TM65: Embodied Carbon in Building Services — CPD Recap with a Digital Twin Lens

TM65: Embodied Carbon in Building Services — CPD Recap with a Digital Twin Lens

Event: TM65 – Embodied Carbon Calculation in Building Services & Student Prize Giving
Date & Time: Tuesday, 25 February 2025 · 17:30–20:00 GMT
Venue: Ulster University, Belfast BT15 1ED
Context: CIBSE-aligned CPD delivered with Dextra Group PLC, focused on lighting, pragmatic calculations, and what this means for real projects in NI, UK, Ireland and EU.

1) Setting the scene

A full room, plenty of questions, and a topic that finally has teeth. TM65 is about estimating embodied carbon when full EPDs aren’t on the table—and then using that estimate responsibly. For us, it’s the kind of data you want sitting beside assets in a 3D Digital Twin, so decisions aren’t made from gut feel but from something concrete.

2) TM65 in plain English

TM65 focuses mostly on A1–A3 (materials + manufacturing). It’s not a full LCA, and it’s not an EPD—but it standardises how we estimate carbon so we can compare products earlier and push manufacturers toward better disclosure.

3) Route #1 — TM65 Basic

Basic uses total weight and broad material splits with standard factors plus a couple of multipliers. It’s quick and good for early design. The trade-off: uncertainty—especially around electronics.

4) Route #2 — TM65 Medium

Medium swaps the “complexity” multiplier for simple, specific entries: transport to factory, manufacturing energy, transport to site, waste processing/disposal. It’s the sweet spot for tenders when you can get a short BOM from suppliers.

5) Route #3 — EPDs

EPDs (EN 15804) are independent, cover more impacts, and spell out exactly which modules are in scope. When you have an EPD, use it. When you don’t, TM65 is your lifeline—just keep the boundaries straight.

6) Why operational often dwarfs embodied (and when it doesn’t)

TM65 excludes operational electricity. That’s not a flaw; it’s a boundary. But you need to keep it in mind:

  • Example A (operational dominates): a 1500 mm batten at ~52.9 W, running 24/7 for 10 years on a typical UK grid ends up around 960 kgCO₂e in use vs ~55 kgCO₂e embodied—roughly 19× higher.
  • Example B (embodied can dominate): a 600×600 modular panel with integral emergency gear, 21.6 W, used ~2,080 h/yr for 10 years can show embodied (~118 kg) overtaking operational (~93 kg).

7) How to compare manufacturers fairly

To avoid apples-to-oranges:

  • Match function: lumen output, CCT/CRI, optics, lifetime.
  • Match boundaries: TM65 Basic/Medium vs EPD; list the modules.
  • Ask for electronics mass (drivers/boards) and materials (alloys, polymers, finishes).
  • Check serviceability: replaceable drivers/boards beat sealed units for life extension.
  • Expect an uncertainty band on TM65 estimates.

8) What to expect from manufacturers

As TM65 adoption grows, brands will publish Medium-level certificates per SKU and be challenged to improve them over time. That’s the direction of travel.

9) How product design will change

Expect more design-for-disassembly, higher recycled aluminium, simpler polymers, and a push to right-size luminaires so you need fewer of them. Also: be thoughtful with integral emergency—it adds mass, so use where it truly helps.

10) The honest limits

TM65 is a helpful estimate, not a whole-life answer. Electronics can be under-represented in Basic; comparisons go sideways if scopes don’t match; and, unless verified (like an EPD), data is self-declared. Note it, use it, and keep the context visible.

11) Five simple moves to cut whole-life carbon

  1. Meet the standard, don’t overshoot illuminance.
  2. Cut hours with daylight and presence controls, plus practical schedules.
  3. Choose serviceable luminaires with replaceable drivers/boards and a spares plan.
  4. Prefer recycled/mono-materials, minimal coatings.
  5. Ask early for data: EPDs where possible; otherwise TM65 Medium with assumptions noted.

12) Student Prize Giving

The best part of the evening? Seeing students celebrated for exactly the kind of thinking the industry needs—repairability, sensible materials, clear reporting. The future looks capable.

