ENER-BI: Integrating Energy and Spatial Data for Cities’ Decarbonisation Planning

Abstract

Given the current climate emergency, our planet is suffering. Mitigation measures must be urgently deployed in urban environments, which are responsible for more than 70% of global CO2 emissions. In this sense, a deeper integration between energy and urban planning disciplines is a key factor for effective decarbonisation in urban environments. This is addressed in the Cities4ZERO decarbonisation methodology. This method specifically points out the need for technology-based solutions able to support that integration among both disciplines at a local level, enriching decision-making in urban decarbonisation policy-making, diagnosis, planning, and follow-up tasks, incorporating the spatial dimension to the whole process (GIS-based), as well as the possibilities of the digital era. Accordingly, this paper explores the demands of both integrated urban energy planning and European/Basque energy directives, to set the main requisites and functionalities that Decision Support Systems (DSSs) must fulfil to effectively support city managers and the urban decarbonisation process.

Graph-Based Methodology for Multi-Scale Generation of Energy Analysis Models from Ifc

“…The optimisation of the multi-building approach is addressed by implementing a visibility analysis for filtering relevant surfaces for simulation (including also self-shadowing effects), which can reduce drastically the simulation time, as it has been demonstrated with some test cases. This is a crucial aspect in urban environments and there is a growing need to consider the building in its context [43,44], which is also an important result achieved.…”

Towards an Integrated Approach to Urban Decarbonisation in Practice: The Case of Vitoria-Gasteiz

“…In this sense, the ENER-BI research project presented the desirable characteristics of an urban-energy decision support system (DSS) able to integrate energy and spatial data for cities' decarbonisation planning [12]. This research project set specific requisites on information gathering procedures, information storage (both static and dynamic data), data integration and treatment, key performance indicators' calculations, necessary outputs for decision-makers, and dashboard visualisation.…”

“…This research project set specific requisites on information gathering procedures, information storage (both static and dynamic data), data integration and treatment, key performance indicators' calculations, necessary outputs for decision-makers, and dashboard visualisation. All these requisites were oriented to enable the three main functionalities of an urban-energy DSS, also described in [12]:…”

“…The Cities4ZERO methodology [10] was developed as a consistent guide to effectively integrate urban planning and energy policies, plans, and practices. It provides a holistic approach to strategic municipal processes for urban decarbonisation in the mid-long term, which includes key local stakeholders' engagement into integrated energy planning processes (for Vitoria's foresight case, see [11], as well as tools for effective energy decarbonisation modelling (such as ENER-BI; see [12]).…”

Digital Transformation of Energy Companies: A Colombian Case Study

“…However, the number of reports has grown considerably during the last five years [13,14]. One can find, among others, studies at different scales: the whole world [15]; continents such as Europe [16] and Africa [17]; countries such as Germany [18], Greece [19], Russia [20,21], China [22], Perú [23], and Australia [24]; regions such as the Basque Country (Spain) [25]; and cities such as Alkmaar (Netherlands) and Évora (Portugal) [26]. Recently, Voropai [27] presented a review that includes the main challenges to transform electric power systems at large-scale, which involve structural and properties changes linked to the use of modern technologies that allow digitalization and intellectualization of energy systems operation.…”