ELEVATE - Energy & Lifecycle Efficiency through Virtualised Analytics & Twin Engineering

Project Lead Overall: University of Innsbruck

Project Leader: University of Innsbruck, Unit of Energy Efficient Building - Sascha Hammes

Project partners:

• Bartenbach GmbH
• University of Applied Sciences Burgenland GmbH
• NEED immersive reality GmbH
• pit GmbH
• Tirol Kliniken GmbH
• University of Innsbruck, Energy Efficient Building Unit
• University of Innsbruck, Department of Computer Science

Funding agency: Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure represented by Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft mbH (FFG)

Funding programme: Virtual worlds and digital solutions for health

Total Funding: 985,008.00€ (of which UIBK-EEB: 214,098.00€))

Project Period: 01.01.2026 - 31.12.2028

Project website: https://projekte.ffg.at/projekt/5138997

Summary

Buildings rank as some of the foremost energy consumers globally, rendering them essential for attaining sustainability and climate objectives. Notwithstanding progress in energy management systems, a continual energy performance gap — the divergence between anticipated and actual energy usage — results in inefficiencies, elevated operating expenses, and environmental repercussions. Existing methodologies are deficient in a cohesive, data-driven platform that effortlessly amalgamates multi-modal data sources, including sensor readings, Building Information Models (BIM), digital documentation, and occupant feedback. This leads to a disjointed comprehension of building performance and hinders the execution of adaptive, real-time optimization solutions. Furthermore, although contemporary structures use sophisticated technologies, they frequently neglect to consider variable operational conditions and occupant behavior, resulting in diminished energy efficiency and occupant comfort.

ELEVATE provides an innovative Digital Twin (DT) platform to transform building optimization via real-time monitoring, simulation, and data-driven decision-making. The DT will serve as a dynamic, virtual equivalent to physical structures, perpetually assimilating real-world data to deliver a changing and accurate depiction of a building's operating condition. The proposed framework will utilize advanced technologies, including System Dynamics (SD) and Discrete Event Specification (DEVS) modeling, alongside generative AI for multi-modal data integration and sophisticated visualization methods such as augmented and virtual reality, to enhance the accuracy, predictability, and adaptability of building management. This method enables facility managers, designers, and occupants to engage with and impact building operations within an intuitive, immersive setting, so ensuring ongoing performance enhancement.

ELEVATE seeks to effect a paradigm change in building management by reconciling static design assumptions with dynamic real-world situations. Anticipated results encompass a quantifiable enhancement in energy efficiency, with forecasted operational advancements of up to 20% via occupant-driven feedback mechanisms and data-driven decision-making. The framework will include predictive maintenance capabilities, hence prolonging the lifespan of building components and minimizing downtime and maintenance expenses. The amalgamation of multi-modal data sources will improve interoperability among diverse building systems, resulting in a more unified and adaptive architecture. Moreover, by reducing energy waste and enhancing resource efficiency, the DT framework will substantially advance sustainability objectives, in accordance with global climate neutrality aspirations.

ELEVATE will establish a new benchmark for intelligent, sustainable buildings by integrating real-time data analytics, simulation-based insights, and human-centered interaction models. The suggested framework's scalable and extendable characteristics guarantee its suitability for both legacy and newly constructed buildings, offering a replicable blueprint for future energy-efficient, user-centered infrastructure. This project will provide a revolutionary method for contemporary building management, facilitating a more intelligent and sustainable urban and industrial environment as cities and companies pursue novel strategies to decrease emissions and enhance energy efficiency.