13) Where this meets Digital Strada’s 3D Digital Twins & Facility Management Assets

Capture once, trust always. We use LiDAR scanning to capture buildings accurately and build clear 3D Digital Twins. From that, we deliver the essential CAD/BIM drawings and a clean asset register—so every luminaire, driver and emergency pack is recorded in the right room with the right notes. TM65/EPD details (where available) sit beside each asset in plain language, making choices faster and easier during design reviews and refurb cycles.

Make day-to-day FM simpler. Facilities teams don’t need to hunt through PDFs and emails. In the twin, you can pull up a space, see what’s installed, check service notes/warranty, and view simple carbon info when planning replacements. It’s a straightforward way to balance reliability, cost and carbon without getting tangled in spreadsheets.

Handovers that actually help. Each project handover includes the twin, the drawings, and tidy asset schedules—ready for operations. That consistency makes audits painless and lets you line up like-for-like upgrades across the portfolio when standards or hours change. It’s a practical, low-friction path to smarter maintenance and lower whole-life impact.

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Apple Event 2025 — iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro/Max,  iPhone Air, and AirPods Pro 3: Every New Feature, Dates, and Takeaways

Apple Event 2025 — iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro/Max, iPhone Air, and AirPods Pro 3: Every New Feature, Dates, and Takeaways

Apple Event — May 7, 2024

Today’s Apple event delivered a full-stack refresh: the iPhone 17 family (including the ultra-slim iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max), new AirPods Pro 3, and three Apple Watch models (Series 11, SE 3, Ultra 3). Pre-orders begin Friday, September 12, with general availability from Friday, September 19; iOS 26 lands Monday, September 15.

Catch up quick | Apple September event highlights

Here’s a quick recap of the good things coming your way: iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air — the thinnest iPhone ever, iPhone 17, AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch Series 11.

Introducing AirPods Pro 3 | Apple

The world’s best in-ear Active Noise Cancellation, with up to 2x more noise cancelled than AirPods Pro 2. Exceptional sound quality. All-new heart rate sensing during workouts. A more secure in-ear fit. IP57 dust, sweat, and water resistance. A clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature. Live Translation to communicate across languages. And improved battery life with up to 8 hours of listening time.

Introducing iPhone 17 Pro | Apple

Introducing iPhone 17 Pro. Built from solid aluminum, a unique unibody encases our biggest battery with our longest battery life. The most powerful chip made for iPhone is cooled by an entirely new thermal system. Ceramic Shield protects the back as well as the front, and the display is 3x more scratch resistant. The most cinematic camera we’ve ever made captures ProRes RAW video. With a 56 percent larger sensor, the 8x optical-quality zoom gets you even closer to the action. It’s the first phone to offer genlock, for precise video synchronization and creating Hollywood-level effects. The ultimate Pro. iPhone 17 Pro.

Introducing iPhone Air | Apple

This is iPhone Air. Super thin. Strikingly light. Shockingly strong. Powered by the new A19 Pro chip, which is built for Apple Intelligence. Fitted with our new 18MP Center Stage front camera and an advanced 48MP Fusion camera system that enables Dual Capture, Action mode, next-generation portraits, and much more. All with remarkable all-day battery life.

iPhone 17: ProMotion for the mainstream, a new selfie era

I like the direction here: 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR with ProMotion (120Hz), tougher Ceramic Shield 2 with 3× better scratch resistance, the A19 chip, and an 18MP Center Stage front camera that lets me shoot landscape selfies without rotating the phone. Base storage doubles to 256GB. Pre-orders open September 12; in stores September 19.

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Why it matters to my work: ProMotion and the brighter outdoor screen make on-site scanning UIs and live model walkthroughs feel smoother and more legible in harsh light.

iPhone 17 Pro & 17 Pro Max: sustained performance and creator-grade video

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The Pro redesign focuses on sustained performance: an aluminum unibody with an Apple-designed vapor chamber, A19 Pro, and three 48MP Fusion cameras with the longest optical-quality zoom yet (up to 8×). For production work, Apple adds ProRes RAW, Apple Log 2, and genlock—features I can actually plug into multi-cam shoots and precise post pipelines. Pre-orders September 12; available September 19.

