Surbana Jurong to deploy one of the largest Integrated Facilities Management platforms at Temasek Polytechnic

Platform with over 3,000 IoT sensors from UnaBiz will help campus reduce carbon emissions

Singapore, 23 June 2021 – Surbana Jurong has been appointed to deploy one of Singapore’s largest Digital Integrated Facilities Management (IFM) Services platforms on Temasek Polytechnic’s 30-hectare campus.

Temasek Polytechnic had called for a tender to develop a digital integrated facilities management services platform as part of the polytechnic’s digitalisation plans to improve work processes and operational efficiencies for the entire campus including landscape, linkways and 49 buildings on site.

With the help of its appointed Internet-of-Things (IoT) service provider UnaBiz, Surbana Jurong will deploy more than 3,000 sensors across the campus to provide real-time accurate data to a digital twin that can identify faults, anticipate risks and predict changing facility conditions with unprecedented accuracy. The Digital IFM platform will collect and monitor data from the air conditioning and mechanical ventilation system to ensure that temperature and humidity levels remain healthy for students and campus staff. Sensors installed at various locations around the campus will also be able to keep tabs on the number of persons in specific facilities to ensure that capacity limits are not breached. Data collected from these occupancy sensors will also help the campus manager identify usage patterns and potentially re-configure the campus to be more cost-effective to operate.

By aggregating the data collected from the various mechanical & electrical systems on the facilities management platform, Temasek Polytechnic will be able to monitor energy usage and identify opportunities to reduce costs and lower carbon footprint.

Temasek Polytechnic campus (Photo credit: Temasek Polytechnic)

Mr Gary Png, Director, Estates & Facilities Management in Temasek Polytechnic said, “We are pleased to be able to work with Surbana Jurong and its technology partner UnaBiz to realise a substantial part of our FM Digitalisation Plan, which will allow for more efficient building operations, while lowering our carbon footprint. We have 49 buildings spread across a 30-hectare campus, so it makes practical sense to pursue and implement smart FM solutions across campus. This will not only be sustainable and save on resources, but will also benefit our students from the Diploma in Integrated Facility Management, who will be getting hands-on learning and working experience. By using such real data in decision-making, they will be exposed to the future of facility management, moving forward”.

Setting up the digital facilities platform is in line with the Building and Construction Authority’s Integrated Digital Delivery (IDD) vision to integrate building operations and maintenance work processes digitally. The IDD is a key thrust in the Construction Industry Transformation Map and is aligned to Singapore’s efforts to train a highly-skilled workforce to use technology throughout the entire life cycle of a project from planning to design, construction and operations.

Mr James Chan, Managing Director of SMM Pte Ltd, Surbana Jurong’s Facilities Management arm, said, “Building on our experience as Temasek Polytechnic’s facilities management service provider for the last six years, we are stepping up our service delivery with an innovative digital solution which includes Surbana Jurong’s proprietary 24K platform. One distinct benefit of our solution will be enabling Temasek Polytechnic to receive real-time information of the environment as well as the health condition of the various mechanical and electrical systems, and to rectify them before they become faulty or waste unnecessary energy and cost as a result.”

Mr Jonathan Tan, Managing Director of UnaBiz Singapore, said, “The convergence of Digital Twin, IoT, and Machine Learning allow facility managers to transform data into actions. Real-time access to accurate data combined with Building Information FM Model, empower facility managers to respond to issues immediately, or even better, provide a high degree of prediction accuracy to prevent breakdowns, optimise building performance and increase energy efficiency, the key drivers of sustainability at large.”

FAQ

Why did TP call for a tender to develop a digital integrated facilities management (IFM) platform?

TP called for the tender as part of the school’s digitalisation plan to improve work processes and operational efficiencies for the entire campus including landscape, linkways and 49 buildings on site.
Part of the digitalisation plan is the deployment of over 3,000 sensors across the TP campus. These will provide real-time accurate data to a digital twin that can identify faults, anticipate risks and predict changing facility conditions with unprecedented accuracy. The platform will also help to ensure that temperature, humidity and occupancy remain at optimal levels.
By aggregating the data collected on Surbana Jurong’s digital IFM platform, TP will be able to monitor energy usage and identify opportunities to reduce costs and lower carbon footprint.

