Craig Schneider, together with Greg Cole from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte), recently presented at the American Public Works Association-North Carolina (APWA-NC) Stormwater Conference and the Southeastern Regional Association of Physical Plant Administrators (SRAPPA) 2025 Conference in Georgia. They shared the project team’s journey of transforming scattered, outdated records into a dynamic digital twin in a compact nine-month window. This living, interactive model provides UNC Charlotte with a digital replica of their water distribution network, enabling data-driven decision-making through visualizations of their assets aimed at saving time, reducing costs, and preventing service disruptions.
During the presentations, Craig highlighted the team’s innovative data integration and modeling strategies using Esri technologies and Bentley’s WaterGEMS software. The sessions outlined the key concepts, such as data mapping and validation techniques, and steps used to create a comprehensive model of the campus’ complex water system.
Conference participants left with a thorough understanding of the methodologies and practical considerations involved in bringing a digital twin to life. Attendees also gained valuable insights into lessons learned, best practices, establishing a scalable framework, and proposed future steps as UNC Charlotte continues to enhance their databases, models, and integration into their current and future workflows.
Craig and Greg emphasized how this system has become an essential resource for effective asset management at the university, promoting both reliability and future scalability. By sharing UNC Charlotte’s journey, they aim to empower more institutions with tools to strengthen facilities management, improve responsiveness, and efficiently meet the needs of their students and the communities they serve.
Learn more about UNC Charlotte’s Campus Water System.
