Chen Spotlights Digital Twins as FIBER Launches ‘Optics Friday’ Series at University of Florida
chen took center stage Friday morning as the Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience (FIBER) held its first “FIBER Optics Friday” event, spotlighting how advanced technologies are reshaping resilience research in the built environment.
Chen Opens Inaugural Event With Focus on Digital Twins
The inaugural session was held in the John and Anne Sofarelli Family Gallery and featured University of Florida Department of Urban and Regional Planning Assistant Scientist Changjie Chen, Ph. D., as the first guest speaker.
Chen’s talk was titled “Demystifying Digital Twins for Building Resilient Environments, ” and centered on explaining what a digital twin is and what it can do compared to other tools. The event framed digital twins as part of a broader shift toward advanced technology methods used in built environment resilience research.
‘Paradigm Shift’ Message Aimed at Students and Researchers
During the session, Chen also offered tips to students interested in applying digital twins in their own research. He characterized digital twin development as a “paradigm shift, ” emphasizing that it is more than a buzzword and describing it as a real, established field.
The presentation positioned digital twins as a subject of growing academic and research interest within resilience-related work, with the session designed to help attendees understand both the concept and its potential use compared with other research tools.
Further Discussion Featured in Interview With FIBER Faculty
FIBER also highlighted a sit-down interview featuring Chen and FIBER Assistant Professor Lisa Platt, Ph. D., for viewers seeking more information on digital twins and the themes discussed during the event.
The “FIBER Optics Friday” launch signals an effort to bring guest speakers into the spotlight to discuss emerging and established technologies impacting the built environment, with Chen’s digital twin-focused session setting the tone for the series’ early emphasis on resilience research.
