Case study

Next-Gen Digital Twins for Facility Security

Client · VirtualZ Industry · Technology & Security Location · Birmingham, UK

Where it started

From remote auctions to real-time control.

VirtualZ's journey with digital twins began through necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a partner of Charter Auctions, a leading industrial auctioneer in the UK, founder James Tomlinson faced a significant challenge: buyers in Dubai needed to purchase assets from a massive 40,000-square-foot facility but couldn't travel for in-person viewings.

The solution? A Matterport digital twin enhanced through the Treedis platform. The results were immediate and transformative.

“Literally within 2 weeks, everything in the building had sold and it really opened my eyes to how powerful digital twins were”James Tomlinson

But this success sparked a bigger question from a manufacturing client: could a digital twin do more than just market assets? Could it provide real-time operational control?

"He wanted to walk around in real time and actually see what's going on inside of his machines," James explained. This conversation became the catalyst for VirtualZ to push the boundaries of digital twin technology, transforming static 3D models into live, interactive command centers.

The challenge

Too many systems, not enough context.

Modern facilities generate massive amounts of data across multiple systems: access control, CCTV, HVAC, energy management, and more. For facility managers, this creates several critical problems:

Data Silos: Different systems operate in isolation, requiring managers to constantly switch between dashboards and interfaces. A security alert on the CCTV system requires logging into a separate access control platform to respond.
Lack of Spatial Context: Traditional dashboards present information as lists and tables. A security guard managing 150,000 square feet sees "Door H2 External - Unlocked" on a screen but has no immediate visual reference for where that door is located or what camera covers it.
Response Time: When incidents occur, every second counts. Having to navigate multiple systems, verify locations, and coordinate responses delays critical decision-making.
Training Complexity: New staff face steep learning curves as they try to understand facility layouts, security zones, and system operations. The gap between a 2D dashboard and physical reality creates confusion and errors.

“Traditional facility management platforms, like the Kisi dashboard, it's just a long, long list of doors, and I think that can be meaningless, almost, to someone who's new.”James Tomlinson

The approach

One unified platform.

VirtualZ partnered with Treedis to create something fundamentally different: a unified platform that transforms the Matterport digital twin into a live, interactive command center. The goal was straightforward but ambitious: "one unified platform that allows you to control it all without hopping between different tabs," said James.

Building the Foundation

VirtualZ uses Matterport's Pro 3 camera to scan facilities and create photorealistic, dimensionally accurate 3D models. This isn't just about visual appeal. The precision of these scans provides the spatial foundation that makes everything else possible.

The Integration Hub

Once captured, the Matterport model imports directly into Treedis' no-code platform. This becomes the central integration layer, the hub where all facility systems converge. The beauty of this approach is its accessibility. Enterprise-grade functionality without custom development means faster deployment and lower technical barriers.

Connecting the Systems

Using standard APIs, VirtualZ connects facility systems directly into the Treedis IoT dashboard. For their Birmingham facility, this meant integrating Kisi access control and Rhombus CCTV systems. The integration process is straightforward: enter the API credentials, and the systems sync almost instantly. Doors appear. Cameras populate. The entire configuration process takes approximately one month, but the actual system connections happen in real time.

VirtualZ deployed this solution in their own facility in Birmingham, UK, creating a comprehensive command center accessible through any web browser. The system provides complete door management from anywhere in the world.

The solution in action

Control and surveillance in one view.

Interactive Control

Users can lock and unlock any door remotely with a single click. As this happens, they watch as unlocked doors change color on the 3D model in real time, providing instant visual confirmation of status changes. Automated scheduling handles routine operations, allowing facility managers to set recurring lock and unlock schedules by day of the week for individual doors or entire groups. When emergencies arise, lockdown capabilities secure the entire building or specific zones with one click.

Unified Surveillance

The surveillance integration brings everything together. Clicking any camera location on the 3D model pulls up its live CCTV feed instantly. The video wall interface displays multiple camera feeds simultaneously while maintaining spatial context, so you always know which camera you're viewing and exactly what area it covers.

The real power emerges in how these systems work together. James explains the transformation:

“We've unified the systems, so you can actually have your camera linked to a specific lock, so you can actually control your doors through your camera views as well.”James Tomlinson

This integration eliminates the friction that plagues traditional facility management. Everything you need lives in one visual environment.

The results

Visibility, control, and simplicity.

James summarizes the immediate value in three core pillars: visibility, control, and simplicity.

Visibility without Ambiguity

The 3D interface eliminates the confusion of traditional dashboards. When a security alert triggers, managers instantly see the exact door location, surrounding areas, and which cameras have line-of-sight. "It actually makes sense in real life," James explains. "There's fewer blind spots. You've got this one visual environment." This spatial awareness even reveals coverage gaps.

“You're going, well, I can see here, but there's a door over there I can't see. Maybe we need to install an additional camera.”James Tomlinson

Frictionless Remote Control

The time savings transform daily operations. James recalls a recent example: "Literally last week, I got a call, 'I've forgotten my keys, can you let me in?'"

Instead of searching through door IDs, James pulled up the digital twin on his phone and unlocked the door in seconds. For contractors, the system enables secure remote access: "I can see that the contractor's there, it's not some random person, and I can actually physically allow them access to the facility in real time." The response time is near-instant:

“It's not that we've got a 5-second delay, it's almost, you know, a couple of milliseconds, and that door unlocks.”James Tomlinson

The Roadmap Ahead

Integrated access control and CCTV is just the beginning. VirtualZ is already planning expansions into:

HVAC control for real-time temperature and ventilation management.
Air quality monitoring with per-room CO2 levels and color-coded visual overlays.
Energy management for electricity consumption tracking.
Maintenance integration connecting work order systems.

James reflects on a future of 'staff-less' management:

“You could really do a completely staff-less management facility... It's complete control over every single aspect of your whole facility. I genuinely believe that if you can think of it, you can make it happen.”James Tomlinson

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