EPCDescriptor: A Multi-Attribute Visual Network Modeling of Housing Energy Performance

Conventional methods of studying houses’ Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) typically fail to investigate the impact of interrelated contextual elements instead fixating exclusively on the specific attributes of individual houses. This study presents a new method that combines network graph analytics (NGA) with interactive visual analytics to investigate hidden linkages at the individual house level. Our proposed platform collects and analyses data related to housing attributes, creates a network based on the links between these attributes, and employs sophisticated graph algorithms to provide visual representations. Users have the ability to dynamically choose postcodes, metrics, and attributes, which, in turn, generate layouts of networks that provide valuable insights. The visualisation utilises colour gradients and node metrics to improve the comprehensibility of energy performance areas. The platform enables homeowners and stakeholders to comprehend the interrelationships between aspects such as neighbouring housing features, and house infrastructure. The results prove the efficacy of the strategy by giving a collection of case studies that encompass various Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) ranging from A to G. Each case study demonstrates the evolution of network architectures and visual assessments, showcasing the energy performance linked to certain EPC ratings. The platform offers a user-friendly interface for stakeholders to investigate and understand attribute relationships.