skip to content

Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction

Transforming infrastructure through smarter information
 

Dr Chaoqun Zhuang's recent CSIC research talk, titled "Decarbonising Building Energy Systems through Stochastic Modelling & Risk-aware Control Optimisation," explored cutting-edge methods to make buildings more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. The focus of the talk was on using digital twins, which are virtual replicas of physical systems, to better manage and optimise energy use in buildings.

Zhuang's work highlights how digital twins can monitor, simulate, and optimise building systems, helping to reduce energy consumption and operational risks. Traditional models used in digital twins often rely on complex physics-based simulations, which are resource-heavy. On the other hand, simpler data-driven models may miss important physical details.

To address this, Zhuang introduced a new approach using deep Gaussian process emulators to model individual system components, which are then interconnected based on their physical associations and varying functional complexities. This method balances both data and physical laws to better predict and manage building energy performance while also reducing the time and computational power needed for simulations.

The research demonstrates that these advanced models significantly improve energy efficiency in buildings and provide a more effective pathway toward achieving decarbonisation goals. By linking deep Gaussian processes, the approach not only enhances the accuracy of predictions but also helps mitigate operational risks, marking a crucial step in the broader effort to combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions.

Watch video here


Dr Chaoqun Zhuang is a postdoctoral research associate in Energy Efficient Cities initiative, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge.

Latest news

UK Risks Harming National Interests Without Urgent Reform to Visa Policy for Scientists, warns Lords Committee Chair

7 May 2025

The UK risks missing a real opportunity to drive economic growth in the UK and to build up our research base in science and technology unless urgent reforms are made to its visa and immigration policies for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) talent, the Chair of the House of Lords Science and...

CSIC event in Cambridge to honour 63 Rankine Lecturer Professor Kenichi Soga

24 March 2025

On 21 March 2025, the Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC) hosted an event in honour of Professor Kenichi Soga, Donald H. McLaughlin Chair in Mineral Engineering and a Distinguished Professor at the University of California Berkeley. The event at the West Hub, University of Cambridge was chaired by CSIC...

 

CSIC Social Media

Follow us on:  LinkedIn and BlueSky

Watch our videos on: YouTube