Radix & Missouri university use AI to boost campus facilities

Radix and the University of Missouri are collaborating on AI-driven facility optimisation to improve the efficiency and resilience of campus energy operations.

The partnership will be highlighted at the Big Ten and Friends Utilities Conference, hosted this year at the University of Cincinnati. The event gathers campus facilities operations leaders, utility professionals, and engineers from across North America to discuss challenges and advancements in facility management.

Michael O'Connor PE, Director of Energy Management at the University of Missouri, will present with Thiago Bacic, Vice President of Infrastructure and Services, North America at Radix. Their session, entitled "Identifying Peak Performance: A Data-Driven Approach to Cost Effective Combined Cooling, Heating & Power Operations," aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Missouri's Combined Cooling Heating & Power (CCHP) plant operations and discuss the complexities of balancing cost-efficiency and resilience.

The presentation will address University of Missouri's CCHP operations, the challenge of determining the most cost-effective and resilient operational strategy, and the use of data-driven and machine-learning approaches by Radix to support decision-making through optimisation and demand forecasting. The session will also cover operational gains, business value, and propose next steps for further enhancing the solution.

Thiago Bacic commented on the collaboration: "Campus facilities are under constant pressure to optimise infrastructure, cut energy use, and enhance campus sustainability. We bring together a multidisciplinary team that includes engineers and data scientists to provide energy efficiency solutions for facilities."

Michael O'Connor elaborated on the challenges faced by the University of Missouri's operations. He said, "Delivering cost-effective and resilient utility services to a major research university in the Midwest presents significant challenges. Operating a multifuel combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) plant efficiently is complicated by fluctuating fuel prices and variable MISO wholesale electricity costs, which impact equipment dispatch decisions. However, by analysing historical operational and load data, it is possible to forecast optimal operating configurations that maximise efficiency without compromising system resiliency."

Radix uses a combination of engineering, software development, automation, and industrial IT to deliver solutions tailored to specific facility needs. A key aspect of the University of Missouri project is the implementation of an advisory system that enables real-time tracking of variables such as fuel costs, demand, and weather conditions. This system supports facility management in making data-informed decisions to optimise operations.

Thiago Bacic detailed the technical approach saying, "The solution combines a predictive system that forecasts energy consumption for the next hour and each hour of the following day with an optimisation engine that determines the most efficient plant configuration to meet demand. This approach enables proactive decision-making, reducing operational costs while maintaining sustainability and staying within facilities management constraints."

The conference offers the facilities management community an opportunity to engage with project leaders through the joint presentation and discussions at Booth 24. The event forms a platform for sharing insights into operational strategies, the deployment of new technology, and collaborative problem-solving in energy management and facility optimisation.

The collaboration between Radix and the University of Missouri highlights the increasing role of data analytics, machine learning, and real-time advisory systems in campus energy management. The approach focuses on balancing cost containment, system resilience, and carbon reduction targets through actionable information based on operational data.