of the Uses of Digital Twins. This classification system provides a common language for the Uses of Digital Twins that can be leveraged to communicate the precise purpose and context of implementing Digital Twins. We also provide a library for Digital Twin Operational Uses and Use Cases.
We are at a dangerous transition with the industry, “Special Interest, OEM, several others ” are morphing their Data into stormy proprietary clouds that are not decomposable. We need to obtain the DAM Data with a Data Access Model to facilitate our interactions.
Which DAM is not that important, AI will figure it out.
For over 25 of these 50 years, I operated as Sinclair Energy Services Ltd, providing energy simulations, conservation, and automation consulting for existing large buildings in Western Canada. This company evolved into SES Consulting.
While working on a computer simulation for a 60-acre solar-heated bubble that was to create a mild environment in a northern Alberta town, both for the construction site and the finished town, Don Holte of Nova Engineering taught me that the scope and approach to environmental control engineering were unlimited. Don later became the International President of ASHRAE. Several of my industry mentors have a good understanding of the principles of computerized large-building simulation. I founded Sinclair Energy Services Ltd. to conduct computer simulations, promote energy conservation, and identify opportunities for computerized controls in large existing buildings.
Those of us who were early to simulation had a different view of the world. Simulation was the first environment we all experienced, where we could put design and operational data into the same program. It made us question many things, and as we evolved and started Invent Direct Digital control systems DDC We took our newfound knowledge and embedded in the control language of these systems working with folks in the early days like Tom Hartman who had written his own simulation programs The Transition was obvious We found that everyone who touched simulation had a different view a deeper view The DDC showed us much data that we’ve never seen before We dreamed of a simulation system that would allow us to implement complex control strategies.
We even created a training program for operators that included a simple simulation component, allowing them to see how each design and operational component affected the Outcome. It was called the High-Performance Building Operator course and was built using the control language of an early DDC system by yours truly. The lesson was not about the accuracy of the simulation. The lesson was, however, that an operational decision drastically changed the result.
As Pioneers, we were the first twins without computer power or today’s powerful building information models, BIMs. We had to be the in-between. So I am excited about where we are today. My old mind struggles to comprehend the capabilities now in your hands, but I applaud all the work being done.
This is an Exchange done by our contributing editors, on the 7 Deadly BIMs.
Cyril Verley and I explore the Seven Deadly BIMs: Silo, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth , the habits that keep our industry trapped in documentation instead of data.
It’s tongue-in-cheek, but the truth stings:
We’ve all hoarded knowledge, chased pretty models, or sold LOD 500s we didn’t understand.
Absolution?
Open schemas, APIs, and a shared sense of purpose.
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