DATA ON YOUR OWN DEVICE: When Data Checks In, But Can Never Leave

The Mirage of Interoperability
In the evolving landscape of digital twins and smart cities, a critical issue often lurks beneath the surface: the illusion of interoperability. "A lot of vendors are presenting their systems as interoperable when, in fact, they're not. They're only interoperable within their own ecosystem." Amir Hirsch made this statement in the thought-provoking podcast on Smart City Networks, succinctly capturing a widespread challenge in our journey towards truly smart cities. In other words, they are closed.

Just Prisoners in the Hotel: The Lock-In Dilemma
It's a common scenario: a vendor promises a solution that seems to play well with others, but in reality, it's designed to keep you within their ecosystem – a digital version of 'Hotel California' where we are all just prisoners here of our own device. This proprietary approach stifles innovation and burdens cities with systems that can't adapt to changing needs or integrate new, more efficient technologies.

Digital Twins: Beyond Pipes and Pumps
My work focuses on BIM and digital twins as replicas of physical assets and as complex systems encompassing tangible and intangible elements. Take, for example, a city's water system. It's not just about pipes and pumps; it's also about regulations, usage patterns, and environmental impact. Digital twins must allow these multifaceted aspects to enhance decision-making and asset management.

Governance for Open Solutions
Cities and owners hold significant power in their procurement decisions. Demand real interoperability and open standards and make these non-negotiable parts of contracts with vendors. Cities can steer the market towards more open, adaptable solutions. It's about setting the rules of the game in favor of long-term flexibility and public good.

BIM and Digital Twins at NIBS
As part of the BIM and Digital Twins subcommittee for the National Institute of Building Sciences, I'm involved in crafting a position paper that delves deeper into these issues. This upcoming paper aims to provide actionable insights and guidelines to navigate the complexities of digital twins in smart city environments. Be on the lookout for this draft this Spring 2024.

Past Insights to Present Realities
In a recent post titled Building Hallucinations​, we discussed the transformative yet challenging world of AI in the AECO industry. The journey from AI-induced 'hallucinations' to informed decisions mirrors our current need for interoperability in digital twins. Just as we recognized the need to navigate through the fog of misleading AI promises to reach informed, data-driven decisions, we now face a similar challenge in escaping the 'Hotel California' of proprietary systems. This pursuit of openness and clarity in AI and digital twins underscores our industry's commitment to innovation grounded in reality, not illusion.

Breaking Free: The Imperative of True Interoperability
​Revisiting the initial quote, it's clear that true interoperability is more than a vendor's promise; it's a foundational requirement for sustainable, informed environments. For a deeper dive into these topics, I invite you to follow past and upcoming events at: 

• BIMStorm
• National Institute of Buidling Sciences
• Asset Leadership Network​

Last month, I opened a discussion on our industry's 'Kodak Moment' with AI – a critical point where embracing advanced technology is not just an option but a necessity. The conversations that followed revealed a shared recognition of our industry's challenges, particularly in making informed decisions with the knowledge we already have.

I will expand this narrative with a new series titled "From Hallucinations to Informed Decisions." 

This isn't just about AI's shortcomings or capabilities; it's about addressing a more profound, pre-existing challenge in the AECO industry – the struggle with accessing and utilizing high-quality data for decision-making.
In this series, we will explore:

• Breaking Free from Hotel California: Data on Your Own Device: How data locked into silos and the lack of standards hindered our industry's decision-making leading to 'hallucinations' in our planning and execution long before AI hallucinations.
• The Role of AI: How AI, supported by valid and accurate data, can transform challenges into opportunities by making more informed decisions, particularly in sustainability and climate change.
• Beyond AI's Hype: While AI holds great promise, it's crucial to recognize that it's not a panacea. This reality highlights a twofold need: strong leadership and collective responsibility within the AECO industry. It's about leaders who grasp AI's potential and are committed to fostering a culture that values collecting and analyzing quality data. 
• Collaborative Innovation: Highlighting the importance of industry-wide collaboration, as seen in our AI BIMStorm sessions, in gathering and sharing high-quality data to fully harness AI's potential.

AI is not a magic bullet. It's an enabler, a powerful one, but its efficacy is directly tied to the quality of data it's fed. Our industry's move towards more informed decisions hinges on this crucial aspect.

We must remember that our exploration of AI in the AECO industry is ongoing and dynamic. To further this discussion, I invite you to join me at an upcoming webinar hosted by the National Institute of Building Sciences: "The Intersection of AI and Building Sciences: A New Era of Intelligent Infrastructure," scheduled for January 25th. 

This webinar will delve deeper into the topics we've discussed and explore the future of AI in our industry.
Following the webinar, participate in the weekly Asset Leadership Network discussion, where we'll have a chance to debrief and continue the conversation. 

Kimon Onuma, FAIA
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