The energy transition is one of the greatest challenges of our time. But how can complex energy topics be conveyed in an understandable way while simultaneously motivating people to take action? The Smart Region Lab at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) develops interactive tools that, with the help of multitouch tables from Interactive Scape, make the energy transition tangible.
The building stock accounts for about a quarter of all CO2 emissions in Switzerland. This is where the energy tool developed by the Smart Region Lab comes in: for each of the 1.7 million residential buildings in Switzerland, it displays the estimated CO2 emissions and the potential savings based on the energy system.
Thanks to the interactive aerial map, users can quickly and intuitively locate their own building on the multitouch table. Using Scape X® Magnify, a magnifying glass-looking object, they can then access detailed emissions and energy information about the selected building.
The energy tool is one of three pilot projects implemented by Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts since 2022 as part of the Smart Region Central Switzerland initiative. These projects span various topics, including tourism, urban planning, and climate and energy. The shared goal is to visualize complex and extensive datasets in a way that makes decision-relevant information accessible to diverse stakeholders.
The interdisciplinary research and development team combines expertise in computer science, design, engineering, and data science. It works closely with local and international partners from academia, politics, administration, and industry (see "Info Box: Smart Region Lab" for more details).
Last year, the Smart Region Lab, in collaboration with the Swiss energy provider EW Höfe AG, developed a customized and innovative solution for advising homeowners. At the "höfa 2024" trade fair in Freienbach, Schwyz, visitors were able to use this tool to learn more about the energy transition and discover actionable steps for their own homes in a playful and interactive way.
This solution visualizes data such as CO2 emissions, district heating connections, smart meter installations, as well as photovoltaic performance and suitability. These visualizations are layered over publicly available 3D building data and are intuitively designed for ease of use.
Visitors to "höfa 2024" could see how switching to renewable energy reduces CO2 emissions and explore the potential and financial benefits of using photovoltaic systems.
The interactive multitouch table from Interactive Scape attracted numerous interested visitors, who were subsequently advised by staff on linked tablets about switching options. The consultation results could then be conveniently sent via email to the homeowners.
The high level of interest and the diverse discussions at the visualization tables highlighted how important it is to make abstract topics like the energy transition visually and interactively tangible. Interactive Scape's technology, particularly the Scape X® object recognition for haptic interactions, proved to be an ideal solution for effectively conveying data-driven content while fostering engagement and constructive discussions.
Another example of the energy tool in action was its participation in the "Climate and Energy Roadshow", organized in autumn 2023 by the Canton of Lucerne and the Swiss Museum of Transport. In the communities of Lucerne, Sursee, Entlebuch, and Hochdorf, the Smart Region Lab brought energy data directly to the public. The team traveled sustainably using a newly developed bike trailer solution, which was collaboratively designed and implemented over the course of a year by creative minds at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and Interactive Scape.
A 43-inch multitouch display with a SilentPC was integrated into a modified trailer box and equipped with a powerful battery, enabling the interactive table to operate autonomously for several hours. This solution allows tools and data to be brought closer to the public, independent of existing infrastructure – making it ideal for outdoor use.
Visitors could directly access information about the CO2 emissions of their own homes in their town square and gain a better understanding of the impact of gas and oil heating systems. Here too, it became evident that these technologies not only serve as a tool for conveying information but, when used effectively, also initiate and drive dialogue with the public. This allowed various questions about the necessary transformation of energy systems to be directly discussed with the public and local officials using interactive visualizations, providing concrete actionable insights.
With projects like these, the Smart Region Lab demonstrates how scientific research and technological innovation work hand in hand to actively shape societal transformations such as the energy transition. Interactive technologies not only facilitate the communication of information but also make potential solutions tangible and highlight actionable opportunities – a crucial step toward a more sustainable future.
The Smart Region Lab at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts is an interdisciplinary, application-oriented research team that develops data-driven and interactive visualization tools using digital technologies. Its goal is to help address societal challenges in areas such as climate and energy, public planning, tourism, and mobility.
The team works in transdisciplinary collaboration with regional stakeholders and is internationally connected, including partnerships with the City Science Lab at HafenCity University Hamburg and the MIT Media Lab in Boston. Since its launch in 2022, the Smart Region Lab has evolved into an agile knowledge and data hub.
Website: www.hslu.ch/smartregion