Creator note: Apple also announced Final Cut Camera 2.0 with ProRes RAW and genlock support on iPhone 17 Pro/Max plus tighter Live Multicam integration—useful for controlled, time-locked capture on site.

iPhone Air: the thinnest iPhone ever

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Apple added a brand-new tier: iPhone Air5.6 mm thin, titanium frame, 6.5-inch 120Hz display, and A19 Pro-class performance. It brings the 48MP Fusion rear camera and the same Center Stage front camera concept as the rest of the lineup. It’s eSIM-only worldwide, which helped enable the slim build. Pre-orders September 12; available September 19.

My read: this will be the business traveler’s favorite—light, durable, pocketable—while power users who want maximum battery and optics stick with Pro.

AirPods Pro 3: better ANC, in-ear HR, and Live Translation

Apple AirPods Pro 3 lifestyle 02 250909

AirPods Pro 3 step up with up to 2× stronger ANC vs. the previous gen, heart-rate sensing (PPG) in the buds, five ear-tip sizes (incl. XXS), IP57 durability, more battery life, and Live Translation for in-person conversations via Apple Intelligence. Pre-order today; available September 19; $249 (US).

Apple AirPods Pro 3 lifestyle 01 250909

Why I care: live, hands-free translation and reliable ANC are fantastic on construction floors, event venues, or mixed-language walkthroughs—exactly where I often present digital twins.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 hearing health 250909

Apple Watch Series 11: thinner, tougher, smarter health

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Series 11 adds hypertension notifications (regulatory clearance “expected soon”), a new sleep score, 5G, and Ion-X glass that’s 2× more scratch-resistant, with up to 24-hour battery life. Pre-order today; in stores September 19.

Why it matters: meaningful health signals and more robust glass are exactly what I want for team members who wear a watch on site daily.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: two-way satellite on the wrist

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Ultra 3 brings two-way satellite messaging/SOS, the largest Apple Watch display (LTPO3), 5G, and up to 42 hours of battery (72h in Low Power). It’s made for remote work where connectivity is unreliable. Pre-order today; available September 19.

Field impact: satellite on the wrist is a serious safety net during remote surveys or after-hours checks.

Apple Watch SE 3: entry model grows up

The new SE 3 gains an Always-On display, S10 performance, fast charging, 5G, and expanded health features including sleep score. Pre-order today; available September 19.

iOS 26 and Apple Intelligence

Screenshot 2025 09 09 at 20.33.41

iOS 26 ships Monday, September 15 with the Liquid Glass design language and Live Translation across system apps—useful for cross-language communication on client sites. (Companion platform updates roll out alongside.)


Final Cut Camera 2.0 — why this is a real workflow jump

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Apple also announced Final Cut Camera 2.0, and this is the bit that turns the new iPhones into proper production tools. The update brings ProRes RAW recording and genlock to iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max, adds open-gate capture (full-sensor readout for flexible reframing beyond DCI 4K), and ties directly into Live Multicam in Final Cut Pro for iPad. In plain English: higher-fidelity footage, time-locked multi-camera shoots without pain, and more freedom to reframe/stabilise later.

On top of that, 2.0 introduces manual controls for the new Center Stage front camera across the entire iPhone 17 family (including iPhone Air)—so I can shoot horizontal or vertical without physically rotating the phone, while keeping exposure/white balance/focus exactly where I want them. Apple is also adding Apple Log 2 (wider colour gamut in ProRes or HEVC), timecode options (Time of Day, Record Run, or external), and support for the new 200 mm telephoto on iPhone 17 Pro (ProRes up to 4K60). For my shoots, that’s a powerful combo: colour-matchable footage, precise clip identification, and safe standoff zoom for detail grabs.

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Crucially, genlock means I can hard-sync an iPhone 17 Pro/Max to other cameras against a single reference signal, producing frame-accurate cuts without manual nudging—exactly what I want for factory walk-throughs, training modules, and twin-embedded explainers where multiple angles must align perfectly. Apple is opening a Genlock API to third parties; Blackmagic is already on board with its Camera ProDock, which signals a healthy accessory ecosystem.

