EKO – The Future of Intelligent Building Operations Through Digital Twins

This month, we're pleased to feature a guest blog by Wissam Hijazi, VP Innovation at EllisDon, a J2 Innovations partner that is leveraging the FIN Framework for its digital twin platform, EKO.

In the ever-evolving landscape of smart building technologies, EKO emerges as a transformative end-to-end digital twin platform that redefines the way building operators, facility managers, and asset owners interact with their physical environments. EKO offers a fully customizable and integrated digital twin experience, enabling stakeholders to go beyond static building information to achieve a real-time, operationally intelligent, sustainable built environment.

By seamlessly integrating the building information model (BIM), Internet of Things (IoT) data, the building management system (BMS), computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) platforms and 3^rd party systems, while delivering advanced visualization and fault detection capabilities, EKO positions itself as a single pane of glass that consolidates siloed building data into one open, scalable, bespoke and intuitive platform.

A tailored experience for building operators

What sets EKO apart from traditional building management tools is its fully customized and user-centric interface. The platform is not a generic solution—it is crafted specifically for each project to cater to the operational and strategic goals of building operators and property managers.

By utilizing customized dashboards, dynamic key performance indicators (KPIs) and visual analytics designed for distinct roles, such as technicians, engineers and executives, EKO delivers personalized and actionable insights to all stakeholders. This tailored approach enables operators to promptly pinpoint system inefficiencies, streamline maintenance processes, track equipment lifecycles, and confidently make informed decisions based on data. The interactive nature of EKO's features empowers users across various levels of expertise to leverage real-time information effectively and enhance operational efficiency.

End-to-end integration: BIM, IoT, BMS and CMMS

At the core of EKO lies its strength in interconnectivity and interoperability.

• BIM Integration: EKO imports and manages high-fidelity LOD 500 models to provide geometrically accurate representations of assets. These models are live-linked to sensors, creating 3D technical visualizations that are not just for reference, but also for real-time diagnostics and control.
• IoT and Sensor Data: Incorporating a wide range of IoT devices and sensor data, EKO efficiently handles and analyzes a high volume of data streams, processing numerous data points every second. From monitoring air quality sensors to tracking energy meters, EKO captures critical information, such as temperature variations, CO₂ concentrations, occupancy patterns and equipment performance. By transforming raw sensor data into organized and actionable insights, EKO empowers users to gain valuable intelligence and make data-driven decisions to optimize operational performance and enhance overall efficiency. The ability to extract structured intelligence from diverse sensor inputs showcases the advanced capabilities of EKO in harnessing IoT and sensor data for improved decision-making and operational effectiveness.
• BMS Integration: EKO serves as an intuitive interface that seamlessly connects with both traditional and cutting-edge building management systems. By utilizing FIN Framework and APIs, EKO effectively bridges the gap between different operational systems, eliminating silos and transforming raw data into insightful and practical perspectives. By consolidating information from different sources into a centralized platform, operators can gain a holistic view of their building systems and operations. This integration enables comprehensive data analysis, real-time monitoring, and predictive insights that drive informed decision-making and optimize performance. In addition, EKO not only enhances the functionality of the default usage of BMS, but also standardizes data to provide actionable insights and improve decision-making processes. The interoperability and data standardization facilitated by EKO's digital twin capabilities enable users to unlock the full potential of their BMS infrastructure, promoting efficiency, optimization and enhanced operational performance across various building management functions.
• CMMS Synchronization: Integrating a single digital twin platform that seamlessly connects and utilizes data from the CMMS offers significant added value in optimizing maintenance operations and enhancing asset performance. By consolidating information from CMMS platforms into EKO, organizations can streamline maintenance processes, improve asset visibility, and enhance predictive maintenance capabilities. This integration enables real-time monitoring of asset health, efficient work order management, and proactive maintenance planning based on data-driven insights. The ability to leverage data from CMMS platforms within the EKO environment not only increases operational efficiency, but also supports informed decision-making, reduces downtime and prolongs asset lifespan, ultimately leading to cost savings and improved overall maintenance effectiveness.
  

Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FD&D) Module

EKO's advanced Fault Detection and Diagnostics engine stands out as a key feature, offering automated detection of anomalies, performance deviations and operational issues. Through the utilization of predefined rule sets, complex algorithms and condition-based logic, EKO performs a range of functions, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Identifying faulty equipment consuming excessive power
• Detecting underperformance heating and cooling in zones
• Pinpointing inefficient HVAC sequences based on weather conditions
• Notifying operators of abnormal trends in mechanical equipment, indicating impending failure

This eliminates the need for manual inspection of logs or reports. Instead, building teams receive intelligent alerts from EKO—prioritized by severity and potential impact—along with recommended resolutions.

