DCW 2023 Recap | It's All About Connectivity
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
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Summary
Look: there’s no “official” theme for AFCOM’s annual Data Center World conference, which was held this year in Austin, Texas. Nevertheless, because the data center industry itself is constantly attuned to the latest trends, emerging technologies, and breaking news from the world of tech at large, it’s inevitable that some concepts would break from the pack and begin to dominate the conversation.
This year, throughout the Data Center BUILD sessions, sustainability continued to gain traction, as leaders in data center construction across the globe gathered to discuss the cutting-edge methods—such as SMR adoption and analysis of newfound Scope 4 emissions—with which we can construct sustainable data centers and foster a greener industry. In the DCIM workshop on Monday morning, AFCOM Phoenix Chapter President Ryan Gruver donned a pair of A/R glasses to witness firsthand just how AR/VR technology could radically transform daily operations in the data center. And, in Tuesday’s keynote, presented by Burcin Kaplanoglu, Vice President of Oracle, we learned the myriad ways in which automation and robotics could be used to leverage data and facilitate faster data-driven solutions.
Yet, above all else, what emerged as a clear theme throughout DCW 2023 was “connectivity.” No, not just “connectivity” in the technical sense, in which one data center within a company “communicates” to another, but “connectivity” on a grander, more human scale—in which companies and their representatives chat amongst other, find critical opportunities to collaborate, and work together as an industry to find solutions to the world’s most pressing issues.
“We’re here to build a community,” Omdia chief analyst Roy Illsley said at the start of Monday’s DC BUILD sessions. Indeed, this ideal community that conferences like DCW hopes to galvanize would include a newfound diversity of people, which subsequently would bring about a newfound diversity of perspectives. Or, as DCI Board Member Ron Vokoun put it: “New people, new ideas.”
And, it should be added: new connections. Throughout this week, I heard time and time again that a recurring highlight for many DCW attendees was the vital chance to “meet new people.” This—this is why we had so many sold-out keynotes, and why so many panels quickly became a “standing room only” affair. Not just the chance to try out the latest tech, or to collect free swag as attendees, but the opportunity to connect with people both within and outside of AFCOM, to form bonds and share best practices so that we can excel, innovate, and evolve as an industry—together.
"We're only looking at part of the story" At the start of Monday’s DC Build summit, featuring sessions, speakers, and panelists devoted to discussing all aspects of data center construction, Compass Datacenters CEO Chris Crosby delivered an inspirational rebuttal to the typical ways in which we view sustainability. While most companies tend to look at Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, Crosby argued that this narrow-minded view tended to benefit a company’s finances more than the environment itself.
There are, he claims, inherent limitations with measuring Scope 1-3 emissions; e.g., these measurements tend not to include the accumulated time of a data center’s daily operations as a factor, and don’t account for the other sustainability initiatives that companies must pursue in order to give back to their local environments. In short, a focus on these types of emissions can easily lead to the type of greenwashing that Crosby so vocally dislikes. According to him, Scope 1-3 is “only part of the story.”
Enter: Scope 4 emissions. These are, as Crosby described them, the “emissions avoided as a result of sustainable decision-making”; i.e., the emissions that are harder to greenwash. Measuring these emissions will in turn establish the ability to measure the impact of sustainability-centric decision-making involving GHG emissions and carbon inventory. Tracking these emissions will also be a continuous process, allowing organizations to track their sustainable progress across time.
However, in order for Scope 4 emissions tracking to truly be the “game changer” that Crosby believes it to be, it must be established as a benchmark throughout the industry. This also involves sharing emerging technologies and established methods with other companies, in order to reduce the overall cost of technological adoption. Crosby highlighted a few critical technologies in his keynote speech: fiberglass-reinforced polymer (FRP), which is a “lot more sustainable” for gantries; HDPE pipes vs. the usual RCP, because HDPE pipes will “last forever”; HVO, because it involves no field-treating and leaves behind no black soot compared to the usual diesel; and the urgency to install more and more power lines, which are “massively needed.”
At the end of the day, according to Crosby, the biggest question those involved with sustainability need to keep in mind is this: “What are you doing to give back to your community?” While, he argued, you may still be hated by your neighbors, the threat of NIMBYism may slightly recede if you prove you’re doing everything in your power to sustain critical resources for your local environment.
And, in order to do so, Crosby said, you need to continuously collaborate with your peers.
"The room is always smarter than the individual" Shortly after Crosby’s keynote, a panel of construction experts took the stage to discuss the ways in which the industry must combat intolerance throughout the job site. While, as Ironworkers Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust (IMPACT)'s Kevin Hilton declared, there’s been “incredible cultural change that has occurred right before my eyes,” the panelists made it clear that there is still so much more to be done to make job sites an inclusive place to work.
