Saurabh Jain: Making Buildings "Smarter"

Saurabh's journey to become a visionary in the smart building sector is one of courage, passion, and an unwavering belief in technology-driven innovation to make a meaningful impact. From an early age, there was something quietly shaping his future: his involvement in community service. Saurabh Jain volunteered at various hospitals in Mumbai, where he also worked on improving their back-end information systems. This was when Saurabh's fascination with technology began to grow. The idea that data could be utilized constructively to improve processes and systems sparked the ambition that would guide his future.

After completing high school at Ryan International Group of Institutions , Saurabh decided to move to the United States to pursue his undergraduate degree at the University of Rochester. His love for mathematics, physics, and machines led him to choose Mechanical Engineering, where he excelled in his studies. His passion for learning, combined with a strong sense of curiosity, elevated Saurabh to great heights of academic achievement.

During his sophomore year, Saurabh secured an internship at an engineering consulting firm, an experience that shaped his professional trajectory. By the time he graduated, the firm offered him a full-time position as a graduate mechanical engineer. But Saurabh knew he could do much more.

Saurabh knew that he if he could combine his expertise in mechanical engineering with the rapidly advancing field of data science, there would be magic.?

With the pandemic, the ensuing global disruptions and emphasis on digital transformation, his plunge into data science became a reality. With his sights set on broadening his skills, he enrolled in a Master's Program in Data Science and Analytics at the University of Southern California (USC). The transition from mechanical engineering to data science was no easy feat, but Saurabh's focus and determination saw him through. The challenge of mastering new programming languages, statistical techniques, and machine learning was both daunting and exhilarating. However, he knew there would be a plethora of entirely new possibilities once he finished the program.

After successfully completing his Master’s, Saurabh moved to Detroit to join the rapidly growing smart building industry. The smart building space was an area of immense potential, blending the physical infrastructure of buildings with cutting-edge technology to optimize energy usage, improve operational efficiency, and reduce environmental impact. With climate change as a pressing challenge, Saurabh wanted to apply his knowledge and skills in data analytics, effectively leveraging technology to create meaningful impact. As a data scientist, Saurabh's work became a critical link between data and the sustainability of the built spaces.

At the heart of his role is the development of Business Intelligence (BI) dashboards. These dashboards serve as powerful tools for building operators and senior executives alike, providing a comprehensive, real-time view of a building’s operations. State-of-the-art dashboards integrate data from various systems within the building, such as energy management, lighting, security, elevators, occupancy, fire detection, access control, and more. Through these visualizations, building managers are able to make informed decisions, and of course enhance their ability to assess, control and report.?

By providing a “single glass pane” visualization, Saurabh’s work empowers building managers to monitor and optimize energy consumption, reduce carbon emissions, and streamline day-to-day operations. The result is a smarter, more efficient integrated ecosystem that significantly reduces its environmental footprint while providing a better experience for the people who play, visit, live and work in these spaces.

?The smart technologies Saurabh helps to develop have become instrumental in taking a stand against climate change. With energy optimization tools that automatically adjust lighting, heating, cooling, and other systems, buildings can operate at peak efficiency while minimizing heat discharge, for example. The ability to track and analyze energy usage patterns facilitates the much-needed predictive maintenance for these assets.

Saurabh is particularly passionate about the role of software in driving this transformation.? The power of software lies in its ability to control hardware, guiding the way buildings operate and interact with their occupants. In an industry where data-driven insights are becoming more critical than ever, Saurabh believes that smart technology is the key to achieving sustainability. With such Volume, Velocity, Variety?and Veracity of data processed, smart buildings are not only optimizing operations but are also playing a key role in reducing energy consumption and lowering emissions as well as improving the overall experience of people in these built spaces.

Saurabh's success in the smart building industry lies in his ability to merge his engineering expertise and data science knowledge with his deep passion for sustainability. Throughout his career, he has remained steadfast in his belief that technology has the power to change the world for the better. Saurabh’s work demonstrates the widespread impact that technology can have when it is aligned with purpose.

Today, Saurabh works on innovative projects in the smart building space, particularly in the development of next-generation transformational technologies. As the smart building industry continues to grow, Saurabh is determined to scale new heights and contribute more to shape the future of smart spaces and structures: making them even smarter and ultimately more sustainable.

From his humble beginnings in India to his current role as a committed changemaker in the United States, Saurabh's story is one of perseverance, vision, and a deep desire to make a meaningful impact through a more sustainable, energy-efficient future - for Good.