Robbrecht van Amerongen

Building IOT Capabilities for energy transition and digital twin at scale
PowerWeb / Delft University
January 26, 2023

The energy transition in the Netherlands will effectively migrate energy towards less reliable sources like wind and solar. Next to this, the production of energy will be more and more decentralized, and gas will be replaced by alternatives for domestic heating. The increased usage of electric vehicles, heat pumps and home batteries will have an enormous effect on the infrastructure. To manage this, we need a vast number of sensors that measure in high frequency and share data in almost real-time with each other and the operational systems. In this lecture, we will take a closer look at the typical challenges of realizing a large-scale energy data network and possible solutions. What will happen when we connect and operate slow-paced legacy systems designed decades ago with high-frequency network steering and mass data processing? In addition, we will demonstrate new business cases developed on this fast energy data network. We will discuss real-life business examples, best practices and pinfalls. And will discover what challenges are still left to research.

En nu is het afgelopen: Tijd om te stoppen met stomme dingen
LinkedIn
December 28, 2024

Afgelopen dinsdag hebben we een kwartiertje gebrainstormd met een groep collega's. Dit korte overleg gaf ons een helder beeld van de dingen die we dagelijks doen, maar die eigenlijk helemaal niet nuttig zijn

ESG Reports: The Deceptive Mirage of Sustainability?
Linkedin Robbrecht van Amerongen
November 16, 2024

In the realm of sustainability policies, it’s time to address the stellar work accomplished so far—particularly for the external consultants and ESG dashboard creators! We've witnessed a sudden influx of consultants embracing the "green" label in the last two years. Truth be told, we seem to have more reports than trees, and that, to me, doesn't signify sustainability. In fact, the sheer volume of paperwork produced might warrant a new category of CO2 emissions.
Amidst this flurry of advice reports, PowerPoints, and PowerBI ESG analyses, we seem to have forgotten a crucial point: these reports don’t reduce a single drop of CO2. While we meticulously measure our ESG Footprint, is there actual action behind these metrics? Research from Heidrick & Struggles reveals that 51% of directors hire external consultants for sustainability advice. Link
What's more, a staggering 62% of directors admit they're too swamped to actually read these reports. What a surprise! It seems we’re spending more time hiring sustainability advisors than actively pursuing sustainability. So, let's tear up those reports, send those consultants home, and take direct action.
Maybe I'm oversimplifying, but who knows? Perhaps in doing so, we can save the world and a hefty sum—funds otherwise squandered on reports and meetings. A win-win scenario, especially concerning government funds. Efficient allocation of public resources.

Waarde halen uit data? Omzeil deze valkuilen
Conclusion
October 16, 2024

Beslissingen nemen op basis van feiten in plaats van onderbuikgevoelens. Dat is waar veel organisaties naar streven. Onderzoek van BI-Survey geeft aan dat meer dan 60% van de beslissers nog steeds het merendeel hun beslissingen nemen op basis van onderbuikgevoel. Terwijl ook blijkt dat bedrijven die hun beslissingen nemen op basis van data veel beter presteren. De reden voor het onderpresteren van die eerste categorie bedrijven: niet tijdig over de juiste informatie beschikken; de informatie wel hebben, maar niet kunnen vinden; discussie over de interpretatie; en gebrek aan kennis.

13 DevOps typos explained, and how true they are
Linkedln
September 05, 2024

As a self-proclaimed expert in spelling errors, I’m here to entertain my colleagues with a list of amusing DevOps typos. These little slip-ups often carry hidden messages that only those in the know can decipher. The key takeaway? Have fun working together in your agile DevOps team. Enjoy the laughs and feel free to share your own hilarious typos in the comments below!

Celebrating 20 years of AMIS Technology Blog
Import from wordpress feed
June 19, 2024

On June 16, 2004, the AMIS Technology blog published its inaugural article. This marked the birth of the first technology blog in the Netherlands, a brainchild of Zeger Hendrikse, Lucas Jellema, Wouter van Reeven, and Leon van Tegelen. Their vision was to create a platform for sharing knowledge and

Sustainability by Design
Conclusion
April 25, 2024

Sustainability by Design interfaces with GreenOps. Where GreenOps primarily focuses on the most sustainable infrastructure choices, Sustainability by Design is primarily about the design of the software: how do I build my application to function as energy-efficiently as possible? The two come together in the sub-theme ‘Designing for the cloud’. Robbrecht: “If you build an application yourself and run it locally, you notice right away if it isn’t running well and has bugs. The hourglass shows up a lot, the fan comes on. But if you build an application that runs in the cloud, you can easily add extra capacity at the back end, which means that the need for more resources remains invisible. In the end, the colleagues who are responsible for the infrastructure are presented with a sky-high energy bill. GreenOps allows them to adjust certain parameters they can influence, including the advice to design serverless applications so they can run in the cloud. Sustainability by Design is one step ahead of this.”

5 Trends in IoT Confirming its Maturity in 2024
Linkedin
April 08, 2024

In my experience, the world of IoT is shifting towards a more mature and mainstream technology. Almost all new physical devices have a means of connecting and sharing their data with a central system. The data from these devices is processed for purposes such as condition monitoring, intelligent operations through actuators, and predictive behavior using algorithms and artificial intelligence.
Based on our projects and market developments, I see the following trends in 2024 confirming that IoT is becoming more mature.

