A Collaborative Support System for the Review of Building Energy Data in the LoanSTAR Monitoring and Analysis Project

Abstract

The LoanSTAR Monitoring and Analysis Project (MAP) collects a large volume of data pertaining to the analysis of building energy usage. Experts within the project review these data for accuracy. This review is collaborative, and is carried out via a traditional paper-driven process. Growth of the project causes an information saturation with insufficient time for the existing system of review. Powerful computing facilities are available to the project, and are currently being used to feed the paper-driven review process. Utilization of these facilities to provide a computer-supported collaborative environment for the review of building energy analysis data is feasible. This paper addresses the requirements such a system must meet, and proposes a design which can be implemented at minimal cost. The basic research questions raised focus on the criteria for user acceptance of and satisfaction with the proposed system.