Defence accounts for 50% of the UK central government’s emissions¹, with their activities across the military estate a significant factor. Now, as efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability are becoming increasingly significant, a more holistic approach is beginning to be adopted. Smart Base powers a comprehensive understanding of military bases and their complex ecosystems, leveraging digital technologies to conquer their challenges.

Enabling smarter and more sustainable military operations

Smart Base combines data with automation processes to create intelligent systems to improve efficiency and the effectiveness of military operations across their estate.

Its insights enhance decision making, by describing and understanding factors impacting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. And its real-world data provides more than just the utilities quantities consumed – it delivers an understanding of complex interactions so that sustainment leads and teams across defence can clearly pinpoint contributing factors and take targeted measures to mitigate emissions.

Smart Base’s comprehensive approach can transform military site efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability – and importantly, ensure alignment with the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) net-zero strategy and the UK Government’s broader sustainability goals for 2050.

The power of digital twins

Smart Base uses digital twins to provide a detailed understanding of a site's operations. These virtual models of physical sites integrate sensors and IoT devices to monitor resources, operational activities and environmental factors and create actionable insights. These can then be used to optimise resource and asset use for cost and environmental benefits – something which is further enhanced by real-time and automated control of a base’s systems. As an example, the digital twin’s ability to analyse consumption trends can also have a big impact on minimising food waste on bases, providing the necessary information that can reduce the imbedded carbon associated with food production and transport. And, by enabling testing and validation of GHG reduction strategies, Smart Base’s digital twins brings extra value to complex military settings, where efficient resource management is critical for success.

Today’s challenges and tomorrow’s goals

Climate change is having a big impact on military operations, giving sustainability initiatives strategic importance in the wider landscape. By aligning Smart Base with the MOD's net-zero strategy, we can enhance the operational readiness and efficiency of military sites and supply evidence of efforts to meet these important sustainability targets.

Of course, establishing Smart Base is an ambitious task and comes with challenges. Military sites have unique complexities, including the presence of vehicles and varied operational activities. That’s why you must ensure your data collection and management strategies are as robust as they are flexible. This involves the refinement of data collection methods to demonstrate the value that Smart Base generates. By engaging with a partner like Fujitsu, you can harness your data to evolve and fine-tune your Smart Base deployment to reflect the specific needs and challenges of your site.

Interested to learn more about Smart Base technology? Please contact us to discuss how Fujitsu can support your ambitions for efficiency and sustainability.

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[1] Ministry of Defence Climate Change and Sustainability Strategic Approach, published March 2021