Taming the IoT Spaghetti: Unraveling the Complexity of IoT Architecture with Pasta Metaphors
Import from wordpress feed
January 23, 2024

In the ever-expanding realm of the Internet of Things (IoT), organizations are increasingly embracing interconnected devices to gather and exchange data. These systems often start with one use case and one type of sensor. Adding more sensors, protocols, and use cases the IoT systems gradually evolve

How I Embrace Failure: The Unseen Path to Success
Linkedln
January 12, 2024

Looking at my past experience my failures stand out in my memory. It is a biological principle to take painful moments (like a failure) and store these in a prominent place in our memory to prevent a repeat. But these fiascos are also valuable learnings. In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation, the road to success is often paved with failures. As technology leaders, we are no strangers to the challenges that arise when venturing into uncharted territories. In this article, we delve into the significance of failure and how it serves as the silent architect behind every triumph. Some of the best things started with failure. There are some inspiring examples: The invention of bubble wrap was initially intended as a wallpaper texture that failed; Thomas Edison failed a thousand times creating the lightbulb; and the Post-it notes derived from a failure of 3M to create a new kind of glue. Below I will share my take on failures and how it can also lead to success.

Do you have a digital twin or an imaginary friend?
Import from wordpress feed
January 02, 2024

In the realm of interconnected devices and the Internet of Things (IoT), the term “digital twin” often finds its way into discussions. You might have come across this concept in your favorite podcast, a blog post, or the latest cutting-edge technology update. It’s apparent from the

ESG Reports: The Deceptive Mirage of Sustainability?
Linkedln
November 16, 2023

In the realm of sustainability policies, it’s time to address the stellar work accomplished so far—particularly for the external consultants and ESG dashboard creators! We've witnessed a sudden influx of consultants embracing the "green" label in the last two years. Truth be told, we seem to have more reports than trees, and that, to me, doesn't signify sustainability. In fact, the sheer volume of paperwork produced might warrant a new category of CO2 emissions.

Do you have a digital twin or an imaginary friend?
Linkedln
October 16, 2023

In the realm of interconnected devices and the Internet of Things (IoT), the term "digital twin" often finds its way into discussions. You might have come across this concept in your favorite podcast, a blog post, or the latest cutting-edge technology update. It's apparent from the various sources you've encountered that a digital twin holds the promise of addressing many challenges in our hyper-connected world and is viewed as a key element of the Metaverse.

Sustainability by Design: Driving Green Solutions in Digital Technology
Linkedin
August 24, 2023

As the world embraces advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), concerns about its impact on labor costs often dominate discussions. However, there is an equally pressing concern that demands our attention—the energy consumption of AI technology. Surprisingly, a single training run for AI engines like Bard or ChatGPT consumes as much power as 120 households do in an entire year. Currently, data centers account for 3% of global electricity consumption, a number predicted to escalate to 10% by 2030. While strides are being made to make data centers more sustainable, we must also consider the need for sustainable electricity to power other essential aspects of our lives, such as electric cars and heat pumps. To ensure a sustainable future, we need to be mindful of our energy usage, hidden in generic cloud bills and server park overhead costs. Embracing sustainability by design when developing digital solutions is vital to strike a balance between technological innovation and environmental responsibility.

Using ChatGPT as the best virtual IoT domain expert
Import from wordpress feed
August 16, 2023

With the use of ChatGPT, anyone has access to vast domain knowledge.  Even a generalist like me (my colleague would call me a dummy) can act as an expert in a specific field without proper education or even any knowledge about the subject. In this article, I will demonstrate how I can use CharG

Realtime Data is de Sleutel tot een Succesvolle Energietransitie
Linkedln
June 26, 2023

In de wereld van de energietransitie is er één element dat keer op keer wordt geprezen als de ultieme gamechanger: realtime data. Maar laten we eerlijk zijn, nog veel systemen worden met vaste instellingen bestuurd en de data wordt periodiek (wekelijks / maandelijks) alleen voor facturatie uitgelezen. Het wordt tijd om de waarheid onder ogen te zien. Realtime data is niet alleen essentieel, het is onmisbaar voor een succesvolle energietransitie. In dit artikel geef ik zes argumenten waarom realtime data van cruciaal belang is voor het transformeren van ons energiesysteem naar duurzaamheid.

IoT-toepassing en radar op Windpark Maasvlakte 2 beschermen vogels
Conclusion
April 25, 2023

Op Windpark Maasvlakte 2 is afgelopen maart een vogelradar van het bedrijf Robin Radar in gebruik genomen. De radar beschermt in combinatie met het IoT-platform dat Conclusion voor Eneco ontwikkelde, vogels in het gebied. Door data te verzamelen over de vogels in de buurt van het windpark en daar automatisch op te reageren, kunnen de windturbines proactief uitschakelen. Hiermee wordt het aantal vogelslachtoffers door aanvaringen met de windturbines sterk gereduceerd. Met een positief effect op de biodiversiteit.

9 IoT Conferences and Events you must visit in 2023
Linkedln
January 03, 2023

For me, conferences are the best places to learn and network. Also gives me a good insight into the market development and identifies growers and laggards in this industry. I prefer in-person events since they leave much more room to network and have in-depth discussions in the local bar or restaurants.

