We conclude our three-part podcast series on digital twins with a conversation with Ali Nicholl, Head of Engagement at IOTICS, a data company helping innovators to better collaborate on digital transformation. Ali and his colleagues are passionate about this. They’re impatient too! IOTICS are on a mission to empower those dedicated to making a meaningful impact on our world. They’re providing the tools to navigate the intricate landscape of data and information, enabling companies to unlock valuable insights and share data and information better.  So in this episode we invited Ali into our studio to tell us about some of the organisations that IOTICS are working to create a greener and more sustainable future. Ali explains some of the complexities of data sharing between companies, and the importance of making sure digital twin technologies have the real-world impact when it comes to some of society’s greatest challenges. The voices in this episode are also featuring on The IOTICS Podcast, where Ali has interviewed a number of fascinating guests to showcase the growing significance of digital twins in shaping our connected future. Featured in this episode are Elly Howe, Environmental and Sustainability Coordinator at Portsmouth International Port;  Louise Donaghey, Services Programmes Director at Rolls Royce; Simon Evans, Global Digital Twin Leader at Arup; Ian Gordon, Head of Data at Houses of Parliament Restoration & Renewal; and Rich Walker, a Data and Analytics Leader in the Government and Public sector.   Connected Digital Twins Summit – 22 June, 2023  The huge opportunity that digital twins offer place-based infrastructure is what guides the work of the Digital Twin Hub (which came out of the UK’s National Digital Twin Programme) housed at the Connected Places Catapult. It is a network that is helping to bring people together to learn from each other and collaborate on this hugely ambitious social, environment, and technical journey.    Their work is also guided by the Gemini Principles which are shaping the development of an ecosystem of connected digital twins. And they also host the weekly Gemini Call which has become a staple date in the diary for practitioners across the UK.    On 22 June 2023 the Digital Twin Hub and the Connected Places Catapult hosted the inaugural Connected Digital Twins Summit. IOTICS is an active supporter of the Hub and was a sponsor of the Summit.  

In this episode we meet National Grid ESO, the electricity system operator for Great Britain, and one of the sponsors of the Digital Twin Hub’s inaugural Connected Digital Twins Summit held this summer. The UK Government has a target for National Grid ESO to be running a zero-carbon electricity system by 2035. This ambition is crucial in helping the UK meet its wider zero carbon targets. For National Grid ESO, a major milestone in that journey is the development of a Virtual Energy System. This is a real-time, digital replica of Great Britain’s entire energy landscape which mirrors the physical system - a network of interconnected digital twins that can be shared by industry to improve ESO’s ability to simulate and forecast electricity supply and demand. So how is digital twin technology helping to bring this bold vision to life? How is it being used to better understand and influence consumer behaviour, especially during a cost-of-living crisis? And is the tech always the biggest hurdle when it comes to digital transformation? Featured in this episode are Carolina Tortora, National Grid ESO’s Head of Innovation Strategy & Digitalisation in conversation with Dr. Alison Vincent, Chair of the Digital Twin Hub, as well as Lucy Yu, CEO of Centre for Net Zero, and Symon Brown, Smart Grid Director at CGI. Connected Digital Twins Summit – 22 June, 2023 The huge opportunity that digital twins offer place-based infrastructure is what guides the work of the Digital Twin Hub (which came out of the UK’s National Digital Twin Programme) housed at the Connected Places Catapult. It is a network that is helping to bring people together to learn from each other and collaborate on this hugely ambitious social, environment, and technical journey. Their work is also guided by the Gemini Principles which are shaping the development of an ecosystem of connected digital twins. And they also host the weekly Gemini Call which has become a staple date in the diary for practitioners across the UK. On 22 June 2023 the Digital Twin Hub and the Connected Places Catapult hosted the inaugural Connected Digital Twins Summit. National Grid ESO is an active supporter of the Hub and was a sponsor of the Summit. Theme music on this episode is by Phill Ward Music (www.phillward.com)  Show notes:   Centre for Net Zero is an impact-driven research unit founded by the global tech disruptor, Octopus Energy. They deliver pioneering research to make the future energy system a reality.   Their access to tens of billions of customer data points gives them an unparalleled insight into the behaviours of people and businesses around the world. They combine analysis of this dataset with field trials and experimentation, to build models and centre intelligent demand into the design of the changing energy system.   Centre for New Zero works directly with governments, policy-makers, grid operators and academics, translating their research and analysis into real-world action. Find out more at centrefornetzero.org  To find out more about what we do at the Connected Places Catapult and to hear about the latest news, events and announcements, visit cp.catapult.org.uk and do sign up to our newsletter!  Follow the show!  Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Please also take a moment to write a review and rate us so that more people can hear about the podcast and what we do at Connected Places Catapult.     