How does Surbana Jurong’s digital IFM platform work? What is the system flow, from sensors, to feeding information to a digital twin, to the collection of usable data?

Data derived from the sensors is channeled to a Common Data Environment (CDE) platform called “24K Integrated Platform” (24K) to perform predictive maintenance for different asset types and to gain better data insights. This platform has machine learning capabilities and visualisation tools which will cater to the needs of the various user profiles.
24K is a system agnostic, plug-and-play platform that houses its enterprise-level digital facilities management system, OMNI. The IoT sensors from UnaBiz are plugged into OMNI and visualised on a dashboard. For smaller spaces, Surbana Jurong has a Pocket Facilities Management solution which is a lighter version of OMNI. Campus managers can then review data streams from temperature, humidity, occupancy sensors deployed in a space to ensure the health and safety of users of a particular building are not compromised.

What is the investment value of the digital IFM platform?

We are not at liberty to disclose the exact value of the investment but it is worth noting that the true value of digitising facilities management systems is in being able to track and measure sustainability performance targets and use the data to manage costs better. The ability to monitor energy usage will also create opportunities to reduce costs and lower carbon footprint.

Who will the digital IFM platform benefit specifically and how will it benefit them?

i. Campus facility managers from Surbana Jurong and TP: Facility managers will be able to receive real time information of the environment as well as the health condition of the various mechanical and electrical systems, and to rectify them before they become faulty or waste unnecessary energy and cost as a result.
ii. Users of the TP campus, including students, staff and guests: The platform will collect and monitor data from the Air-Conditioning & Mechanical Ventilation system to ensure that temperature and humidity levels remain healthy for all. Sensors around the campus will also be able to keep tabs on the number of persons on campus to ensure that capacity limits are not breached.
iii. TP as an institution: The platform exemplifies TP’s commitment to developing a smart and sustainable campus. It will also identify areas where energy can be managed more effectively and, as a result, create opportunities to reduce costs.

Why was Surbana Jurong chosen to develop the digital IFM platform at TP?

Surbana Jurong currently oversees the integrated facilities management of TP, including the routine maintenance of buildings and amenities, mechanical and electrical services, conservancy works, fire protection, and pest and landscape management. The development of the digital IFM platform at TP, which includes the deployment of 24K and OMNI by Surbana Jurong and that of the IoT sensors by UnaBiz, is a step-up in offerings to facilitate the development of a smarter and more sustainable campus for TP.

About Surbana Jurong

Surbana Jurong Group is a global urban, infrastructure and managed services consulting firm, with over 70 years of track record in successful project delivery. Headquartered in Singapore, the group has a global talent pool of over 16,000 across Surbana Jurong and our member companies AETOS, Atelier Ten, B+H, KTP, Prostruct, RBG, SAA, Sino-Sun and SMEC, based in more than 120 offices in over 40 countries. They include architects, designers, planners, engineers and other specialists driven by progressive thinking and creative ideas to shape a better future.

Our technical experts deliver sustainable solutions that cover the entire project life cycle from planning and design, through to delivery and management, as well as decommissioning and closure. We provide a full suite of multidisciplinary consultancy services across a diverse range of sectors including aviation, healthcare, hospitality, transport, energy, water and the environment.

Surbana Jurong has built more than a million homes in Singapore, created master plans in more than 30 countries and developed over 100 industrial parks globally. Our tag line “Building Cities, Shaping Lives” expresses how every project or undertaking is, for the Group, an opportunity to fulfil aspirations and enrich lives. By designing and delivering quality housing, work spaces, roads, rail, hydropower, dams, underground and coastal protections and other critical infrastructure needed by our clients, we are redefining cities and transforming them into sustainable and liveable spaces where communities and businesses, present and future, can thrive.

For more information, please visit: www.surbanajurong.com.