The smart office, the smart warehouse, the smart data center, the smart whatever structure your organization relies on is here. But, are you doing it right? Your facility may have all the automation devices and software, but if the IT infrastructure isn’t up to snuff, then it isn’t really smart. Why not? Latency. There is a big difference between smart automations in HVAC, security, and occupancy tracking that use real-time data and those that masquerade as such while relying on outdated information.
Low Latency and the Birth of Digital Twins
If you haven’t come across the term digital twin, you will. But we’re guessing most facility managers are already familiar with it. Why? It’s become one of the most valuable tools in modern building operations. But what is it?
A digital twin is a virtual replica of your physical facility. Think of the SIMS video game, but ultra-accurate in every facet, and plugged into real-time data. Using a digital twin, facility managers can monitor systems, automate responses, react to occupancy levels, manipulate interior climate settings, and, best of all to a CEO’s ears, reduce operating costs.
Amazing right? Yes, as long as the network latency can keep up with fast changes. Latency is the magic that makes a digital twin a true marvel, or a system that creates pain.
Why Low Latency Is a Must for Digital Twins
Digital twins depend on accurate information in each moment of decision. As conditions change, it must react near-instantaneously to deliver the greatest performance and value. If data arrives too slowly, the virtual building stops reflecting reality. The speed of data transmission is the virtual twin’s only window into the physical building.
How a Digital Twin Shows Signs of Slow Network Latency
- HVAC responses lag
- Security alerts are delayed
- Lighting changes feel sluggish/unresponsive
- Occupancy data is stale
- Predictive maintenance notifications arrive late
Every decision the automations make is based on what has happened, not what is happening. Instead of being a mirror, it’s a recording.
But does speed really matter that much? Yes. In fact, many automation systems powered by a digital twin have established benchmarks for acceptable latency. What’s shocking is just how fast the standards are set. It is common to expect digital twin environments to have network latency below 10 milliseconds to deliver high-fidelity synchronization. If that sounds fast, it is. For comparison, spontaneous eyelid blinks take a little more than 100 milliseconds.
To achieve that, IT infrastructure must be built for speed, consistency, and almost-real-time data transport. What’s fascinating is that achieving that isn’t just about bandwidth. Sub-10-millisecond speed requires the right combination of hardwired connections, switches, relays, and more.
A key aspect of delivering sub-10ms latency is Cat6 cabling. It is among the most practical structured cabling systems for modern smart buildings. It’s also more affordable than going full optical fiber.
The Latency Benefits of Cat6
- Supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet over long distances
- Stronger alien crosstalk resistance
- Better headroom for PoE devices
- Suitable for dense IoT environments
- Long lifecycle
When Fiber Latency Is Necessary
Fiber enables far more performance than Cat6 cable. At the enterprise level, it’s almost mandatory to create a real-time digital twin. Fiber optic can be scaled up to 100 Gigabits, can be used for exceptionally long runs, and is immune to electromagnetic interference/
- Inter-floor connections
- Build-to-building links
- Data center uplinks
- Core switch aggregation
- High-device-density environments
Does Facility Management Always Need a Digital Twin?
Need? No. Digital twins are a nice-to-have for every facility, and will likely become the standard for facility managers. For now, building digital twins is a must for a select handful of structures/locations/organizations.
Who Should Use Digital Twins?
- Large corporate campuses
- Healthcare facilities
- Manufacturing plants
- Smart warehouses
- High-security buildings
- Advanced energy-management facilities
It is within such environments that many systems interact simultaneously. They rely on each other to create the optimal conditions. If even one is out of sync, it can trigger a domino effect as each tries to adjust and compensate for the others. Conversely, the faster that networks and data are, the more perfectly they align and work in chorus with each other.
Sub-10ms Performance Helps
- Near real-time sensor ingestion
- Responsive automation logic
- Accurate occupancy analytics
- Fast alarm propagation
- Building visualization platforms
Where Latency is Felt the Most: HVAC
Most people in a facility won’t notice slow latency impacting facility operations. Things like security, for example, may go completely unnoticed. But HVAC is the first and most notable exception. Conference rooms may get too hot because occupancy detection has created an HVAC response. Or the airflow can become stagnant when the fans are not on. Basically, slow latency creates noticeable comfort issues. The types of people people complain about. About the only other area that can be as easily noticed is lighting. However, even a slow response is often overlooked. Being hot, sweaty, or in a stuffy room is rarely tolerated.
Where Does Fast Latency Matter Most for Integrated Facility Management?
If HVAC is the most noticeable area, security is likely the most important area regarding fast latency. Modern buildings rely on super-fast networks to support a network of digital tools.
Modern Building Security Assets that Rely on Low Latency
- Smart cameras
- Badge access
- Door sensors
- Visitor management
- Automated workflow lockdowns
In almost any of those areas, a moment’s delay or failing to remain in synchronization can create a dangerous or costly breach.
How To Know If Your Facility is Digital Twin Ready
The best, and perhaps only way to know if your facility is ready to support a digital twin is to have a network assessment conducted. You’ll want to work with an experienced IT infrastructure partner that specializes in low-voltage cabling, fiber optics, and network design.
A Proper Network Assessment Should Include:
Physical Layer
- Cable category/categories
- Fiber type
- Patching quality
- Pathway capacity
Network Performance
- Latency
- Jitter
- Packet loss
- Throughout
Architecture
- Switch uplinks
- Redundancy
- PoE budgets
- End-to-core paths
Scalability
- Sensor expansion
- AI analytics workloads
- Additional buildings
- Increased automation density
Ready to Future-Proof Your Facility with a Digital Twin For Real-Time Modeling?
Creating and supporting a digital twin is essential to future-proofing ongoing operations. Identifying and deploying the best approach to achieve it requires working with an expert. Matrix-NDI solves the challenges of your business operations by unlocking the full ROI of your technology investments. We design and install networks built for maximum speed and perfectly matched to bandwidth demands.
Why Work With Matrix-NDI?
We have on-staff Registered Communications Distribution Designers (RCDD), coast-to-coast service, and elite data networking partners, including Extreme Networks, Nile, and others. Ultimately, Matrix-NDI aligns your business with the devices, internet service, and software to achieve all technical objectives. We invite you to reach out with your needs and see how our expertise, partnerships, and national scale can be leveraged to solve them.
Contact Matrix-NDI to get started. Let’s build smarter, safer, more connected spaces — together.
