Authors: Simon D. Rihm, Yong Ren Tan, Wilson Ang, Hou Yee Quek, Xinhong Deng, Michael Teguh Laksana, Jiaru Bai, Sebastian Mosbach, Jethro Akroyd, and Markus Kraft*

• BIM, BMS, assets, and domain knowledge are integrated via semantic web technology.
• Effective deployment and integration of IoT sensors in distributed control systems.
• Energy efficiency in fume hood air supply by deploying a human-in-the-loop approach.
• Dynamic knowledge graphs facilitate use of unified user interfaces for managers.

This paper presents a novel framework for digitalizing and automating the management of specialized research laboratories using The World Avatar, a general all-encompassing dynamic knowledge graph. Semantic Web technology empowers users to effectively utilize data across various systems and formats without restricting them to a single software or protocol. Employing agents and ontologies, it enables seamless data sharing, computational reasoning, and gradual automation of tasks, addressing obstacles in interoperability and adaptability. Showcasing the capabilities of this approach, we tackle some common challenges in lab facility management, including cost-effective Internet of Things (IoT) sensor network integration with an existing building management system and efficient airflow management for fume hoods via "human-in-the-loop" interventions. We also develop unified platform-agnostic interfaces that complement the framework. These advancements represent a significant stride in the holistic digitalization and automation of research laboratories at the nexus of fundamental science and smart building applications, setting a foundation for future research facilities to achieve operational excellence and sustainability.

• This paper draws from preprint 316: The Digital Lab Facility Manager: Using dynamic knowledge graph technology to automate operations of research laboratories
• Access the article at the publisher: DOI: 10.1016/j.ynexs.2024.100031

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