Cenergy3: An Open Software Package for City Energy 3D Modeling

TL;DR

Cenergy3 introduces an open-source software package that automates the creation of detailed 3D urban energy models from open data sources, facilitating urban energy management and planning.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel open software tool that generates interactive 3D city energy models from multiple open data sources, with a user-friendly GUI and API for diverse users.

Findings

Automated generation of 3D urban energy models from open data.

Interactive visualization and analysis tools for energy infrastructure.

Support for smart city applications and energy digital twins.

Abstract

The efficient management and planning of urban energy systems require integrated three-dimensional (3D) models that accurately represent both consumption nodes and distribution networks. This paper introduces our developed approach and openly released software that automate the generation of digital 3D urban energy model from open data. We synthesize data from OpenTopography, OpenStreetMap, and Overture Maps in generating 3D models. The rendered model visualizes and contextualizes distribution power grids alongside the built environment and transportation networks. Our developed software, including an open python library and a free API, provides interactive figures for the 3D models. The rendered models are essential for analyzing infrastructure alignment and spatially linking energy demand nodes (buildings) with energy supply (utility grids). The developed API leverages standard Web Mercator coordinates (EPSG:3857) and JSON serialization to ensure interoperability within smart city and energy simulation platforms. We also provide a graphic user interface (GUI) where end-users can access our API via a cloud-based server, regardless of their programming skills and what devices and platforms their are using. We anticipate that our approach and software can support field researchers, developers, end-users, and policy-makers in a varieties of applications like urban energy monitoring, demand-supply analysis, and energy digital twins.