I busted the 12 – The Myths of IoT
Import from wordpress feed
October 23, 2022

Internet of Things (IoT) is for many technology-enthusiast the single most important thing that has ever happened. The impact of this technology on our lives is growing close to mythical proportions. Working in this industry for years, made me encounter some of the myths and irrational expectations

I busted 12 Myths about IoT
Linkedin
October 18, 2022

Internet of Things (IoT) is for many technology-enthusiast the single most important thing that has ever happened. The impact of this technology on our lives is growing close to mythical proportions. Working in this industry for years, made me encounter some of the myths and irrational expectations of IoT. Some of these myths are adding to false assumptions, inadequate economic effects, and disappointing expectations for all of us.
I took the task of debunking the 12 myths of Internet of Things. I am sharing these facts based on my personal experience and hopefully, they will inspire us to use IoT as it is intended: creating value for humans.

I busted 12 Myths about IoT
Linkedln
October 17, 2022

Internet of Things (IoT) is for many technology-enthusiast the single most important thing that has ever happened. The impact of this technology on our lives is growing close to mythical proportions. Working in this industry for years, made me encounter some of the myths and irrational expectations of IoT. Some of these myths are adding to false assumptions, inadequate economic effects, and disappointing expectations for all of us.

My interpretation of the Gartner Hype Cycle 2022
Linkedln
August 10, 2022

Want to learn new buzzwords? This is your chance. Today Gartner published the 2022 Hype Cycle for emerging technology. What are the significant findings studying this graph and the interpretation of the research team? Above is the usual graph with the phases: Innovation, Inflated Expectations, Disillusionment, Enlightenment, and Productivity. I love to hear your interpretation of these phases.

How to scale and smarten up a real-life energy grid with Azure IoT
Import from wordpress feed
March 11, 2022

In this episode of the IoT Show, we discuss the IoT smart grid project that AMIS Conclusion has created for a customer in The Netherlands. We talk about a real-life large-scale energy grid and all the challenges we face implementing this on an Enterprise scale. Robbrecht van Amerongen will talk more

The 5 podcasts I love to listen to (December 2021)
Linkedln
December 10, 2021

I have been a very enthusiastic podcast listener for years. Ever since I started working as a consultant and project manager, and later as a general manager, I have found podcasts an excellent way to learn new things, gain new competencies, and grow as a person. The beauty of most podcasts is that they are not limited in time and can go as detailed as possible. An excellent way to entertain yourself while commuting, in the gym, or enjoying a long walk.

Review: Greenshot, Easy tool for screenshots
Import from wordpress feed
May 19, 2021

Is it possible to make something simple as making a screenshot easier? Yes, I have been using the free and open-source tool Greenshot for the past year. And I noticed missing the features when I got a new Windows image on my laptop. I would recommend installing this for anyone who regularly uses scr

How to Destroy a Financial System
Linkedln
May 01, 2020

We can all read the news reports on the upcoming economic downturn. Many people point at the Coronavirus pandemic causing an economic crisis. However, there is a much bigger and hidden problem in the root of the financial system. This formed the basis for the destruction of the whole financial system just like a domino effect. We have been laying the groundwork for this in the past decades. Below I will share a perfect recipe for the destruction of a financial system in terms of the relationship between productivity, savings, and loans.

ESG Reports: The Deceptive Mirage of Sustainability?
Digital Sustainable Future
November 16, 2023

In the realm of sustainability policies, it’s time to address the stellar work accomplished so far—particularly for the external consultants and ESG dashboard creators! We've witnessed a sudden influx of consultants embracing the "green" label in the last two years. Truth be told, we seem to have more reports than trees, and that, to me, doesn't signify sustainability. In fact, the sheer volume of paperwork produced might warrant a new category of CO2 emissions.

Sustainability by Design: Driving Green Solutions in Digital Technology
Digital Sustainable Future
October 04, 2023

As the world embraces advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), concerns about its impact on labor costs often dominate discussions. However, there is an equally pressing concern that demands our attention—the energy consumption of AI technology. Surprisingly, a single training run for AI engines like Bard or ChatGPT consumes as much power as 120 households do in an entire year. Currently, data centers account for 3% of global electricity consumption, a number predicted to escalate to 10% by 2030. While strides are being made to make data centers more sustainable, we must also consider the need for sustainable electricity to power other essential aspects of our lives, such as electric cars and heat pumps.

Sustainability by Design: Driving Green Solutions in Digital Technology
Linkedln
August 04, 2023

As the world embraces advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), concerns about its impact on labor costs often dominate discussions. However, there is an equally pressing concern that demands our attention—the energy consumption of AI technology. Surprisingly, a single training run for AI engines like Bard or ChatGPT consumes as much power as 120 households do in an entire year. Currently, data centers account for 3% of global electricity consumption, a number predicted to escalate to 10% by 2030.

What can we learn from the Amish view on technology?
Linkedln
June 17, 2022

Is that new? I want to try? Have you seen this new feature? I want that too. We are all addicted to innovative technology, gadgets, and new features. Is this a good thing? I recently listened to the BBC show The Digital Human. They talked about the attitude of Amish People towards technology. And I was stuck by their process for adapting to new technology. Completely aimed at their values and supporting their community goals.

Accelerating Sustainability Through Digital Technology
Linkedln
December 23, 2021

Is more technology hurting sustainability? No, I am convinced it is not. I think it is possible to improve our planet and with green and profitable enterprises As mankind is exhausting our planet we have to learn to live respecting the natural boundaries, reduce the impact on our environment and repair the damage we caused in the past decades.