Availability and requirements are straightforward: Final Cut Camera 2.0 will roll out later this month as a free App Store update. It runs on iPhone XS or later with iOS 18.6+, while some features (like ProRes RAW and genlock) require iOS 26 and iPhone 17 Pro hardware. In parallel, Final Cut Pro 11.2 (Mac) and Final Cut Pro for iPad 2.3 will expose proper RAW controls (exposure, colour temperature, tint, demosaic) for these new captures. That’s the end-to-end story: capture, sync, grade—without leaving the Apple pipeline.

How I’ll use it at Digital Strada: I can treat iPhone 17 Pro as a B-cam that truly matches my main rigs: open-gate for safe reframes, Log 2 for colour latitude, timecode/genlock for clean multicam edits, and 200 mm tele for crisp close-ups from a safe distance. Plugged into Final Cut Pro on Mac or iPad, that becomes a lighter, faster, field-ready capture stack for 3D-twin content, site documentation, and stakeholder videos—without compromising accuracy or polish.

What I’ll do with this for clients and partners

  • Carry less, capture more: With ProRes RAW and genlock on iPhone 17 Pro, I can record color-gradeable footage that time-locks with other cameras for clean cuts in marketing reels, training content, and walkthroughs embedded in digital twins.
  • Safer remote ops: Ultra 3’s satellite messaging means contact even when a site has zero coverage—ideal for rural hospitality estates, industrial yards, or coastal assets I routinely scan.
  • Fewer friction points: AirPods Pro 3 + iOS 26 enable bilingual client reviews without extra hardware. I can keep hands free while models, punch lists, and notes flow.

Connecting to my earlier Vision Pro analysis.

Earlier this year I unpacked Apple’s in-store Vision Pro demo and why it signals spatial computing’s industrial leap for 3D Digital Twins: standout accessibility (eye tracking plus wrist/finger/head pointer alternatives), strong spatial persistence and OpenUSD alignment, and a demo lineup (Lowe’s Style Studio, JigSpace, BILT, Freeform, Encounter Dinosaurs) that already maps to real workflows, design previews, interactive maintenance/training, and collaborative planning.

I also called out the IoT overlay potential and the near-term constraints (price around £3,499 and headset weight) alongside encouraging ecosystem signals (e.g., NVIDIA Omniverse streaming, ForeFlight Voyager).

Today’s updates—especially iPhone 17 Pro capture with ProRes RAW/genlock and Final Cut Camera 2.0—complement that trajectory: pocketable, time-locked field capture feeding into high-fidelity, spatial reviews on Vision Pro, end-to-end.

About Digital Strada

Digital Strada Founder at Digital Catapult UK Digital Twin Centre SME Event Glandore Belfast 1

I founded Digital Strada to turn spaces into living digital assets—from hospitality venues and workplaces to industrial sites. I combine LiDAR, photogrammetry, and operational data to deliver digital twins that help owners and operators see clearly, decide faster, and tell better stories to their customers and teams.

Impact & Services

emil indricau digitalstrada 4

My work spans end-to-end capture (Matterport, LiDAR, reality modeling) through to operational twins and Advanced Facility Operating Systems that blend 3D + IoT + FM. I package results as stakeholder-friendly experiences: sales and leasing tours, training content, maintenance overlays, and analytics that cut through noise and drive action.

Emil Indricau, Founder

IMG 5215 1

I’m Emil Indricau, and I lead Digital Strada’s projects across the UK & Ireland and the rest of the World—hands-on in capture, modeling, and experience design. My focus is practical: make spatial data useful.

That means reliable field workflows, crisp visuals, and decisions you can defend in the boardroom or on the site floor.

Follow me and Connect on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Medium, YouTube, SubStack, Digital Twin Hub, Innovate UK Immersive Tech Network, Engineering HR, UK Business Forums and the Digital Supply Chain Hub (Made Smarter Innovation | Digital Supply Chain Hub is delivered by Digital Catapult, funded by the Made Smarter Innovation challenge at UK Research and Innovation.)