Interactive Reporting & Technical Visualization

Unlike most digital platforms that rely on tabular data or basic graphs, EKO introduces immersive visualization tools to bring building data to life:

• 3D Equipment Status Illustration: Color-coded equipment models show operational states (ex. green = normal, amber = warning, red = failure)
• Dynamic Heatmaps: Room-level energy consumption, thermal comfort or occupancy heatmaps
• Drill-down Reports: Stakeholders can navigate from a high-level KPI dashboard to specific floor zones or equipment performance graphs in just two clicks

This level of interactivity allows technical teams to detect inefficiencies spatially and functionally, making performance reviews more efficient and engaging. EKO offers advanced functionalities in digital and interactive reporting, revolutionizing the way energy performance data is visualized and analyzed. Through interactive reporting features, users can delve into detailed data consumption patterns, identify trends and pinpoint areas for optimization with ease. Real-time data visualization tools enable dynamic monitoring of energy usage, providing actionable insights for enhancing efficiency and sustainability practices. This interactive reporting capability not only enhances data transparency and accessibility, but also empowers users to make informed decisions, drive continuous improvement and achieve optimal energy performance outcomes.

Holistic system health dashboard

EKO's System Health Dashboard integrates all operational data into a centralized interface, providing a comprehensive overview of the building's overall well-being and performance:

• Energy performance against benchmarks (e.g., ASHRAE, LEED)
• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) compliance
• Equipment availability and uptime
• Preventive maintenance compliance
• Occupant comfort and space utilization scores

The dashboard is designed to be flexible and scalable across multiple buildings within a portfolio, and is well-suited for use in centralized command centers or by remote facilities management teams. Its adaptability and user-friendly interface make it a valuable tool for gaining actionable insights and optimizing building operations effectively.

Supporting sustainability & carbon emissions control

Sustainability is not an afterthought in EKO—it’s embedded into its operational logic. By enabling real-time performance tracking and proactive energy management, EKO directly supports sustainability targets:

• Energy Efficiency: By benchmarking energy consumption and identifying inefficiencies, EKO supports demand-side reduction strategies
• Carbon Footprint Monitoring: Integration with emissions databases enables automatic calculation of CO₂ equivalent emissions based on electricity and gas usage
• Indoor Air Quality Improvement: Monitoring CO₂ and Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) levels allows ventilation systems to be optimized for health without excessive energy waste
• Lifecycle Impact: Predictive maintenance ensures longer equipment lifespans, reducing waste and minimizing resource consumption

These features empower building owners to achieve Net Zero goals, improve ESG reporting and deliver healthier environments for occupants.

Automation of manual data collection

In conventional building operations, performance data is frequently scattered across various formats, including spreadsheets, vendor reports and isolated management systems. This fragmented data landscape often requires labor-intensive manual processes for analysis, troubleshooting and reporting. EKO addresses this inefficiency by streamlining operations through the following methods:

1. Ingesting real-time and historical data from all systems
2. Normalizing diverse data formats using FIN Framework and Haystack data standard
3. Leveraging logic and AI models to promptly identify and address issues as they arise
4. Automatically generating reports for compliance, auditing and day-to-day operations

By implementing these streamlined processes, EKO not only minimizes the risk of human error, but also liberates engineering teams from the burden of managing disparate data sources. This enables teams to redirect their focus towards strategic initiatives, fostering a more proactive and efficient approach to building operations management.

Realistic benchmarks and predictive analytics

EKO's advanced analytics engine goes beyond traditional dashboards by enabling predictive performance modeling. This innovative approach involves analyzing current data in conjunction with industry benchmarks, historical patterns and peer building comparisons to deliver actionable insights:

1. Projections for energy and cost savings based on data analysis
2. Customized preventive maintenance schedules derived from actual usage patterns rather than fixed schedules
3. Forecasts on occupancy trends and space utilization optimization
4. Comparative analysis of asset performance across different facilities for informed decision-making

By setting these benchmarks as optimization targets, EKO empowers Operations and Maintenance (O&M) teams with quantifiable data-driven guidance, facilitating strategic decision-making and enhancing operational efficiency across building portfolios.

Return on Investment (ROI) – tangible and strategic gains

Deploying EKO offers both immediate operational cost reductions and long-term strategic returns.

Short-Term ROI:

• Reduction in energy costs through real-time optimization
• Drop in equipment failures due to predictive maintenance
• Faster incident response times, cutting downtime
• Labor efficiency gain by automating manual data entry, reporting and diagnosis

Long-Term ROI:

• Extended asset life due to smarter maintenance
• Improved tenant satisfaction and retention in commercial buildings
• Higher Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) scores and green certification value
• Portfolio-wide standardization, easing facility audits and compliance reviews
• Increased asset valuation through modern, efficient, and documented operations

For property developers and owners, EKO supports value engineering of OPEX, transforming operations from reactive to predictive and unlocking measurable financial outcomes.

Conclusion

EKO is not just a platform—it’s a paradigm shift in how buildings are operated, maintained, and optimized. By bridging the gap between design data (BIM), real-time operations (IoT/BMS), and facility workflows, EKO establishes a living, breathing digital representation of a building that continuously learns, adapts, and delivers value.

Whether you're a smart city developer, a private real estate owner, or an enterprise portfolio manager, EKO empowers your teams to operate more efficiently, sustainably and intelligently. In a world demanding more accountability, transparency and performance from our buildings, EKO ensures that you are always in control, informed and ahead.

The buildings of the future are not built—they are connected, intelligent and alive. With EKO, that future is here. Contact EllisDon to find out more.