Conclusion is Powering Eneco in the energy transition using Microsoft Azure IoT technology
Microsoft
April 11, 2022

Sustainability is the single most important cause of our time... and we should all do our best to help in that cause. That's why I'm also very proud that I'm working for Eneco and the things that we're doing. We believe that switching to sustainable energy resources is key for our business... and we are determined to play a part for a better and greener environment. We set ourselves a goal to be carbon neutral by 2035. It's a realizable goal that we can do together with our customers and our partners. Ultimately at Eneco, we want to create a greener planet for future generations to live in. For long, we have provided our households with sustainable energy. But recently we have decided to take it to the next level. To really drive the change, we need to use our resources more efficiently and of course... involve our customers to provide them insight in their energy consumption. To do that, we decided to install a smart energy grid that uses data from all households and all organizations that we serve. This, in turn, gave us real insights and real-time data of the energy consumption of our clients. We use the data we got from the smart grid together with other data... like forecasting data to get an overview of the whole energy network. We decided we needed an IoT platform to get the data, analyze the data and be able to steer our energy networks in real-time. At this point, we turned to our partner Conclusion and asked them to build an IoT platform for us using Microsoft Azure. The solution we've built for Eneco... gives them a very detailed insight in the performance and consumption, as well as the state and health of their energy grid. The more data we gather from the end points, the easier it is for Eneco to steer the energy network accurately. Thanks to the Azure platform as a service in Azure Security Center, the platform is completely secure and highly scalable. The Conclusion engineering team uses these Azure components to rapidly add new business functionality to the grid... keep the data compliant and flexible. The project was a huge success. Previously, we had to send over an engineer to get the data, and now we get the data every 15 minutes automatically. This allows us to improve our services by tailoring the energy solutions for our customer. This all leads to lowering our CO2 emissions. When we started, the aim was to provide heating in a more sustainable way... but we soon realized that we could do a lot more and that the options are infinite. People in the Netherlands and abroad are more and more switching to smart grids. This is great news for us because now we can expand our platform with traditional energy plants... solar parks and wind farms. Thanks to our professional and innovative partner Conclusion... we are able to scale the platform and drop in as many use cases as we want. The reason I am so excited about the project is that it brings us a step closer to our mission... to power people's homes in a more sustainable way. And now that we have the technology, we have infinite ways of making it happen.

IoT in practice: how hardware and software are linked and offers new opportunities
Dutchcowboys
August 03, 2019

In our previous article about the state of the Internet of Things (IoT), we talked about the opportunities and challenges that exist for IoT. And our conversation with Robbrecht van Amerongen, Head of IoT at Conclusion, already showed in October 2018 that there are opportunities for many companies and also governments. He also told us that he saw a challenge in connecting different devices that generate IoT data. The expert is now updating us again on the developments and enthusiastically talks about a nice practical example. He does this together with Tim Noordhoek, CTO of ERIKS Digital.

We spoke to both gentlemen about the collaboration between Conclusion and ERIKS. We are also curious about what the added value of IoT is for them and, perhaps even more importantly, for their customers. What is the added value and what positive effects does this have in practice? Conclusion has met ERIKS's request for an IoT platform to which it can connect products, regardless of the type of machine or sensor. Since last year, the IoT component has been part of ERIKS Digital.

Eneco and Conclusion nominated for Global Energy Transition Award
Reuters Events
April 11, 2024

Eneco and Conclusion have been nominated for the prestigious Global Energy Transition Awards 2024, in the Low Carbon Energy Generation category. The energy supplier and Conclusion have been working closely together since 2018 to achieve Eneco's ambitious sustainability goal of being climate neutral by 2035. This has not gone unnoticed. The partners have been nominated for the smart energy network that enables Eneco to be the first energy supplier in the Netherlands to connect energy assets and operate them in real time. This is called curtailment in the energy market.

NS and IT partner AMIS Conclusion receive Industry Solutions Awards for IoT digital Twin
NPM Captial
May 02, 2023

NS and IT partner AMIS Conclusion have won the Industry Solutions Award 2023 for the best 'smart buildings and smart cities' solution, with their 3D digital twin of Utrecht Central Station. The NS team received the award in Barcelona during the IoT Solutions World Congress: the largest IoT event in the world with 16,000 visitors.

The award represents international recognition for the innovative vision of NS Stations and their IT partner AMIS Conclusion. AMIS Conclusion played an essential role in activating the real-time data feed of this digital twin model. A digital twin is a digital copy of reality – including all relationships – that adjusts in real time, keeping pace with changes in the physical world. NS uses the digital twin to process real-time information from digital assets (such as lifts, escalators, pressure meters and smart energy meters) at the station and project this into a digital 3D model of the station in real time. This provides the station managers with a real-time overview of the status of the station and allows them to intervene when necessary. The model is also able to establish relationships between data-producing objects in the building, enabling extensive analyses and predictions to be made to improve safety, prevent defects, and enhance passenger comfort.

Digital Twin Nederlandse Spoorwegenwin the 2023 Industry Solutions Awards
IoT Solutions World Congress
February 01, 2023

Transportation was also the focus of the award for best Smart Buildings & Smart Cities solution that Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Dutch Railways) for the 3D Digital Twin of Utrecht Central Station that has improved comfort and safety and is capable of detecting outages.

