Sarah Causey with Implexus Lab

Scott MacKenzie hosts an industrial podcast from the OMG Q1 meeting in Reston, Virginia, celebrating industry professionals. Sarah Causey from Implexus Labs discusses her transition from architecture to digital twins, emphasizing the importance of integrating live data from IoT for more efficient building management. She highlights the misconception that energy consumption decreased during the pandemic and explains how digital twins can optimize energy use by creating dynamic systems responsive to occupancy. Causey also mentions the financial benefits of digital twins and the role of the consortium in standardizing processes and enhancing trustworthiness in the industry.

Action Items

• [ ] Reach out to Sarah Causey at Sarah.Causey@implexislab.com for more information about Implexus Labs and digital twins.

Outline

Introduction and Welcome to the Podcast

• Scott MacKenzie introduces the podcast, emphasizing its focus on industry professionals and their innovations.
• The podcast is broadcasting from the OMG Q1 meeting in Reston, Virginia, highlighting the attendees as problem solvers.
• Scott MacKenzie introduces Sarah Causey from Implexus Labs, who will discuss digital twins and her involvement in the consortium.
• Sarah Causey humorously mentions feeling comfortable being the "dumbest fish in the pond" and shares her background.

Sarah Causey's Background and Career Journey

• Sarah Causey shares her background, including her upbringing in the South, living in Houston, Texas, and now residing in Raleigh, North Carolina.
• She discusses her transition from the architecture and design industry to working as a design technology expert, focusing on BIM, VR, AR, and animations.
• Sarah mentions her drone pilot license and her natural transition into digital twins, given her experience in various design fields.
• She explains the evolution of design from pen and paper to 3D models and the integration of live data from IoT.

Joining the Digital Twin Consortium

• Scott MacKenzie appreciates Sarah's involvement in the digital twin consortium and acknowledges the rapid pace of market changes.
• Sarah explains that Implexus Labs, founded in 2023, is a startup with a team of experienced professionals in visualization, gaming, and virtual design.
• The consortium offers a platform for young professionals to contribute to the future of the industry without dominating it.
• Sarah emphasizes the passion and belief within the team about the potential of digital twins.

Passion for Digital Twins and Energy Efficiency

• Scott MacKenzie questions the necessity of digital twins and their potential to create problems or solve them.
• Sarah shares her passion for digital twins, citing the misconception that energy consumption decreased during the pandemic due to remote work.
• She explains that buildings still operated on mechanical schedules, leading to increased energy consumption.
• Sarah believes digital twins can help facilities operate more efficiently and effectively through AI and real-time data collection.

Financial ROI and Practical Implementation

• Scott MacKenzie and Sarah discuss the financial return on investment (ROI) of digital twins, especially in workplace facilities.
• Sarah highlights the potential for energy savings and the importance of collecting data from various sources like occupancy sensors and security systems.
• She explains that digital twins can provide a holistic view of building operations, making it easier for owners to understand and make decisions.
• Sarah mentions the use of gaming engines like Unreal Engine to create visual representations of buildings, making the data accessible and understandable.

Simulation and Scenario Testing

• Scott MacKenzie expresses his interest in running scenarios and testing different what-if scenarios using digital twins.
• Sarah agrees, noting that iteration and simulation are common in the design industry and can be applied to digital twins.
• She shares an example of working with Argonne National Laboratories to simulate past conditions and draw conclusions.
• Scott MacKenzie appreciates the ability to run simulations and the value of vetting solutions against specific KPIs.

Contact Information and Closing Remarks

• Scott MacKenzie asks Sarah how listeners can reach out to her for further discussions.
• Sarah provides her contact information and encourages listeners to visit plexislab.com for more details.
• Scott MacKenzie emphasizes the importance of reaching out to professionals like Sarah for guidance on digital twins and building efficiencies.
• The podcast concludes with a call to action for listeners to stay current and engage with industry professionals.