The University as a Laboratory for Smart Grid Data Analytics (2014-2015)

This project team went beyond implementing existing machine learning algorithms for analyzing energy data and began innovating to create new techniques. Team members considered new data sources that included weather data, water use, steam use and wireless network activity to increase machine insight and to drive algorithm development and predictive modeling. Using those data, the team designed and executed behavioral science experiments using on-campus facilities as test systems.

The team members built a machine-learning based framework for disaggregating and detecting anomalies in the electric power system of the Duke University Smart Home; identified available smart meter and power sensor systems and implemented their own Arduino-based power meter; conducted a policy analysis of the market opportunities for smart meter data and the barriers to their implementation; created a web-based dashboard for viewing disaggregated Smart Home data; and implemented nonintrusive load monitoring algorithms for residential applications on publically available data.

Timing

Fall 2014 – Spring 2015

Reflections

Raghav Saboo

Austin Liu

Sharrin Manor

This Team in the News

The Value of Mentorship in the World of Data

New Duke Lab Mines Big Data to Inform Energy Knowledge, Choices

In our research for the project we developed an idea of what the smart grid system in the U.S. is like, and how to apply the algorithm in real life. We met with people from all fields to figure out how a real world problem can be answered. Through this project I developed an understanding of the energy world and how I can be a part of it. —Sharrin Manor

See related teams, Energy Data Analytics Lab (2015-2016) and The University as an Energy Laboratory: Design and Implementation of an Energy Disaggregation System (2013-2014).

Team Leaders

  • Kyle Bradbury, Pratt School of Engineering-Electrical & Computer Engineering|Energy Initiative
  • Leslie Collins, Pratt School of Engineering-Electrical & Computer Engineering
  • Timothy Johnson, Nicholas School of the Environment-Earth and Climate Sciences
  • Kenneth Morton, Pratt School of Engineering-Electrical & Computer Engineering
  • Richard Newell, Nicholas School of the Environment-Environmental Sciences and Policy
  • Steven Palumbo, Duke Facilities Management

/graduate Team Members

  • Zhenzhen Chen, Master of Environmental Management, Environmental Economics/Policy
  • Jennifer Cole, Master of Environmental Management, Energy and Environment, Sustainable Systems Analysis
  • Nicholas Czarnek, Electrical/Computer Engg-MS
  • Ragav Saboo, Economics-PHD

/undergraduate Team Members

  • Abhishek Balakrishnan, Electrical & Computer Egr(BSE), Computer Science (BSE2)
  • Austin Liu, Electrical & Computer Egr(BSE), Computer Science (BSE2)
  • Sharrin Manor, Electrical & Computer Egr(BSE), Computer Science (BSE2)
  • Melinda McTeigue, Philosophy (AB)