Building HVAC Navigation Views for Context-Rich Performance Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energy analysts face challenges in analyzing commercial building HVAC systems due to data overload, difficulty in comparing equipment performance, and lack of context for data, which hinders effective energy conservation measure recommendations.
Innovation Solution
An interactive visualization environment with a treemap, graph pane, and filtering capabilities that allow for hierarchical data presentation, selection of specific components, and dynamic filtering, providing context-specific menus and visualizations to support comprehensive analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If comprehensive HVAC system data is collected for analysis, then analysis completeness is improved, but data overload and difficulty in identifying pertinent information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comprehensive HVAC data into hierarchical groups and categories (e.g., building systems, equipment types, performance parameters). The visualization interface divides data into manageable sections with filters that allow analysts to progressively drill down from high-level summaries to detailed data, preventing information overload while maintaining access to complete data sets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an automated reasoning engine and visualization interface as intermediaries between the raw HVAC data and the analyst. These intermediaries automatically process, filter, and prioritize data, presenting only pertinent information through visual displays while maintaining the ability to access complete underlying data sets when needed.
2Measurement precision
If detailed equipment performance data is presented, then analysis precision is improved, but ease of operation and quick understanding deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic visualization interface that automatically adjusts the level of detail presented based on user interactions, selection criteria, and analysis context. The system can dynamically switch between summary views and detailed equipment performance data, allowing analysts to quickly grasp overall performance while easily drilling down to precise measurements when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by presenting different levels of data detail in different regions of the visualization interface. Summary statistics and key performance indicators are displayed prominently in overview areas, while detailed equipment-specific data is available in expandable sections or separate detailed views, allowing analysts to focus on relevant information without being overwhelmed by comprehensive data.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive HVAC system data is collected for analysis, then analysis completeness is improved, but time required for analysis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by automatically pre-processing, filtering, and organizing HVAC data before presentation to the analyst. The system pre-calculates key metrics, pre-sorts data by relevance criteria, and pre-configures visualization displays to show the most pertinent information first, significantly reducing the time required for analysts to conduct comprehensive evaluations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the visualization system continuously monitors analyst interactions and automatically adjusts data presentation to prioritize relevant information. The system learns from user behavior patterns and dynamically refines data filtering and sorting, reducing analysis time while maintaining completeness by ensuring that comprehensive data remains accessible through automated navigation suggestions.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool for providing a visualization of a system may reveal an interactive navigation environment for building performance observation and assessment. The tool may be associated with a processor. The environment may incorporate a treemap, a graph pane, a treemap filter, a graph pane selector, a selected units box and a date/time control mechanism. A visualization of the environment, among other things, may be presented on a display. The treemap may exhibit a building geometry and/or equipment units hierarchically, along with some data information. Units may be interactively selected from the treemap and placed in the box for analysis. The graph pane may show a configuration and display of unit analysis. Selection of detailed views for units in the box may be provided by the graph pane selector. Date and time intervals for analysis may be selected by the control mechanism.