What is Slow Management?
Medium
September 09, 2020

Slow Management is a reaction on the cold, Anglo-Saxon management style, aimed at maximizing shareholder profit supported by model-driven optimization, output maximization, cost cutting and short term goals.

Slow management advocates a new form of management with much attention to quality, job satisfaction, giving trust, creativity and authenticity. Slow management directs a way of working with attention to craftsmanship, autonomy for the professional, encouragement of diversity and respect of the human individual. The term Slow Management is derived from Slow Food. Slow food is an alternative to the mass-produced fast food. Like Slow Food, Slow management is all focussed on quality, authenticity, human scale and natural form of being. In Fast Management organizations, the employees are obedient to the system/organization; human resource management is part of the toolkit of the managers. Within Slow Management the organization supports the professionals; the professionals are setting the pace and tone of the organization. That’s the key difference.

MAATWERK OF STANDAARD- HOE KIES JE HET JUISTE EMS?
ROM Utrecht
September 11, 2024

In het bos van EMS’en op zoek naar dat systeem dat jouw use case ondersteunt? Gisteren sprak ik samen met een aantal experts in het energielandschap over EMS’en tijdens het seminar .... georganiseerd door ROM Utrecht Region, TKI Urban Energy en Club van Wageningen. De experts brachten duidelijkheid in het huidige EMS-aanbod, de functionaliteiten en de ontwikkelingen.
Een greep uit de leerpunten:
Wat zijn de maatschappelijke randvoorwaarden van EMS’en? Wat zijn ontwerpprincipes voor eerlijke, inclusieve en democratisch bestuurbare energiemanagementsystemen?
Overzicht van het EMS-speelveld.
Wat is nu eigenlijk een EMS?
De kern van de energietransitie is niet een EMS, maar het samenwerken tussen mensen.
Er is behoefte aan richtlijnen, kaders en best practices voor een eerlijk, open, duurzaam en inclusief energiesysteem.

The 'dumber' the intelligent edge the better
Conclusion
December 11, 2024

Edge computing is rapidly gaining popularity. Not surprising, because there are countless conceivable situations in which you want to calculate something, but for one reason or another (latency, costs, security) you cannot use the cloud. There is a lot of attention for fast applications such as image recognition, but practice shows that most value is generated by applications that are actually quite 'dumb'. An exploration of the opportunities and threats.

De slimste keuze voor een EMS: standaard of maatwerk?
Topsector Energie
November 22, 2024

Kun je als bedrijf beter gaan voor
een standaard energiemanagementsysteem, of kies je toch voor een
maatwerkoplossing? Robbrecht van
Amerongen van Conclusion gaf tijdens
het EMS-event inzicht in hoe bedrijven
deze beslissing kunnen maken en
benadrukte het belang van een goed
doordachte keuze tussen maatwerk- en
standaardoplossingen.

Deze maand bespreekt AMIS Conclusion het global risk report van het WEF.
AG Connect
January 29, 2024

Deze maand kwam het jaarlijkse ‘global risk report’ van het World Economic Forum (WEF) weer uit. Volgens het rapport behoren onder meer cybercriminaliteit, de negatieve gevolgen van kunstmatige intelligentie en extreme weersomstandigheden tot de grootste risico’s, die de wereld op de korte en lange termijn onstabieler maken. Het rapport schetst een somber beeld, maar volgens het WEF is er ook positief nieuws: want hoewel de uitdagingen groot zijn, ons vermogen om te reageren is dat ook.

Waarom is dit jou het meest bijgebleven?

Het WEF bestaat uit de top van het bedrijfsleven, internationale (oud-)politici, academici en journalisten. Het doel van het forum is economische vooruitgang en een betere wereld. Het bedrijfsleven voert de boventoon tijdens het forum. Dat zij duurzaamheid steeds nadrukkelijker op de agenda zetten, dat zegt iets. Daarom is het rapport mij ook bijgebleven. Het rapport laat zien dat duurzaamheid op de lange termijn een steeds belangrijker thema wordt.

Die duurzaamheidsfactor zie je ook goed terug in de vergelijking van de top 10-risicocategorieën op de korte termijn (2 jaar) en de top 10-risicocategorieën op de lange termijn (10 jaar). Op de korte termijn vinden we de usual suspects terug, de onderwerpen die dagelijks in het nieuws zijn: desinformatie (fake news), extreem weer, polarisatie, cyberonveiligheid, inflatie en internationale conflicten. Op de lange termijn zien we een ander beeld. De top 10 bestaat dan voor de helft uit klimaatrisico’s, waarvan plek één tot en met vier.

https://www.agconnect.nl/partner/conclusion/robbrecht-van-amerongen-van-amis-conclusion-aan-het-woord
AG Connect
March 09, 2023

In this section, experts and/or experts provide insights into current developments in their area of ​​expertise. This time Robbrecht van Amerongen, Head of Strategy of AMIS Conclusion, about data and IoT in relation to the energy transition.
What topic would you like to highlight?

The important role of data and IoT in the transition to sustainable energy.

What are the current developments in your field?

