A specialist drone service was engaged by CQUniversity to capture the entire site. The resulting dataset was processed and delivered as a high-fidelity 3D environment, which was embedded into Cesium and hosted within a web-based environment for Directorate of Facilities Management (DFM) stakeholders to explore and interrogate.
My role focused on translating this technical asset into practical value. I worked directly with DFM to demonstrate how a digital campus model could support real operational needs, starting with rooftop analysis as a safer alternative to manual inspections involving ladders and physical access. This alone presented clear benefits in safety, time, and cost reduction.
Beyond the initial use case, I supported broader conversations around why an asset like this should exist at all. We explored how the model could evolve into a living digital reference point, one that allows new information to be embedded over time. Examples included integrating BIM data, identifying locked access points, locating water and services infrastructure, and supporting security or facilities onboarding for new staff.
The project also highlighted opportunities beyond facilities management. The same digital twin could support student wayfinding and campus navigation, and act as a shared reference for planning, inductions, and future development discussions.
At its core, this project was about demonstrating the value of site-scale drone capture as more than a one-off scan. It showed how a well-structured digital asset can underpin multiple workflows across an organisation, improving safety, understanding, and long-term decision-making while reducing reliance on repeated physical inspections.
Scope
- Drone Capture Coordination
- Cesium Integration
- Digital Twin Hosting & Deployment
- Facilities Use-Case Development
- Strategy & Capability Translation
- Technical Analyst