In particular, companies seemingly overlook basic necessities when it comes to accommodating women on job sites. Vicki O’Leary, Director of Diversity at Ironworkers International, recounted the times she’s attended a job site that simply didn’t have a bathroom for women available—or, if it did, it was “all the way across” the job site, compared to the immediate availability of the men’s bathroom. Similarly, according to O’Leary, there’s a huge scarcity of safety equipment like PPE and harnesses that fit women’s body types, which can create substantial risks to safety for women while on-site.
Maja Rosenquist, Senior VP of Mortenson, agreed with O’Leary’s observations, and added that she becomes disheartened when she sees women on-site “doing the bare minimum”; i.e., sweeping, cleaning, or otherwise handling the general upkeep of the construction environment. Rosenquist advocated for more women in leadership positions, and encouraged people to adjust the language they use within job descriptions and pre-construction training manuals to encourage more women to apply and feel encouraged to pursue upwards mobility in their organizations.
While these are easy, incremental steps to take, they can prevent workplace disasters from occurring. All of the panelists had a story to share about a woman or minority receiving harassment on-site—whether it’s sexualized graffiti written on the walls, inappropriate jokes made while working, or, disturbingly, a noose hanging from the rafters, these harmful gestures can accumulate and overwhelmingly become the biggest reason why most people leave a site. And, once people leave the site, companies are no longer able to access that person’s vital experiences and insights in order to improve construction.
“This isn’t diversity for diversity’s sake,” moderator Ben Kaplan, Senior VP of Turner Construction, said towards the start of this panel. “Diversity is the culture that allows people to be their authentic selves on-site.” And, in order to facilitate that authenticity, tough conversations need to be had—conversations which, as Rosenquist pointed out, typically didn’t happen in the past.
“In 1998, when we saw sexualized images or inappropriate words, we simply painted them over,” Rosenquist explained. “Conversations with the women who were affected were nothing more than a hug, and then people would just cross their fingers and hope things would be better the next day.”
However, in order for necessary changes to occur, people need to be more proactive and either speak up about these issues—or step back and listen to others speak about how they’ve been affected on-site. In turn, these conversations will hopefully allow everyone the opportunity to feel comfortable at work and subsequently excel at their job. Again, collaboration and communication continue to be pivotal concepts for this industry to pursue.
“When given the right opportunity,” Hilton declared, “people can add incredible value to your organization.”
Powering up the industry Fortunately, the industry is making great strides to acquire the people they need to deliver said value to their companies—and diversifying their approach to access communities that may not yet realize the benefits that a career in the data center industry can provide.
On the final day of Data Center World, I was overjoyed to attend the 2nd annual PowerUp program, which hosted 35 ECHS (Early College High School) students from Austin ISD, as well as the nonprofit organization NPower, dedicated to lift people from the poverty line through tech skills training and career advising.
The day began with a dynamic speech entitled “Data Center 101,” delivered by AFCOM Potomac’s TJ Ciccone, who, quite frankly, did a phenomenal job describing the value and inherent worth of data centers to those unfamiliar with the industry. After a brief demonstration of ChatGPT, Ciccone then emphasized that the exponential rate of emerging technologies and their subsequent adoption shows just how necessary (and busy) the data center industry will be in the near future. However, as Ciccone said towards the end of his speech, “If you can adapt to our ‘mission-critical mindset,’ the rewards can be immense.”
In her Data Center Institute member Carrie Goetz agreed: “If you thrive on chaos, it’s a great place to be.” Goetz, best-selling author of the book Jumpstart Your Career in Data Centers, similarly highlighted that job security is pretty much guaranteed in this industry, given how in-demand it’s become in recent decades—and that demand’s only set to increase. Goetz mentioned a myriad of other benefits you’ll be able to gain from a career in data centers, including the ability to travel anywhere, live anywhere, and continually learn and evolve as the industry itself evolves. Most importantly, however, Goetz emphasizes that data center leaders currently need the diversity and diverse thinking that younger generations can provide. “Every bit of innovation that lives in your minds,” Goetz concluded,” is something that we need in this industry.”
After a series of talks, these students had the opportunity to sit down with industry experts and directly ask questions about how to get a career started in data centers, followed by a guided tour around the Expo Hall.
All in all, the PowerUp event itself served as a great microcosm for the kind of collaboration this industry is continually seeking—not only between companies within the industry, but between the industry and the world at large.
The program, and Data Center World itself, are expected to continue to serve as catalysts for connectivity in the coming years—including next year, in which DCW will be held at Washington, DC. We hope to connect with you there.
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