It is clear that we will not use less energy in the future. We use more and more electrical appliances, such as cars, heat pumps and hobs. Industrial energy consumption is also increasing, for example due to data centers. At the same time, we want a more sustainable society. That is why we have committed ourselves to using sustainable sources to relieve the burden on the environment. Not just hydrogen, just wind energy or just solar energy. No, we have to make every effort. We are faced with the task of doubling the capacity of the power network over the next ten years.

E10 | Let's Unpack IoT Market Trends! | Robbrecht van Amerongen - AMIS Conclusion
YouTube
December 16, 2022

In episode 10 of The 5V Podcast, we are joined by leader Robbrecht van Amerongen - Head of IoT & API at AMIS Conclusion to unpack some of the most popular trends in and outside of the IoT world this year, from digital twin adoption to metaverse thoughts and learn more about scaling IoT and the changes it has brought to the energy market!

An Interview with Robbrecht van Amerongen, IoT expert AMIS
Onalytica
January 06, 2022

Scale IoT solutions, Business development, Industrial IOT, Sustainability with IoT data, Strategic Business and IT alignment, Business case development, troubleshooting, digital transformation

IoT in practice: how hardware and software are linked and offers new opportunities
dutch cowboys
March 08, 2021

In our previous article about the state of the Internet of Things (IoT), we talked about the opportunities and challenges that exist for IoT. And our conversation with Robbrecht van Amerongen, Head of IoT at Conclusion, already showed in October 2018 that there are opportunities for many companies and also governments. He also told us that he saw a challenge in connecting different devices that generate IoT data. The expert is now updating us again on the developments and enthusiastically talks about a nice practical example. He does this together with Tim Noordhoek, CTO of ERIKS Digital.

We spoke to both gentlemen about the collaboration between Conclusion and ERIKS. We are also curious about what the added value of IoT is for them and, perhaps even more importantly, for their customers. What is the added value and what positive effects does this have in practice? Conclusion has met ERIKS's request for an IoT platform to which it can connect products, regardless of the type of machine or sensor. Since last year, the IoT component has been part of ERIKS Digital.

What is the impact of IoT in daily life?
Inholland University of Applied Sciences
October 07, 2020

IoT (Internet of Things) is taking on an increasingly prominent role in daily life. Two students from Inholland University of Applied Sciences interviewed Robbrecht van Amerongen, Head of IoT at Conclusion. Robbrecht has been working in IT for 20 years and has now worked at AMIS Conclusion for 14 years. Below are the answers to five in-depth questions about IoT.
What does IoT do for companies?

“IoT is very diverse. I always call it connecting the physical world to the digital world. A good example: When a drive motor on a factory assembly line begins to vibrate or suddenly heats up, a technician should consider whether the equipment needs maintenance or replacement. The most unfavorable situation is that the production process is delayed or even comes to a complete standstill due to a defect in this motor. The most ideal situation is that preventive maintenance is carried out, which completely rules out this occurrence. By installing (IoT) sensors, irregular vibrations or temperatures can be measured and emit a signal when they deviate from the standards. This allows the factory to replace the drive motor before it breaks down.”

Blockchain and The Future Of Bitcoin
medium - Blecyn
January 16, 2018

Quite a number of people have deep understanding about Blockchain and Bitcoin but there are several others who do not understand what we are talking about. @robbrecht could you please share with the audience what is BLOCKCHAIN & BITCOIN #HotTalkWithBlecyn

Earth Valley cafe #4: Smart energy systems and the role of AI
Earth Valley Utrecht
October 28, 2023

AI is the missing link in the Netherlands' energy revolution. Our energy system is becoming increasingly complex - think of production versus consumption, decentralization and the crucial convergence of electricity, gas and heat. The Netherlands falls short in this regard. But AI is the game-changer we need. Although there has already been progress in this area, its applications in the energy system remain underexposed.

Edge Computing - Challenges for IoT solutions at scale
IoT Tech Expo
September 26, 2023

Panel: The Evolution of Edge – Where Do We Go Next?
Future roadmap toward widespread adoption of intelligent Edge.
The possibilities created by fast and local critical decision-making.
Predictions for the next round of innovations within the space – where will Edge be by 2025?

The application of Digital Twin to the Dutch Rail System
Industrialtalk with Scott MacKenzie
November 29, 2023

Industrial Talk is chatting with Robbrecht van Amerogen with AMIS and Remco Bunder with Netherlands Rail about “The application of Digital Twin to the Dutch Rail System”. The following is a summary of our conversation:

Using digital twin in the Netherlands for rail system improvement. 0:00
Palo Alto Networks provides comprehensive security solutions for all assets, networks, and remote operations.
Scott MacKenzie discusses a webcast on using data to improve the rail system in the Netherlands, highlighting the importance of real-time data and the digital twin technology used to collect and analyze data.
MacKenzie encourages listeners to amplify their voice and expand their network through Industrial Talk, a platform that helps organizations reach new markets globally.

3D Digital Twin for Utrecht Central Station
Spotify / De Dataloog
June 15, 2023

Easily overview all NS stations in a real-time dashboard.
It sounds far away, but the reality is closer than we think. In
this episode we talk to Robbrecht van Amerongen (Conclusion) and
Jean Keultjes (NS). They take us through the development of a Digital
Twin for NS Stations.

