A digital solution to a hidden crisis

Every year, veterinary professionals face unique occupational hazards that extend far beyond the animals they treat. Among the most pressing—yet rarely discussed—is their access to highly controlled substances, including drugs powerful enough to euthanise large animals. Without robust tracking systems, the consequences can be devastating.

Robert Walden, Co-founder at Engineering the Blue Limited, presents groundbreaking work that applies digital twin technology to an unexpected domain: safeguarding dangerous drugs and protecting veterinary professionals.

What you'll discover:

The problem space: Understand why the veterinary profession faces disproportionately high rates of suicide and how untracked access to lethal substances contributes to tragic outcomes.

An innovative solution: Learn how a smart lockbox with a companion app creates a digital twin of controlled drug inventory—ensuring every access attempt leaves a verifiable digital record.

Intelligent access control: Discover how the system can block access at unexpected times or locations, or trigger additional verification requirements when risk factors are detected.

Real-world validation: Hear findings from an 8-month trial across 7 veterinary practices with 25 devices, developed in collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College, UCL, and Vets in Mind.

Why this matters

This presentation demonstrates how digital twin principles can extend beyond infrastructure and manufacturing to address urgent workforce safety challenges. It's a powerful example of technology serving human wellbeing—turning data collection into a protective intervention.

Ideal for digital twin practitioners exploring new application domains, healthcare and veterinary technology innovators, policy makers addressing controlled substances, and anyone interested in how connected devices can save lives.

About the speaker

Robert Walden leads Engineering the Blue Limited, bringing technical expertise to solve real-world problems at the intersection of IoT, data management, and public safety. His collaborative work with leading veterinary and mental health organisations showcases how digital twin thinking can be applied to protect vulnerable professionals.

This is a FREE online event for Digital Twin Hub community members.

Join 7,000+ digital twin enthusiasts from across sectors for this 30-minute session, including 15 minutes of expert presentation followed by interactive Q&A

Can't attend live? All Gemini Call sessions are recorded and available to the community for continued learning.

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Part of the weekly Gemini Call series - connecting the digital twin community every Tuesday at 10:30am BST.

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