Integrating Knowledge Acquisition, Visualization, and Dissemination in Energy System Models: BENOPTex Study

Abstract

While storytelling and visualization have always been recognized as invaluable techniques for imparting knowledge across generations, their importance has become even more evident in the present information age as the abundance of complex data grows exponentially. These techniques can simplify convoluted concepts and communicate them in a way to be intelligible for diverse audiences, bringing together heterogeneous stakeholders and fostering collaboration. In the field of energy and climate research, there is an increasing demand to make sophisticated models and their outcomes explainable and comprehensible for an audience of laypersons. Unfortunately, traditional tools and methods may be inefficient to provide meaning for input and output values; therefore, in this study, we employ a storytelling tool, the so-called Academic Presenter, to digest various datasets and visualize the extended BioENergy OPTimization model (BENOPTex) outcomes in different online and offline formats. The developed tool facilitates communications among collaborators with a broad spectrum of backgrounds by transforming outcomes into visually appealing stories. Although this study focuses on designing an ideal user interface for BENOPTex, the developed features and the learned lessons can be replicated for other energy system models.