When most people think of data centers, they imagine hyperscaled warehouses filled to the brim with servers that can be as large as 6 million square feet and consume enough electricity to power an entire town. However, over 50% of data centers in the U.S. are constructed and managed by small to medium-sized businesses.
Regardless of size, all modern data centers are extremely complex facilities that have unique requirements for cooling, power consumption, and regulatory compliance. Ensuring that each aspect is properly addressed during project planning and the initial stages of construction is crucial for keeping costs in check and on schedule so that data centers can meet the needs of an increasingly digital world.
The Nexys mobile 3D mapping system provides data center planners with a
Below, we’ll explain how our Nexys system works and how it can streamline workflows during every phase of data center planning, construction, and post-construction.
Nexys is a portable surveying solution and autonomy payload that can create a 3D digital twin of any outdoor or internal space without the need of a prior map or connection to existing wireless infrastructure. And unlike other dedicated 3D surveying options, the Nexys offers a uniquely flexible modular design to quickly adapt to any surveying task.
By using advanced LiDAR-based SLAM technology, Nexys is capable of powering an autonomous vehicle for digitally surveying large areas without the need for a pilot in the loop, or separately as a handheld mobile scanner for smaller areas. It also mounts to a backpack or a vehicle for added flexibility and operator comfort.
All of these features combine to make Nexys an invaluable resource during complex projects such as data center construction.
Unlike existing surveying methods that require specialized equipment for different tasks, a single Nexys unit can be used in every phase of construction from planning to post-construction.
Early Planning: Data center construction starts with the early planning phase, which includes site selection, presentations to local and federal agencies, and early permitting.
Nexys provides a way to quickly survey multiple site location options without the need for large surveying teams to visit each area over days or even weeks. The fast deployment and low operator requirements of the Nexys means you can survey sites quickly to produce all the necessary data required for planning and permitting.
Design & Early Construction: With the site secured and approved, the next phase is to complete the design and begin early construction. The data captured by Nexys during the early planning phase can be used directly in CAD and BIM workflows during this phase.
Procurement: During the procurement phase of data center construction, Nexys 3D models ensures material quantities can be estimated more accurately to reduce waste or avoid delays due to lack of materials. Our Nexys can perform daily 3D scans of large inventories such as aggregate or lumber so project managers can detect any upcoming shortages and fix them before they halt or slow construction.
Main Construction Phases: During main construction, Nexys becomes an even more crucial tool in your project management toolkit. Along with sub-centimeter-accurate 3D scans of construction progress, Nexys also captures panoramic, high-resolution photographs of every area surveyed. These images are known as photospheres and provide additional details during construction phases.
Engineers, project managers, architects, and stakeholders can all view these photospheres to perform ongoing visual inspections of any area. Because of the speed and cost-effectiveness of capturing high-resolution 3D models with Nexys, these progress updates can be performed daily. The result is project managers have the most up-to-date data possible to make crucial decisions before any potential problems arise that could threaten safety or construction progress.
Communication is always a challenge during large and complex construction projects. Because of the sheer number of stakeholders and unique nature of data centers, communication during every stage of the project can be an even bigger challenge than usual.
Nexys solves this common project management issue through the use of industry-standard platform compatibility. All data captured by the Nexys is immediately shareable through the popular Trimble Reality Platform.
A single shared folder can be created, and all stakeholders instantly have access to critical site data at every stage of planning and construction. The data you capture with Nexys is never siloed in proprietary formats. With Nexys, internal and external team members can make faster decisions, which keeps the entire project moving forward and on schedule.
Another challenge with data center construction is safety. Safety is always paramount during construction, but data centers pose unique safety challenges. Issues such as heights, high power, and confined spaces are sometimes difficult to address. Nexys drastically improves safety by reducing or even eliminating the number of personnel required to walk through and capture data in potentially hazardous situations.
But by utilizing Nexys’ fully autonomous ground or aerial modes, surveying can be completed without a surveyor ever entering a hazardous environment. Surveyors can plan an autonomous exploration with Nexys mounted to a drone with added Autonomy License and launch missions from a safe standoff distance. Because the Nexys requires far fewer surveyors than traditional methods, there is less risk to manage with a much smaller team.
The most impressive part is that a single Nexys unit can work autonomously mounted to a ground-based robot, aerial drone, or be carried by a single operator. There’s no need to purchase separate units or train operators to use different systems. It's all possible so you can get more done with Nexys in your surveying toolkit.
Data centers aren’t static structures. As technology evolves and the needs of users change, so must the data center. Changes need careful planning to model how large computer systems will react when moved to new locations within the facility. These changes can impact cooling, power consumption, and even safety.
With the Nexys, the entire facility can be modeled into a digital twin after completion. This provides accurate as-built documentation to model and simulate any needed changes or optimizations.
When final changes are made, you can immediately perform another survey to update your as-built documentation so building data is always 100% accurate.
Whether you’re involved in hyperscaled data center construction or an SMB looking to expand its on-premise data center, Nexys can improve safety, streamline planning, and lower your costs dramatically.
Contact us today to book a personalized demo and witness the Nexys fully autonomous digital surveying and mapping ecosystem in action.