BRU develops digital twin for sustainable technologies

Brussels Airport has contracted with software solutions provider IES to develop a digital twin of the airport to test sustainable technologies that may help it reach net zero by 2030 — a full 20 years before IATA ’s 2050 deadline. [caption id="attachment_57137646" align="alignright" width="300"] (Courtesy/Brussels Airport)[/caption] The twin, a digital model of the airport, can predict how sustainable technologies will integrate into the airport’s ( BRU ) operations, reducing costs and time-to-market, according to an April 30 article by IES. “ This flagship project is being delivered as part of the major [European Union]-funded Stargate initiative, which received a 24.8 million euro [$26.7 million] grant from the European Green Deal to develop concrete solutions to improve the sustainability of airports and aviation,” according to the article. The BRU digital twin concept includes: A three-runway, single-terminal international airport that is more than 1,250 hectares, or 134.5 million square feet; 24,000 employees; 26 million passengers; and 500,000 tonnes of air cargo. Removes trial and error The digital twin technology allows for modifications, growth projections and specific project performance, Bob Fudickar , executive director at the National Center for Advanced Manufacturing , Office of Research and Economic Development at Louisiana State University, and NASA ’s Michoud Assembly Facility, told Air Cargo Next . “With the software and the computation power, you can see things, move things, create things, eliminate things,” he said. “It is amazingly immersive. It’s amazingly accurate. It’s amazingly productive. It’s like the opposite of ‘Field of Dreams.’ The scenario was, if you build it, they will come, right? This is the opposite — you don’t have to build it. You can look at it before it’s built. So, if you’re looking at it before it’s built, you can make adjustments and tweaks and take advantage of all the known data ahead of time. So, when you do build it, it is better than if you [used] trial and error.” In developing the twin, IES created a digital replica of the 40 most energy-intensive buildings at BRU and then modeled scenarios for installing solar power, electric vehicle chargers and electric heating to find the most effective routes to net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 for the airport, according to IES’ article. A decarbonization pathway The model provides BRU with a decarbonization pathway, according to the article. BRU will now deploy zero-carbon energy solutions over the next six years and become less dependent on external energy providers by the end of the decade, the article states. “Airports operate across vast space, demand large amounts of power and experience complex energy interactions,” Giulia Barbano , operations manager at IES, says in the article. “ Making any operational change is no small feat and such decisions must be backed by evidence, and that’s where digital twin technology can be a game-changer. Before deploying extensive, zero-carbon solutions, airports must first test their effects on energy, cost and carbon savings — both before installation and during live operation. “This project is a world first and demonstrates the effectiveness of digital twin technology in determining the future of complex sites like airports,” she said. While the technology is fairly new, BRU is hoping to be a pioneer in digital twin technology for other airports, according to the article. “It’s efficient,” Fudickar said. “And it helps you see the future and plan on the future. It’s real time. And you can have a multitude of people witness [the project] at the same time and it’s total immersion.” Editor’s note: All amounts have been converted to U.S. dollars. Air Cargo Next has launched a business directory listing cargo carriers, service providers and technology companies. Each category has sub-categories, allowing users to find the right business to meet their needs. Users can also add their businesses to the directory and claim existing entries. Visit the Air Cargo Next Directory here.

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