A Social-Centred Gamification Approach to Improve Household Water Use Efficiency

The research community is showing a growing interest in gamification and there are works showing the usefulness of gamification in different problem domains. Recently, a special interest has been given to the gamification design on systems addressing natural resource consumption issues such as to encourage efficient household water consumption. Despite the potential benefits, the gamification design method for such system is not conclusive. In this paper, we proposed a social-centred gamification approach to improve household water use efficiency. The approach firstly identified the water use related social network activities based upon existing popular social network activities. The approach then gamified each identified activity in terms of traditional instruments for improving water use efficiency and gamification rewards. The approach also used a set of indicators to explicitly detect and monitor both online social network activities and offline water use activities. With this approach the gamification effectiveness can be better traced and evaluated.ISS-EWATUS, Integrated Support System for Efficient Water Usage and Resources Management, FP7 project (grant no. 619228), funded by the European Communit

Data Mining to Uncover Heterogeneous Water Use Behaviors From Smart Meter Data

Knowledge on the determinants and patterns of water demand for different consumers supports the design of customized demand management strategies. Smart meters coupled with big data analytics tools create a unique opportunity to support such strategies. Yet, at present, the information content of smart meter data is not fully mined and usually needs to be complemented with water fixture inventory and survey data to achieve detailed customer segmentation based on end use water usage. In this paper, we developed a data‐driven approach that extracts information on heterogeneous water end use routines, main end use components, and temporal characteristics, only via data mining existing smart meter readings at the scale of individual households. We tested our approach on data from 327 households in Australia, each monitored with smart meters logging water use readings every 5 s. As part of the approach, we first disaggregated the household‐level water use time series into different end uses via Autoflow. We then adapted a customer segmentation based on eigenbehavior analysis to discriminate among heterogeneous water end use routines and identify clusters of consumers presenting similar routines. Results revealed three main water end use profile clusters, each characterized by a primary end use: shower, clothes washing, and irrigation. Time‐of‐use and intensity‐of‐use differences exist within each class, as well as different characteristics of regularity and periodicity over time. Our customer segmentation analysis approach provides utilities with a concise snapshot of recurrent water use routines from smart meter data and can be used to support customized demand management strategies.TU Berlin, Open-Access-Mittel - 201

The role of competencies and interests in developing complex IT-artefacts: the case of a metering system.

In this paper we aim at contributing to the ongoing debate on the relationship between artefacts and organizational structuration. Current literature emphasises the role of artefacts as mediators between interests of different categories of actors, namely between designers and users. Alternatively, it concentrates on the processes of learning and interacting between each actor and the artefacts themselves. We explore an arrangement which is not captured by these characterizations, and yet is becoming more and more common, that is situations in which complexity imposes an integration of different actors focusing on knowledge domains which are only partly overlapping. To explore these issues, we examine the dynamics surrounding the design of a complex artefact: an electronic metering system developed by a consortium of firms. The main results emerging from the case study are 1) the relevance of each actor's interests as the main rationale for explaining the technical features of the artefact; 2) the role of negotiation and consensus in determining the final shape of the artefact in term of its features; 3) the bundling/unbundling of features within the physical object as the cooperative effort rises/falls.artefacts; interests; ambiguity; competencies

Is today's architecture about real space, virtual space or what?

Nowadays digital technologies and information and telecommunication technologies are widely used in every aspect of our lives. This article focuses on the digital technologies and their effect on the place-making activities. First an overview of the digital technologies for the creation, occupancy and management of a building is given. Secondly, the concepts of space and virtual space are discussed. Through these discussions, the concept of places and its virtual alternatives and recombination the use of space are described. Finally some concluding remarks are made on whether today’s place making activities about real space or it extends beyond that

ENERGY MANAGEMENT IN THE PUBLIC BUILDING SECTOR – ISGE/ISEMIC MODEL

This paper introduces Intelligent Information System for Monitoring and Verification of Energy Management in Cities (ISEMIC) web application that connects processes of gathering data on buildings and their energy and water consumption, monitors consumption indicators, detects any anomalies or irregularities in time, sets energy efficiency targets and reports energy and water consumption savings. ISEMIC enables use of smart meters within an energy management for the first time in the region, along with an analytical part which enables intelligent estimation of energy consumption based on multiple criteria. In the public sector are enormous potential for energy and water savings and thus a large area for ISEMIC web application implementation. ISEMIC web application is developed in July, 2011. Purchase of smart metering equipment and establishment of smart metering infrastructure on institutions of project partners responsible for Ž. Tomšić, I. Gašić, G. Čačić, Energy management in the public building sector – ISGE/ISEMIC model, Journal of Energy, vol. 64 (2015) Special Issue, p. 78-89 ISEMIC web application development is in conduction after which a full pilot run will be started. The potential impact of this project is very large and it would be a great example how significant savings can be achieved by systematic energy monitoring and management provided by the use of ISEMIC web application

ENERGY MANAGEMENT IN THE PUBLIC BUILDING SECTOR – ISGE/ISEMIC MODEL

This paper introduces Intelligent Information System for Monitoring and Verification of Energy Management in Cities (ISEMIC) web application that connects processes of gathering data on buildings and their energy and water consumption, monitors consumption indicators, detects any anomalies or irregularities in time, sets energy efficiency targets and reports energy and water consumption savings. ISEMIC enables use of smart meters within an energy management for the first time in the region, along with an analytical part which enables intelligent estimation of energy consumption based on multiple criteria. In the public sector are enormous potential for energy and water savings and thus a large area for ISEMIC web application implementation. ISEMIC web application is developed in July, 2011. Purchase of smart metering equipment and establishment of smart metering infrastructure on institutions of project partners responsible for Ž. Tomšić, I. Gašić, G. Čačić, Energy management in the public building sector – ISGE/ISEMIC model, Journal of Energy, vol. 64 (2015) Special Issue, p. 78-89 ISEMIC web application development is in conduction after which a full pilot run will be started. The potential impact of this project is very large and it would be a great example how significant savings can be achieved by systematic energy monitoring and management provided by the use of ISEMIC web application

multiFLEX: Flexible Multi-Utility, Multi-Service Smart Metering Architecture for Energy Vectors with Active Prosumers

In order to move forward the vision of Smart Grid, a flexible multi-utility and multi-service metering architecture is needed to allow innovative services and utilities for the different actors playing in this scenario. To achieve this, different meters (e.g. electric, water, heating and gas meters) must be integrated into a distributed architecture in order to gather and analyse heterogeneous data. Hence, such architecture provides in real-time a complete overview of the energy consumption and production in the grid from different prospectives. From customer viewpoint, this information can be used to provide user awareness and suggest green behaviours, thus reducing energy waste. From energy operator or utility provider viewpoint, for instance such analysis can: i) improve the demand response for optimizing the energy management during peak periods; ii) profile consumer energy behaviours for predicting the short term energy demand; iii) improve energy and market efficiency. In this paper, we discuss the characteristics of this infrastructure and its expected impacts on utility providers, energy operators and customers