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Experience a live, data-driven view of the data center to test performance, explore scenarios and reduce risk before construction — and continue improving performance once the facility is live. As a unified asset lifecycle platform, Jacobs’ data center digital twin enables owners and developers to plan, design, construct and operate within one digital single source of truth.
Bringing power, cooling and controls together in one environment accelerates delivery through accurate modeling. Adaptive simulations and real-time insights futureproof operations, enable confident commissioning and support adjustments as AI workloads, rack densities and technologies evolve.
Built for today’s data center complexity
Rising rack densities, advanced cooling strategies and increasingly dynamic compute demands are pushing data centers further and faster than traditional design and delivery approaches can manage.
This offering models real-world system behavior before challenges surface as operational risk — enabling owners, developers and technical teams to reduce uncertainty and make faster, better-informed decisions from early feasibility through live operations.
What the Digital Twin enables
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Design with confidence
Model site constraints, power availability, cooling strategies and layouts early to reduce redesign, cost risk and late-stage changes.
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Validate performance early
Simulate airflow, thermal behavior, electrical performance and control logic to identify issues before commissioning.
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Reduce delivery risk
Test assumptions and integration points virtually, avoiding delays, rework and commissioning failures.
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Accelerate readiness
Support smoother commissioning and faster handover by resolving performance issues earlier in the asset lifecycle.
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Plan for change
Model future scenarios such as higher rack densities, Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) refresh cycles and cooling upgrades.
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Support better decisions
Provide a single source of truth that connects design, engineering and operational insights.
Core features
Feasibility and constraint modeling: Assess grid capacity, power distribution, cooling availability, water constraints and site conditions to inform early decision-making and site selection.
Cooling and thermal simulation (CFD): Simulate airflow, containment strategies and heat removal to identify hotspots, compare design options and optimize cooling performance for high-density environments.
Power system analysis: Model electrical behavior — including load flow, short circuit and stability — to validate resilience, redundancy and system performance.
Controls and systems validation: Test sequences of operation and system responses in a virtual environment before installation, reducing controls testing time and integration risk.
Cost and schedule insight (4D/5D): Link digital models to delivery planning and cost data to improve predictability and support informed trade-off decisions.
Meet the Team
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Dana Tilley
Global Growth & Sales Lead for Data Centers
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Amer Battikhi
Executive Vice President & General Manager, Digital & Data
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Jaclyn Warren
Enterprise AI Program Manager
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Marin Pastar
Global Principal – Digital Twins, Digital Advisory & Transformation
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Jim Kessler
Global Principal, Visual Media
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John Karabias
Senior Vice President for Cybersecurity and Operational Technology
FAQs
What is a data center digital twin?
A physically accurate virtual model that simulates how a data center behaves — testing design, power, cooling and control strategies before, during and after construction.
When should a digital twin be introduced?
Starting in feasibility or early design maximizes value, with continued benefits through delivery, commissioning and operations.
Does it replace traditional design tools?
No. It connects and enhances them by bringing data together into a single environment where performance and risk can be tested holistically.
Can it support future upgrades?
Yes. Digital twins are especially valuable for modeling future scenarios such as Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) upgrades, density increases and cooling changes.
Who typically uses a data center digital twin?
Data center owners, operators and developers use digital twins to support decision-making across design, delivery and operations — particularly for complex, high-density or AI-driven facilities where performance, reliability and future flexibility are critical.