In this episode we meet Lord Adonis who we were delighted to welcome to our offices last week alongside senior representatives from across the rail sector. Andrew Adonis is a member of the House of Lords and founding Chair of the UK’s National Infrastructure Commission. He was a Government Minister in Tony Blair’s government, and went on to become Secretary of State for Transport under Gordon Brown. So his reflections on where we’ve come in Britain when it comes to rail travel, and what we need to be thinking about in the future draw on a wide range of personal experience. Lord Adonis was closely involved with setting up HS2 when it was just a small start-up. He also played a leading role in bringing Crossrail to London – one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects the capital has ever delivered. Music on this episode is by Phill Ward Music (www.phillward.com) Show notes: If you would like to hear more about the themes that Lord Adonis discusses listen to our feature episode “Reimagining our railways and stations” where we explore how innovation and new technologies are shaping the future of the rail industry as it rises to the huge challenges the 21st Century is throwing at it. You can also listen to our interview with the broadcaster and former MP, Michael Portillo about Britain’s railway history and what the future might look like – click here. To learn more about the UK’s first ‘Station Innovation Zone’ and how the Catapult is supporting Bristol Temple Meads station to trial new technologies, click here. If you'd like to get in touch with your feedback, comments and suggestions on what you'd like to hear more of on Connected Places, please email: [email protected]. We’re looking forward to hearing from you! Follow the show! Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Please also take a moment to write a review and rate us so that more people can hear about the podcast and what we do at Connected Places Catapult. 

A profound shift is happening in the world of infrastructure. Advances in software, sensing and computational technology are seeing connected digital twins being adopted across whole infrastructure systems and even entire cities.  In this episode we meet the global engineering consultancy Royal HaskoningDHV (RHDHV), event podcast partner for the Digital Twin Hub’s inaugural Connected Digital Twins Summit, 22 June 2023 (see below for event details). RHDHV are helping their clients rise to the challenges of resiliency, sustainability, and digital transformation. One of the key technologies that is enabling this change is the place-based digital twin. We explore how RHDHV’s digital twin services are helping Bacton Beach in Norfolk tackle coastal erosion through a hugely ambitious sandscaping project. We meet the rail startup, East West Rail that is applying digital twin technology to a new railway connecting Oxford and Cambridge. And we visit the Dutch province of Limburg where RHDHV’s AquaSuite software is using digital twin technology to improve the processing of 150m3 wastewater across a vast infrastructure network. Featured in this episode are Lisette Heuer, Director of Business Transformation at RHDHV; Ben Lomax Thorpe, Leading Professional – Digital Twin at RHDHV; Rob Goodliffe, Coastal Transition Manager, North Norfolk District Council; Dino Nola, Head of Digital Engineering at East West Rail; and Melchior Schenk, Sales Leader – AquaSuite, RHDHV. Connected Digital Twins Summit – 22 June, 2023 The huge opportunity that digital twins offer place-based infrastructure is what guides the work of the Digital Twin Hub (which came out of the UK’s National Digital Twin Programme) housed at the Connected Places Catapult. It is a network that is helping to bring people together to learn from each other and collaborate on this hugely ambitious social, environment, and technical journey. On 22 June 2023 the Digital Twin Hub and the Connected Places Catapult hosted the inaugural Connected Digital Twins Summit. Royal HaskoningDHV is an active supporter of the Hub and was event podcast partner for the Summit. Theme music on this episode is by Phill Ward Music (www.phillward.com)  SHOW NOTES For a list of resources about the work of Royal HaskoningDHV and their digital twin services, see below links. RHDHV websites Royal HaskoningDHV (corporate overview), click here. Twinn, by Royal HaskoningDHV, click here. RHDHV videos The Story of a Digital Twin, click here.   Starting your Digital Twin Journey, click here.     Twinn Witness Predictive Simulation Software for Better Decision Making, click here.  Connect your data models to live data | Machine Learning, click here.  RHDHV case studies featured in podcast Sandscaping on Bacton Beach with North Norfolk Council, click here.   Improving wastewater treatment with WBL, click here.   Latest RHDHV White Paper Simplifying Complexity: 3 ways industrial companies can drive value from digital twins, click here.  ***** To learn more about the Digital Twin Hub and how you can become a member, click here. 

Money is tight right now and tough times call for a renewed focus on how public money is spent. Every year the UK spends £300bn on third party suppliers so it is vital to ensure we are getting the best value from the goods and services we buy. A big part of any public budget is not just the question of what things to buy, but the process of agreeing the terms and procedures for acquiring them.  The technical term is public procurement. So, in this episode we’re going to have a brief look at what’s happening in the world of public procurement, or smarter spending, and what’s being done to not only improve the UK’s procurement regime, but also make it more innovation-friendly. We hear from Lucy Sydney, Head of Head of Strategic Relations, Procurement Reform at the Cabinet Office who’s working on the UK’s Government’s new Transforming Public Procurement Bill. We meet Hao Zheng, Co-Founder and CEO of RoboK, a 3C sensing software company at the coalface of innovating in the transport sector. And we also hear from the Catapult’s Ecosystem Director for Place Leadership, Sam Markey.   Theme music on this episode is by Phill Ward Music (www.phillward.com) Show notes: Our Smarter Spending Hub has a range of case studies, playbooks for professionals, and an e-learning module that we've produced in collaboration with Open and Agile Smart Cities. You can also learn about the work of the Innovation Procurement Empowerment Centre (IPEC), a new partnership created to inspire, upskill and empower public authorities in innovation-friendly procurement procedures. You can also learn more about what the UK Government is doing to improve our publice procurement regime by visiting the Transforming Public Procurement landing page where you can find webinars, factsheets, summary guides and even a checklist to help prepare for when the new rules come into force. If you'd like to get in touch with your feedback, comments and suggestions on what you'd like to hear more of on Connected Places, please email: [email protected]. We’re looking forward to hearing from you! To find out more about what we do at the Connected Places Catapult and to hear about the latest news, events and announcements, visit cp.catapult.org.uk and do sign up to our newsletter! Follow the show! Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Please also take a moment to write a review and rate us so that more people can hear about the podcast and what we do at Connected Places Catapult.