Visually communicating microgrid complexity

Data visualisation has proven to help support engagement and understanding of complex processes; however, few visualisations of microgrid energy systems exist. In this research we explore the area of microgrid visualisation, motivated by the establishment of a microgrid at Monash University, Australia. Using the Monash Microgrid as a case study, we follow a user-centred visualisation design process. Interviewing diverse microgrid stakeholders enabled the gathering of data and visualisation requirements and allowed us to identify key visual tasks. These were prioritised based on feasibility. A digital prototype was designed and developed for a large screen display. The prototype was formally evaluated with stakeholder participants and suggestions for future work were collected. The microgrid experts deemed the proposed prototype effective for their needs, with further potential in the energy domain.