In Motion
Andres Carvallo
Innovator, Entrepreneur, Chief Digitizer
Andres Carvallo has made a career of technology disruption. He’s at it again with his new gig in “Connected Infrastructure.”
01.21.2021
Digitalization, Decentralization and Decarbonization (“3D”). Power grid. Solar farm. Workforce housing. Autonomous vehicles. Drones. As companies and government agencies contend with these megatrends and new technologies, and as they struggle to achieve “3D” status, Carvallo’s “Connected Infrastructure” Consortium is transforming how research is done.
What are you doing with “Connected Infrastructure”?
There are three megatrends impacting the modern world: Digitalization, Decentralization and Decarbonization, or “3D”. Companies large and small, government agencies in all sectors, and business endeavors of all kinds are really struggling with these imperatives and their impact on the business environment as well as our terrestrial environment.
Our new consortium focused on “Connected Infrastructure for Education, Demonstration, and Research” (CIEDAR) provides these partners a “safe space” to experiment with technologies and business models, a “birds of a feather” environment to sympathize with complexity, and a “common ground” in which to transform their operations. As these trends continue and companies strive for “3D status,” our work becomes more and more important to help members achieve their goals.
Why does this type of thing appeal to you? Why are you involved?
I love building products, services, business models, and companies. Our work at CIEDAR has the opportunity to build an entire regional ecosystem that delivers value and functions in a very efficient manner, truly creating a favorable impact in the lives of many, many participants.
As an engineer and a former executive in the software, computer, telecommunications, and energy industries, the prospect of CIEDAR building nine “living labs” in a pristine 100 acre development is incredibly exciting to me, along with the participation of over 100 faculty researchers and students. It will transform how we innovate, how we do relevant research, how we collaborate, and how we turn those things into real-world products, services, and activities that make money.
Who is involved, and who is the target audience?
Who isn’t involved? For the last several months, we’ve reached out to utilities (power, gas, water), cities, and enterprises, and all of them are excited and eager to join. Regional utilities and agencies in Central Texas like Guadalupe Valley Electric Coop, Austin Energy, Brazos River Authority, Pedernales Electric Cooperative. Governmental and quasi-governmental entities like the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). Cities like San Marcos, Brownsville, Kyle, Buda, Austin, San Antonio. And huge, well-known enterprises like AT&T, Amazon, Siemens, General Motors, Ford, Tesla, and more. We have an advisory group comprised of executives from SEMI Americas, the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC), the Digital Twin Consortium, the Continental Automated Building Association (CABA), and Brick & Mortar Ventures, among others.
One of our ecosystem development platforms includes our annual Digital 360 Summit (“D360S”). Designed as the premier event for senior executives who are driving industry digitalization, decentralization, and decarbonization (“3D”), D360S provides a forum for interaction, innovation, and engagement. The 2021 event will be held May 18-20 and will consist of more than 100 speakers, 400 companies and 1,000 attendees. Twenty 3D-relevant keynotes and stacked panel sessions. Tours of six of CIEDAR’s “living labs” and a vendor showcase. Wrapped up with two premier Award Ceremonies.
Where can folks learn more about CIEDAR and the Digital 360 Summit?
At the following websites:
And on Facebook:
With its living labs, CIEDAR will transform how we innovate, how we do research, and how we collaborate.
One of the centerpieces of CIEDAR is the nine “living labs” associated with the “3D” megatrends of Digitalization, Decentralization and Decarbonization. These living labs are described in the associated diagram, which builds on critical technologies, trends, and facilities that are being disrupted-by or depend-on the “3D” transformation.