2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Engineering programs are increasingly embedding sustainability, visualization, and data-driven design into their curricula, allowing students to connect classroom learning with real-world impact. This paper presents a senior design project in which a team of electrical and computer engineering students developed interactive 3D energy visualization models, one digital and one physical, to represent and monitor electricity consumption across a university campus. The project combines real-time data acquisition, 3D modeling, and hands-on fabrication to promote energy awareness and provide an accessible educational platform.

The 3D digital model, viewable through a computer interface, was built using geographic and architectural datasets integrated with the institution’s Building Automation System (BAS). The digital interface allows users to select individual buildings, view live power consumption, and examine historical usage trends through an interactive dashboard. The model’s intuitive visualization highlights temporal and spatial variations in campus-wide electricity demand, enabling exploration of energy-efficiency opportunities.

To complement the virtual environment, the team designed and fabricated a 3D-printed physical model of the same campus, ensuring a one-to-one mapping between the printed and digital representations. Each building was individually printed and assembled to form the campus layout. LED indicators embedded within the physical model illuminate according to power-consumption intensity, synchronized in real time with the BAS data feed. The combination of the on-screen visualization and tactile 3D model offers a dual-modality learning experience that bridges digital simulation and physical interaction.

The project integrated concepts from power systems analysis, embedded systems, data visualization, and additive manufacturing. Students applied theoretical knowledge from courses in circuits, controls, and energy systems while gaining experience with communication protocols, database design, and user-interface development. Iterative design, testing, and calibration strengthened systems-level thinking and collaboration within a multidisciplinary context.

Beyond the technical deliverables, the project demonstrates the educational value of project-based learning in cultivating professional competencies and advancing campus sustainability goals. The integrated models have been used for demonstrations, outreach events, and classroom discussions to engage diverse audiences in understanding energy consumption patterns. Future development will incorporate renewable-generation data and predictive analytics to expand the platform’s analytical capabilities and support ongoing student research in sustainable-energy management.