Improving Lithuanian university students’ knowledge in smart building assessment technology
AI, digitalisation and digital twin technologies help us to gain insight into how systems cooperate in enhancing constructed buildings’ energy efficiency and in introducing innovative designs that are more energy efficient. In this case, a digital twin is a virtual representation of a building. However, when it comes to the digital management of buildings and cities, the concept of digital twins is still understood differently by many. These digital models of physical objects are supplemented with real-time data that is then used for analysis, management and decision-making. The EU-funded SmartWins project is boosting the research capacity of KTU with respect to digital twins and building energy performance assessment technologies. To achieve this, project partners are establishing a network between KTU’s Sustainable Energy in the Built Environment Research Group and renowned institutions in the energy assessment and building sustainability field. They are sharing knowledge with KTU on the use of Industry 4.0 practices, supporting the university in bolstering its research competences and building a long-term research collaboration.
Twinning strengthens networking between research institutions
From 14-17 March 2023, young KTU researchers and PhD students participated physically and/or online in the first training session conducted by project partner Polytechnic University of Milan (PoliMI) in Italy. Twelve courses covered a broad range of topics. These included: introduction to indoor environment quality (IEQ); controlled contamination environments; fundamentals of vapour compression and thermal-driven heat pump technologies; analysis of a floor heating system with displacement ventilation; thermal comfort measurement; and IEQ assessment through smart sensors and digitalisation of buildings. “The adoption of smart technologies such as smart sensors and digital twins provides access to instant data on the energy performance of the infrastructure,” explains Andrius Jurelionis, KTU Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, in an ‘EIN Presswire’ news item. “These technologies provide a better understanding of how systems interact to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and develop new, more energy-efficient designs. I am also happy to participate in this project, which allows our Lithuanian students to come to Italy to enrich their education with training on indoor environmental quality or on thermal heat pumps thanks to Polimi, a leading European university.” “We are convinced of the enormous potential of networking to facilitate knowledge transfer and the exchange of best practices to improve our academic excellence,” adds project coordinator and KTU chief researcher Paris Fokaides. “SmartWins represents an exceptional opportunity for students and researchers to work together on concrete projects, while acquiring new skills.” The overall aim of the SmartWins (Boosting Research for a Smart and Carbon Neutral Built Environment with Digital Twins) project is to strengthen KTU’s capacity in carrying out research on next-gen digital twins. This will facilitate the transition to a smart, sustainable, resilient and carbon-neutral built environment. It ends in September 2025. For more information, please see: SmartWins project website
Keywords
SmartWins, energy, building, building assessment, digital twin, indoor environment quality, sensor, energy performance, built environment