Data Visualization for a U.S. Regional Electricity WholesalerAll Case Studies
Improving how experts view the flow of energy
The Challenge
To effectively ensure the reliability and efficiency of our
nation's electrical power supply system, regional energy experts
scrutinize high-voltage transmission grids 24 hours a day, seven
days a week. In doing so, they constantly maintain a balance of
electricity supply and demand, monitoring exactly how much power
should be generated - when, where, and for whom.
Under this system, one particular energy wholesaler is
responsible for much of the eastern seaboard - serving 51 million
people utilizing nearly 165,000 megawatts of capacity, spread over
13 U.S. states. On an average day, these experts conduct hundreds
of "what if" scenarios, maintaining a state of readiness for
virtually any event.
The accurate display of relevant, up-to-the-minute data is more
than an everyday necessity; it's mission-critical.
The wholesaler responsible for the eastern seaboard recently
contacted Electronic Ink with the need to improve its current data
display system. The Task Force articulated two main problems:
- The current physical environment for viewing the data was too
complex, involving six separate screens for each operator, using
stark colors that caused strain.
- In addition, operators were finding it difficult to perform the
necessary cognitive tasks. Interpreting, translating and
error-checking complex numeric data calculations into key decisions
was highly demanding, and stressful.
The challenge: design a system that would distill numeric data
displayed across six separate monitors down to a single visual
"dashboard" - giving operators a comprehensive, easy-to-use picture
of energy modulation and distribution, across the entire grid.
The Electronic Ink Solution
Electronic Ink devised a highly visual set of interpretive
factors for power grid data, based on the existing system. The
visualization design considered which stations were generating how
much power, and where the largest supplies of electricity were. The
system also needed to factor in power rerouting, station startups
and shutdowns, and supply vs. demand station scheduling. The new
view leveraged a color scheme better-suited for the darker
environment in which the operators work.
In parallel to designing the data visualization schema,
Electronic Ink's technical development team went to work,
leveraging the Infragistics software solution in order to power the
presentation layer. Pairing Infragistics with Microsoft's .NET
framework allowed us to deliver a well-tailored application
solution that fit both the implementation and data needs of our
client's system.
Net Result and Impact
Electronic Ink revolutionized the way this particular energy
wholesaler operated, creating a "self evident" structure for data
visualization and display. Now, operators consult a single monitor
for tasks that used to involve six screens. And instead of having
to perform complex cognitive tasks in order to interpret the
numbers, they can simply view and toggle graphical models of the
numeric data, allowing them to reach key decisions sooner, with
less effort.
While formal metric testing of fatigue and eyestrain factors has
yet to be performed, the feedback from operators is overwhelmingly
positive, and new operator training and is now far easier, and
onboarding much more swift.
Electronic Ink continues to expand its efforts in the energy
space by developing prototypical data visualization designs for
energy flow across Europe:
- We're currently helping EON.com, a recognized world leader in
energy, with a data visualization strategy for their new
state-of-the-art building that handles consolidated energy trading
across Europe.
- We're also extending our expertise in the art and science of
data visualization to assist the United Kingdom's National Grid
system of energy monitoring and management.