More than 250,000 people pass through one of the NS Cathedrals, as Utrecht Central Station
is also called, every day. With so many
visitors, it is important that ears and eyes keep a close eye on everything
. Defective escalators and elevators must be identified
so that travelers with mobility problems can reach the station, and
disturbances or crowds must be managed so that travelers
can get from A to B safely.
Various data points plotted on a 3D model of Utrecht Centraal
help to quickly gain insight into the current state of affairs, and this
is just the beginning.
Would you like to learn more about a Digital Twin, understand how the NS uses it
to support travelers and curious about further developments
of Conclusion and NS? Then listen to this episode now

De Dataloog is the independent Dutch podcast about data & artificial intelligence.

Here you will hear everything you need to know about the sense and nonsense of data, the latest developments and real stories from practice. Our hosts always keep things understandable, but do not shy away from depth.

Do you like De Dataloog? Subscribe to the podcast and leave a review.

Best Practices in IOT and Edge Computing – from sensor to project management
Spotify / De Dataloog
February 14, 2022

IOT and Edge computing are two technologies that are expected to take off in 2022. Steering on the Edge can help industry but also consumers of energy companies with rapid local optimization.

In this recording, Robbrecht van Amerongen and Frank Schutrops from Amis, part of Conclusion, explain how they approach an IOT / Edge computing project from A to Z. They take us through platform choices (AWS/Azure/Open Source), sensor board choices (from Raspberry to dedicated boards), protocol structure and also change management.

Plenty of food for thought for anyone interested in this subject.

Knowledge is power, sharing knowledge is powerful
AMIS
July 08, 2014

Almost 8 years ago I joined AMIS. Before this I worked with a lot of Open Source projects and companies. The key to a good Open Source project is sharing information. In my vision the AMIS Technology Blog is an excellent form of the open source way of sharing information. In 2004 we were the first company within the Oracle knowledge domain to actively and openly share all our information on our blog. This has resulted nowadays in 5000 readers a day, a vast community of followers and AMIS as a known name amongst Oracle technology specialists.

SHARE AND YOU WILL GET MORE IN RETURN
At the start of the AMIS blog, back in 2004, sharing information was not common practice. Especially in the Oracle domain. This could lead to a diminishing competitive advantage. Many Oracle professionals thrive by their own knowledge and practical experience. By sharing your own knowledge you are educating your competitors. We have gradually shifted form the mantra “Information is Power” to “Sharing and networking is Power”. Nowadays we know sharing knowledge supports the community and builds our company and personal brand. Most innovation is directly derived from sharing information and discussion. New ideas bounce form one person to another with every person adding new insights and perspectives to this idea. You have to share to create something valuable.

Data, the smart fuel for the energy transition at scale. IoT Smart Energy Grid
IoT Solutions World Congress
May 01, 2022

We have implemented a large scale IoT Data processing capability that is able to connect a wide range of energy producing and energy consuming assets. This enables us to process high-frequency sensor data of our energy grid with a measurement interval of every 2 minutes and the ability to send steering commands to the grid. We connected the data to logic to steer the network and influence the energy resources.

Data as essential element in energy transitions
TBX Events / Jaarbeurs
November 04, 2021

Discuss what happens when you connect more than 20.000 energy assets to a real-time data grid and steer it on sustainability and energy efficiency. We explain the challenges of implementing a vast and high-frequency IoT platform aimed on steering the energy network.

Practical examples from the world of IoT
Carierebeurs NL
September 23, 2020

We know IoT in our own home from the smart thermostat and the voice response speaker with which we can control the lighting to the robot lawn mower.

But what is the industry doing with IoT? How do large international companies use connected machines to improve quality and customer focus? Robbrecht van Amerongen, IoT lead at Conclusion, talks from his own experience and about projects he has carried out over the past 2 years at a number of large industrial companies and facility management organizations.

https://www.slideshare.net/AMIS_Services/iot-and-the-future-of-work-88724512
Slideshare / Dutch Labor Association
February 23, 2018

Overview of IoT strategy and the future of our work.

Let's Unpack IoT Market Trends for the energy sector! Digital Twin and AI
5V Media
December 15, 2022

In episode 10 of The 5V Podcast, we are joined by leader Robbrecht van Amerongen - Head of IoT & API at AMIS Conclusion to unpack some of the most popular trends in and outside of the IoT world this year, from digital twin adoption to metaverse thoughts and learn more about scaling IoT and the changes it has brought to the energy market!
As an innovation manager, Robbrecht has delivered tangible services products and services. Accompanied by the necessary marketing effort and sales instructions to transform a “good idea” into a profitable service for companies. He has organised, conducted and managed several conferences, seminars, and webcasts in the technology and innovation domain.

AMIS strengthens your business operations by using data as production capital. Their approach contributes to performance improvement, cost reduction, risk reduction, and the facilitation of new business models. If you’re wondering what they're good at, their answer would be the Internet of Things, Data and Integration Engineering, Data-driven applications, and Data Platforms

How to scale and smarten up a real-life energy grid with Azure IoT
Microsoft IoT Developers - IoT show
March 09, 2022

In this episode, we discuss the IoT smart grid project that AMIS Conclusion has created for a customer in The Netherlands. We talk about a real-life large-scale energy grid and all the challenges we face implementing this on an Enterprise scale. Robbrecht van Amerongen will talk more about the complexity of Smart Grid data processing and Tomasz Brzezinski will talk more about the way Azure components help scale the platform rapidly to over 15.000 devices.

