The main goal of the project is the development of a new computational and analytical platform for dynamic decision-making support and determination of air quality indicators with automatic analysis and energy efficiency measures in a smart city, named SMART CITY-energy platform. The platform is devised for end users, developers, policymakers and other stakeholders.
The content within the platform is included within the framework of three modules, namely E-planning, E-cooperation and E-indicators.
Within the E-planning module, a methodology and model for assessing energy use in households was developed, for which we had to firstly establish an evaluated, reliable database, which includes numerous sub-databases, algorithms, solutions and displays.
As part of the E-cooperation module, a method was developed to demonstrate the economic, ecological and urban feasibility of the implementation of the measures, namely on the example of energy rehabilitation of a building, which was then transferred to all buildings within the municipalities under consideration (Ljubljana and Medvode). With the help of spatial analysis of the considered municipalities and space-related databases, the urban and ecological acceptability for accelerating the transition to a low-carbon society was defined, especially from the point of view of providing information about spatial restrictions (e.g. protected area, cultural heritage) and potentials that are acceptable for the environment (e.g. the possibility of using the solar potential, the potential of shallow geothermal energy, the potential for establishing remote systems). As part of the E-cooperation module, we have developed a comprehensive spatial and energy information service for individual buildings, which summarizes all the data necessary for decision-making and cooperation.
In order to monitor the situation and effects in the field of sustainable energy operation in the area under consideration, the E-indicators module was also established, which enters into various solutions within the platform itself and enables display within the Plan of measures, Weak points and Analysis of emissions services.
The most important indicators that are included in the module or application, are climate indicators and air quality indicators. Climate indicators provide information in a particular area, which are important from the planning point of view, the use of space, construction and renovation of buildings, the possibility of efficient energy use and the reduction of drinking water consumption. The second set of E-indicators intervenes in the area of air quality, whereby annual air pollutant emissions are determined based on the measured or estimated consumption of energy products in households, the business sector and public facilities for each building, for an individual energy product or sector and for the municipality as a whole, as they are determined by the Rulebook on Methodology and Mandatory Content of the Local Energy Concept. In addition to the selected air pollutants (gases and particles), within the module, great emphasis was placed on the analysis of concentrations and emissions of black carbon, since the aforementioned pollutant is most directly related to the consumption of fuels, especially in the transport sector, and biomass used for domestic heating.
As part of the project, measurements of Black Carbon were carried out at several locations in the Municipality of Ljubljana and the Municipality of Medvode, on the basis of which the emission factors for black carbon were determined separately for sources from wood biomass and fossil fuels (which are mostly linked to emissions from traffic). With the help of emission factors, the areas with higher emission burdens were defined in more detail, and the indicator will be used in the future to monitor the possible improvement of the situation when the recommended measures are implemented.
The project is co-funded by the Republic of Slovenia and the EU – European Regional Development Fund.
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