Utility Consumption Visualization Using Geometric Forms
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for displaying utility consumption in real estate portfolios are cumbersome for large portfolios, requiring manual review and comparison of numeric values, making it difficult to identify properties that would benefit from auditing and energy reduction efforts.
Innovation Solution
A graphic display method using geometric forms on a map, where the size and color of each form represent total utility consumption and intensity, allowing for easy identification of high and low consumption areas, with zoomable and filterable features to analyze specific regions and time periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If tabular form with numeric values is used to display utility consumption, then data precision is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates for large portfolios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms one-dimensional tabular numeric data into two-dimensional visual representations using geometric forms on a map. Each property is represented by a geometric form whose size corresponds to total utility consumption and whose color corresponds to consumption intensity. This dimensional transformation allows users to quickly perceive consumption patterns across large portfolios without manually scanning numerical tables, thereby maintaining data precision while dramatically improving ease of operation.
2Measurement precision
If detailed numeric data is displayed for all properties, then measurement precision is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex dataset into two distinct visual dimensions: geometric form size representing total utility consumption and geometric form color representing consumption intensity. This segmentation allows the system to preserve precise measurement data while simplifying the display complexity by encoding different data aspects into separate visual channels that the human eye can process simultaneously without confusion.
3Ease of operation
If visual representation with geometric forms is used, then ease of operation improves, but loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different visual properties of the geometric forms encode different data dimensions: size encodes total consumption while color encodes consumption intensity. This allows the visual representation to convey multiple layers of information simultaneously without loss, as each local visual attribute (size or color) preserves a specific aspect of the underlying data while contributing to the overall ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for displaying utility consumption of a property portfolio for zones of a display area. First values correspond to utility consumption and second values corresponding to consumption intensity are first determined. The first values for each zone are ranked from high to low values and associated with a size of a geometric form corresponding to each of the zones. Similarly, the second values for each zone are ranked from high to low values and associated with a corresponding color, with a highest of the second values having a first color representing a highest consumption intensity, the smallest of the second values having a second color representing the lowest consumption intensity, and the remaining of the second values are associated with mixtures of the first color and second color. The respective geometric forms for each of the zones are displayed on the map at respective spatial locations.