AMIS Whitepaper User Experience Frameworks “Future of optimal UI development”
AMIS
August 15, 2014

“ THERE’S A LOT MORE BEHIND THIS PRETTY FACE “
The whitepaper “User Experience Frameworks – Future of optimal UI development -” starts with an overview of user experience guidelines. These guidelines translate to additional UX requirements when designing and building a new user interface on modern systems. We will also discuss the two major architectural paradigms for user interface development, followed by an overview of the major frameworks and technologies used for implementing this architecture. In this whitepaper we give you insight in the major differences between Thin Server and Thin Client development. This is the most important choice when considering a new (or refactoring) your user interface. Finally we will give a number of business examples and the preferred technology for implementing the requirements. Download your copy of the AMIS whitepaper-future-of-optimal-ui-development and share your remarks below.

The Cloud is getting closer, what is the weather forecast?'.
Consultancy.nl
April 10, 2014

Various employees working at consultancy firms also make substantive contributions to workshops at the National Career Fair. For example, two consultants from Ordina – Richard van Tilborg (Business Unit Manager SMART Technologies) and Jasper Jochem (Consultant Healthcare) provide the workshop 'Wearable World: Google Glass the future?'. Robbrecht van Amerongen, Innovation Manager at AMIS (part of Conclusion ) will act as a speaker during the workshop 'The Cloud is getting closer, what is the weather forecast?'. Koen Nooij, Designer Infrastructure employee at engineering and consultancy firm Royal HaskoningDHV , facilitates the 'Working on a project basis' workshop together with colleague Hugo Houben.

ESG Reports: The Deceptive Mirage of Sustainability?
Thinkers360
November 14, 2024

In the realm of sustainability policies, it’s time to address the stellar work accomplished so far—particularly for the external consultants and ESG dashboard creators! We've witnessed a sudden influx of consultants embracing the "green" label in the last two years. Truth be told, we seem to have more reports than trees, and that, to me, doesn't signify sustainability. In fact, the sheer volume of paperwork produced might warrant a new category of CO2 emissions.

Amidst this flurry of advice reports, PowerPoints, and PowerBI ESG analyses, we seem to have forgotten a crucial point: these reports don’t reduce a single drop of CO2. While we meticulously measure our ESG Footprint, is there actual action behind these metrics? Research from Heidrick & Struggles reveals that 51% of directors hire external consultants for sustainability advice. Link

What's more, a staggering 62% of directors admit they're too swamped to actually read these reports. What a surprise! It seems we’re spending more time hiring sustainability advisors than actively pursuing sustainability. So, let's tear up those reports, send those consultants home, and take direct action.

Maybe I'm oversimplifying, but who knows? Perhaps in doing so, we can save the world and a hefty sum—funds otherwise squandered on reports and meetings. A win-win scenario, especially concerning government funds. Efficient allocation of public resources.

Actions Speak Louder than Reports

It’s time to shift the focus from endless reports to concrete action. Many

researchers are still engrossed in mapping specific emission categories and selecting the best sustainable energy forms for the future. We're so delayed in taking action that all resources must now be dedicated to reducing harmful emissions and preserving biodiversity. It's imperative to prioritize.

Key Steps for Policymakers:

1) Electrification

Transition massively to electricity as the primary energy source instead of hydrocarbons. While not all power generation is sustainable yet, even less sustainable forms can be made highly efficient. Plus, separating generation from consumption means transitioning from gas to wind energy requires no consumption adjustments. The challenge lies in resolving network congestion—practically, laying more cables underground and maximizing available capacity.

2) Building Infrastructure

Shift building heating systems away from natural gas. Develop sustainable maintenance plans emphasizing measures like investing in solar panels to reduce electricity demand.

3) Encouraging Sustainable Behaviors

Promote sustainable behaviors among individuals, advocating for LED lighting, solar water heaters, heat pumps, and insulation.

4) Knowledge Investment

Invest in sustainability education to empower experts capable of guiding businesses and individuals toward sustainable choices as independent advisors.

5) Data Exchange

Facilitate transparent data exchange concerning energy supply and demand (heat, electricity, hydrogen, etc.) publicly. This enables better local alignment of supply and demand, allowing companies to share energy surplus with neighbors and coordinate energy consumption and production within neighborhoods, easing the strain on the grid.

6. Mobility

Nearly 50% of CO2 emissions from transportation stem from regular cars (link to report) (only 9% from flying) Encourage the use of public transportation and cycling, ensuring an adequate number of charging stations and promoting the use of electric vehicles.

7. Investment Facilitation

Support investments in sustainable energy, as these ventures demand significant capital but promise reliable, long-term returns. Facilitating collaborations like energy cooperatives allows residents, users, and co-owners to benefit not just in energy but also in returns on their investment.

8. Progress Measurement

Lastly, measure progress efficiently. Use reporting as an instrument for steering rather than an end goal. While there's still low-hanging fruit to be addressed, reporting should remain relatively straightforward. Understanding your footprint is crucial in crafting an effective reduction strategy. Particularly in scope 3, this approach holds relevance. Automating the dashboard should be the aim, allowing sustainability experts to focus on reduction rather than reporting.

In summary, action should precede reports. Sustainable transformation doesn’t stem from Excel sheets; it demands tangible actions. Let's focus on doing rather than fixating on the most ideal PowerBI dashboards. Becoming sustainable requires genuine action—one that cannot be orchestrated solely from an Excel file