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Apple Vision Pro Demo Decoded: Spatial Computing’s Industrial Leap for 3D Digital Twins

Apple Vision Pro Demo Decoded: Spatial Computing’s Industrial Leap for 3D Digital Twins

The Apple Vision Pro demo experience at Apple Stores offers a compelling glimpse into the future of spatial computing, blending cutting-edge hardware with immersive software ecosystems. As the founder of Digital Strada, my fourth hands-on session revealed nuanced insights into the device’s accessibility, enterprise potential, and Apple’s strategic vision for XR.

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Key Features and Accessibility

The Vision Pro’s accessibility toolkit stood out, with features like Eye Tracking for hands-free navigation and Pointer Control alternatives (wrist, finger, or head movement) catering to diverse physical needs.

Adjustable headbands (Solo Knitted and Dual Loop) ensure comfort during extended use, though fit optimization is critical—Apple specialists emphasize balancing pressure between the forehead and cheeks to avoid discomfort.

Spatial Computing in Action

The demo highlighted apps with direct relevance to 3D Digital Twins:

  • Lowe’s Style Studio: Visualizes kitchen designs in mixed reality, allowing users to customize finishes/appliances in real-time.
  • JigSpace: Creates interactive 3D presentations anchored in physical spaces, ideal for product demos and training.
  • BILT: Delivers step-by-step 3D instructions for assembly/maintenance, blending digital guidance with real-world tasks.
  • Encounter Dinosaurs: Showcases high-fidelity 3D models that respond to user interactions, hinting at industrial simulation potential.
  • Freeform: Enables collaborative spatial brainstorming with resizable 3D boards.

Apple’s dedicated demo rooms, designed like minimalist cinemas, emphasize immersive storytelling while subtly reinforcing the device’s premium positioning. This curated environment mirrors the attention to detail seen in Apple’s hardware-software integration, such as the R1 chip’s low-latency passthrough and Vision Pro’s 23-million-pixel displays.

Strategic Implications for Digital Twins

As a 3D Digital Twins developer, the Vision Pro’s spatial persistence (anchoring virtual objects in real-world coordinates) and OpenUSD compatibility align with our workflow for creating immersive asset models.

The device’s ability to overlay real-time IoT data onto 3D environments could revolutionize industries like:

  • Construction: Virtual site inspections via apps like BILT.
  • Manufacturing: Interactive training simulations using JigSpace’s CAD models.
  • Healthcare: Preoperative planning with volumetric scans.

While the Vision Pro’s starting price of £3,499 price and 600–650g weight limit mass adoption, Apple’s developer labs and rumored lower-cost model (targeting ~£2,000 by 2026) signal long-term commitment.

Partnerships with NVIDIA AI for Omniverse streaming and enterprise-focused tools like ForeFlight Voyager further validate its role in professional workflows.

Conclusion

The Vision Pro demo transcends gadgetry—it’s a blueprint for spatial computing’s future. For Digital Strada, integrating Vision Pro’s 3D anchoring and SharePlay collaboration into our Digital Twins platform could enable clients to interact with infrastructure models in real-world contexts.

While current adoption faces hurdles (cost, battery life), Apple’s ecosystem play—mirroring iPhone’s app-driven growth—positions Vision Pro as a catalyst for industries transitioning from 2D schematics to immersive 3D Digital Twins.

As spatial computing matures, aligning our Digital Twins pipelines with visionOS’s capabilities will be critical to leading the next wave of Industrial Revolution.

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🚀 Founder of Digital Strada was glad to have joined Digital Catapult’s Digital Twin SME Network Event at Glandore Belfast

🚀 Founder of Digital Strada was glad to have joined Digital Catapult’s Digital Twin SME Network Event at Glandore Belfast

Romania’s Digital Transformation Journey in Schengen: A 3D Innovation Perspective

Romania’s Digital Transformation Journey in Schengen: A 3D Innovation Perspective

Understanding the What3words App: A Game-Changer for Location Sharing 🌍

Understanding the What3words App: A Game-Changer for Location Sharing 🌍

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