Towards visualization of simulated occupants and their interactions with buildings at multiple time scales

While most building simulation tools model occupancy using simple 24-hour profiles, researchers are applying machine learning and other advanced modeling approaches to simulate individual occupants and their interactions with buildings. For building designers to fully benefit from these increasingly advanced occupant models, visualizations must ultimately reveal subtle yet informative patterns contained in the simulation results. As a step in this direction, we focus on 3D animation and the challenges that arise when multiple time scales are involved. Specifically, we explore the use of stylized computer animation to clarify occupant movement, the use of cueing to draw attention to key events, and an original clock widget to consolidate time-related information.