Beyond 2D CAD: Embracing Digital Twins, Cyber Security, and Revit in System Design
42 min
In this episode of Security Tech Talk, host Steve Kenny welcomes back Axis Communications colleague Tertius Wolfaardt to explore the fast-moving world of security design software. Moving past the days of manual circular lens calculators and basic Visio templates, Steve and Tertius take a deep dive into how large-scale enterprise developments, mega-projects, and stringent regional compliance standards have transformed security system design. Together, they unpack the shift from static 2D CAD layouts to immersive 3D Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Revit environments. Tertius explains why design tools account for complex video analytics, multi-layered perimeter sensors, lighting levels, and structural blind spots before construction must now even begins. They also tackle the hidden infrastructure costs of generic calculations, addressing how manufacturer-backed data drastically reduces network, server, and cooling footprints to safeguard total cost of ownership (TCO) and environmental sustainability. About Our Guest: Tertius Wolfaardt: Manager, Engineering & Training - South Asia Pacific , Axis Communications. Over the past 12 years, Tertius has been instrumental in shaping design tool strategies, training programs, and BIM/Revit integrations across the Middle East and globally, helping consultants and system designers build accurate, compliant, and future-proof architectures. Key Discussion Points: The Evolution of System Design: Reflecting on the transition from physical rulers, rotary lens calculators, and early 2D Visio diagrams to sophisticated 3D architectural software. The Demand for 3D Coverage & Regulatory Proof: Why modern giga-projects, transport hubs, and stadiums demand precise virtual sightline modelling to prove regulatory compliance (such as FIFA seating standards) prior to breaking ground. Breaking Multi-Discipline Silos in BIM: How cameras have evolved into multifunctional IoT sensors that interface with building management systems, HVAC...