For over a decade here at DPC our data experts, through global innovation studies and real-world projects, have been developing a series of technologies to address the challenges of implementing smart city infrastructure.
Our work focuses on breaking down silos, enabling interoperable data models, establishing robust governance frameworks, and creating secure, scalable systems, all of which are foundational to the creation of a National Digital Twin (NDT). This extensive, ongoing effort aims to create a unified, resilient infrastructure that enhances collaboration and drives smarter, more efficient urban development.
Who we are
We are digital twin experts and smart city specialists advising both local and central governments around the world on the development of intelligent and cognitive technologies for positive social impact.
Our small specialist team of technical developers have been building a digital spine that connects disparate data sources and create validated, consistent information management frameworks; more commonly defined as an Integration Architecture or Data Sharing Framework.
We also work with hardware manufacturers within the IoT space, to ensure that their technologies are 'secure by design’ to meet strict cyber security requirements, yet are open source through our work with the standards body, Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF), of which we’re board members and our CEO is currently President.
This ensures full interoperability of the data connection for safe network management and ease of use.
Our technology is future ready and fully compliant with all OCF protocols and allows us to develop an audit trail for the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). This came into force on 10 Dec 2024. The main obligations introduced by the Act will apply from 11 Dec 2027.
Our influence
We are board members of the Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF), the pioneering global regulatory body and also the only ISO approved standard for IoT security. We also act as special advisors to the UK Government, to the United Nations and to various smart city and digital twin initiatives around the world.
Open Connectivity Foundation
OCF develops open standards and certification for secure, reliable interoperability among Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It promotes seamless communication across diverse platforms, enabling smarter, connected environments in homes, industries, and cities.
UK Goverment, United Nations, Sudia Arabia, Indian, Indonesia & South Korea
We act as special advisors to the UK Government, working on their National Cyber Physical Infrastructure strategy and key members of a specialised working group within the Connected places Catapult looking at a Data Sharing Architecture for the UK.
We are also on the roster for Smart City Consultants with the United Nations and to various smart city and digital twin initiatives around the world with ongoing discussions with Saudi Arabia and their giga-city projects, South Korea, Indonesia and India.
Brian Bishop
Founder & CEO
Founder of DPC, President of the Open Connectivity Foundation, UKRI panel of Experts for Smart Cities, UN roster for Smart City Consultants. Expert judge and Mentor for Impact Collective Earth. Fellow of ForHumanity. Supporting the UK Government on their strategic approach to National Cyber Physical Infrastructure and sits on the Nation Working Group at the Digital Twin Hub looking at Data Sharing Architectures and the development of the Gemini Framework.
Christopher Bates-Keegan
CTO
Chris is an award-winning veteran of the games industry with many years’ experience of building and managing digital, design and technology teams. An accomplished software engineer with a particular interest in building architectures for large scale software systems. Chris has been key in the design of the enterprise architecture known as Buttress and how this can develop a digital spine concept.
Nick Paterson-Jones
Acting CMO
Nick is an expert in creating and nurturing innovative brands and products with entrepreneurs. A driven marketing expert, and a creative director with a classic design background, he has more than thirty years industry experience across a wide variety of sectors – media, sport, retail and technology - for companies such as BT, BBC, Extreme, Cloudview and Easy Group.
Mahmoud Abousereaa
Lead Developer
Mahmoud has a background in data and machine learning with specialisms in Mechatronics and intelligent computing. He is our peripatetic engineer, having degrees from Cairo (BScMechatronics), St Petersburg (MSc Information Science and Computer Engineering) and Hanover (MSc Mechatronics). Mahmoud’s passion is in the development of AI models into the Buttress mainframe and nodeStream workflow capabilities
Chris Mason
CDO
Experienced designer and brand innovator, Chris delivers with a straight-talking, ideas-led approach. Proven to solve complex problems with lateral thinking and sharp, simple visuals idea. Chris is also an Associate Lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire, helping shape the next generation of creative talent.
Tom Cahill
Lead Developer
Tom hails from the Northwest of England. He has a wealth of experience with web and embedded technologies with a focus on delivering performant, practical and secure software. Tom has been key ithe development of the Policy Engine within Buttress and the integration of the Iotivity code from the Open Connectivity Foundation. In his spare time Tom can be found hanging upside down on bouldering walls..
Hugh Boyes
Consultant Advisor
CEng FIET CISSP is a leading security consultant specialising in the security of engineering systems in the built environment. He also undertakes research regarding security of IoT and the application of cyber security in manufacturing and production organisations. He is the technical author of a range of security guidance material for the UK Government, British Standards Institution (BSI) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology.
Dr Ed Conley
Consultant Advisor
Expert in information governance, data informatics and national-scale Learning Health Systems. Contributed roles include Global Alliance for Genomics Health Consent Task Team, the European Commission’s eHealth Governance Initiative (eHGI) and HL7 UK (specialist consultant for research).
Miranda Sharp
Consultant Advisor
Is the Lead for the Approach and Commons Streams of the National Digital Twin Programme. She advises on digital infrastructure, as a member of the Digital Framework Task Group and has previously worked in executive roles with Ordnance Survey and the Centre for Cities.
Nooshim Akrami
Consultant Advisor
Led the sustainability agenda at the University of Bolton (2019-20) and works with other organisations including Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT), Construction Industry Council (CIC), and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) in supporting and developing climate action agenda, strategies, and action plans.
Peter Curtis
Consultant Advisor
Peter has significant experience of data modelling with the use of state-of-the-art techniques, and his core motivation is the opening and the sharing of data to support business goals whilst increasing operational efficiency and reducing whole life cost, drastically reducing tax money waste!
Prof. Duncan Botting
Consultant Advisor
Duncan has been a thought leader for over 20 years and has been contributing to national critical infrastructure working groups (DoE, UK, Asia), global corporate R&D and scenario building to inform and challenge board level decisions. He is helping to shape future thinking and deployment across the energy, telecommunications, technology and future cities sectors by challenging traditional approaches and using his experience to, hopefully, benefit societal outcomes.