Enhancing Public Safety with Digital Twins for Indoor Air Quality Monitoring by Non-Experts

Abstract

Digital Twin technology has been used in many different domains to integrate disparate and complex data sources into a single, comprehensible system. A less explored
field is monitoring indoor air quality and building efficiency by providing real-time visualization and spatially contextualized data in commercial buildings. Managers of commercial buildings often have little or no training in indoor air quality, heating ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC), or building efficiency. This makes it difficult for them to evaluate environmental and efficiency data, if such data are available. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Digital Twins in 2D Desktop and 3D Virtual Reality to support non-expert user engagement, data interpretation, and spatial understanding for indoor air quality and building efficiency analysis. Sensors were installed in a mixeduse office/light industrial space, with a system infrastructure that collects and stores historical data readings. A comparative study was conducted between i) a traditional web-based dashboard (the control condition), ii) a 2D, and iii) a Virtual Reality Digital Twin using a within-subject research design involving non-expert participants, to determine the efficacy levels of user engagement with the data presentation mechanisms of each system, their spatial understanding, and their ability to conduct data interpretation. The findings demonstrate that VR Digital Twin supports increased spatial awareness and understanding, immersion, and data discovery, and the 2D Digital Twin system provides clarity and accessibility for trend analysis. The study contributes by i) validating the role of Digital Twins for Indoor Air Quality; ii) exploring user perceptions on different Digital Twin mediums in terms of user engagement; and iii) highlighting the potential of Digital Twins for public safety, particularly in indoor environments