Spatial Simulation LabInitial situation
Simulations in the areas of energy grids, buildings and transport are often time-consuming and resource-intensive,which makes evidence-based decision-making in municipalities more difficult. Changes in individual parametersrequire lengthy recalculations and their impact only becomes apperent after the simulation is complete. This makes itpractically impossible to test all parameter combinations. A solution that can immediately estimate the effects ofchanges with sufficient accuracy would provide administrations with a better understanding and enable targetedformulation of optimised scenarios.
Goals and innovation
DataScience4SmartQuarters is developing a proof-of-concept study (TRL3-4) for a user-friendly, fast, and cost-effective planning tool for municipalities. This tool will enable the rapid estimation of simulation results in the areasof buildings/energy (e.g., electricity consumption) and mobility (e.g., modal split and traffic generation) as a result of
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new developments or land-use changes. The tool is designed to estimate the impact of parameters (renovation rate,heating replacement, PV expansion, e-mobility) in “real-time.” This allows municipalities to make decisions quicklyand cost-efficiently, helping them to achieve climate goals more rapidly.
In the developed method, when simulation parameters are changed, an initial estimation of the results is generatedusing Data Science methods (e.g., machine learning, regression methods). This allows interesting scenarios to betested in advance before detailed simulations are conducted. New simulation data is incorporated into theimprovement of local training datasets. Although this approach is discussed in the literature, its implementation inthe municipal context has not yet been tested.
Methodology and Synergies
To ensure the national transferability of the results, large-scale data and studies, such as “Österreich unterwegs”, willbe analyzed with respect to spatial structures. Models will be developed and tested that can be applied to typicalsettlement structures and demographic patterns. Various models will be examined to link meaningful inputparameters with relevant output variables. The integration of existing databases and systems will be evaluated. Thesimulation data from SmartQ+ (FFG 893499) will serve as a valuable foundation and training dataset. Theinterdisciplinary collaboration of experts in spatial planning, data visualization, building physics, energy economics,and transportation planning enables a scientific comparison and testing of these methods. Workshops will involvestakeholders and future users in the development process.
Benefits and Impact
The project is aimed at decision-makers, planners, developers, and other stakeholders in neighborhooddevelopment. It offers a fast, cost-effective way to evaluate planning decisions and optimize scenarios before theyare simulated in detail. The workflow can be used in participatory planning processes, as simulation results areavailable “at the push of a button.” Municipalities can independently run simulations and adapt them to changingconditions, enabling the development of targeted energy policies and faster decision-making. This promotes actionsto reduce CO2 emissions. The project aims for widespread dissemination and application of the results.
