Academia
Connecting the Systems That Power a Modern Campus
A modern campus functions like a small city, featuring energy systems that include central utilities, HVAC systems, research facilities, and other infrastructure that must work together efficiently and sustainably. However, as technology continues to advance, maintaining visibility across these systems poses a significant challenge.
Most universities already collect a wealth of data from energy meters, laboratory equipment, and building systems. The problem is that data often lives in different places. Operations teams might see one story from the HVAC system, another from the power plant, and another from the building management software. Without a single, connected view, it’s challenging to identify problems early or pinpoint where improvements could have the greatest impact.
“We have screens up in our command center around the clock. We can actually see what is going on around campus. Before it was getting a call from the end user.”
— Donald Hill, Assistant Director of Engineering and Energy Facilities, UMCP
See What’s Possible with AVEVA PI System for Academia
Empowering education, research, and sustainable campus operations through industrial-grade data infrastructure
University of Maryland
When a massive power outage struck the University of Maryland’s research campus, the central plant team was left without a clear view of what had failed or how widespread the impact was. With limited visibility into substation data, it took hours to locate the issue and restore critical power to buildings serving nearly 50,000 students.
That event became the turning point. The university implemented the AVEVA™ PI System™ to bring together real-time data from substations, steam systems, and power distribution loops. Today, facility teams can instantly visualize the operational status of every feeder, pump, and circuit on a single screen — across multiple campuses. This situational awareness means faster crisis response, fewer disruptions, and a more resilient infrastructure that supports both daily operations and emergency recovery.
University of Massachusetts
At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, rapid campus growth created new energy challenges for its Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant. Operators needed to balance fluctuating demand, fuel prices, and weather conditions while keeping costs low and systems reliable. To address this, the university partnered with Radix Engineering to implement the AVEVA™ PI System™, unifying data from multiple control systems into one real-time view of energy production and equipment performance.
With centralized visibility and predictive modeling, engineers could make informed decisions about fuel use and system configuration based on live market data. The result was a 3% reduction in operating costs — nearly $900,000 in annual savings — along with improved efficiency, tighter control, and a more resilient campus energy network.
We’ve standardized the data and reduced operation cost by three percent or approximately $900,000 per year by making real-time decisions on major equipment based on current energy market prices.”
How Universities Use Real-Time Data to Improve Efficiency and Reliability
Modern campuses operate with countless moving parts, including utilities, HVAC systems, laboratories, and central plants, that must function flawlessly every day. Rising energy costs, aging infrastructure, and sustainability goals make these tasks more challenging than ever. The AVEVA™ PI System™ integrates these systems, transforming raw data into real-time insights. This enables facility leaders to observe what is happening, understand the underlying reasons, and take action before issues escalate.
Discover the strategies behind the world’s most connected universities.
Inside, you’ll learn how:
- How UMass Amherst saved $900 K each year by aligning plant operations with live data.
- University of Maryland used data visualization to improve crisis response and resiliency.
- MIT uncovered a hidden equipment fault that saved $60 K–$80 K annually.
- UC Davis reduced gas use by 62 % and lowered energy-use intensity by 46 % through connected optimization.
Get Started with InSource Today
Connect with our experts to see how real-time data and AVEVA solutions can help you reduce costs, strengthen reliability, and achieve your sustainability targets.