The Covid-19 pandemic and the associated protective measures have brought about significant changes in engineering education. On-site classes at the campus had to be switched to online classes during the pandemic. Conducting laboratory exercises, a fundamental aspect of engineering education, presented a particular challenge. The Institute of Mechanical and Energy Engineering (IME) at HSLU – Technik & Architektur pursued the ambitious approach of fully compensating for laboratory experiments through digital models online. This enabled the successful execution of laboratory exercises in online teaching during the pandemic. Digital models have since become an integral part of laboratory instruction, serving as a supplement to real test benches to facilitate independent learning.
The experiences gathered from online laboratory teaching and the development of digital models were summarized in a scientific paper, which was published at the "ASME Turbo Expo 2021" conference on gas and turbine engines. The paper, titled "Online (Remote) Teaching for Laboratory Based Courses Using Digital Twins of the Experiments," was awarded the "Best Paper Award" in the Education category. For further information, please feel free to contact Ulf Christian Müller or Sabri Deniz.
Furthermore, within the framework of the collaborative project P-8 "Strengthening Digital Skills in Teaching" involving HSLU, PHLU, and PHSZ, three laboratory applications from various disciplines (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering & Building Services Engineering) were developed as digital models under the subproject "DigiLab" by HSLU – Technik & Architektur. These virtual labs were then elaborated on from a didactic perspective, integrated into the ILIAS learning platform, and used in teaching.
One of these digitized test benches is the small house "GEE Live – Experience Building-Electrical Engineering Live" located on the premises of HSLU – Technik & Architektur, utilized for research and learning purposes at the Institute of Building Technology and Energy. The main focuses are photovoltaics, electromobility, energy storage, energy management, and self-consumption optimization (SCO). The latter is a crucial topic in building energy efficiency. In this research laboratory, SCO can be examined live, thereby enabling practical learning and research in teaching and further education.
As part of DigiLab, a digital model of the "GEE Live" laboratory has been developed and provided to students in the form of a web app. The model includes photovoltaic systems, consumers such as heating, washing machines, etc. Additionally, historical and current weather data can be integrated. This allows for realistic year-long simulations to be executed in a short time and more precise investigations into SCO. Considerations of annual trends for SCO would be impossible at the actual test bench and within a learning sequence. However, thanks to the digital model, these can now be performed interactively by participants in teaching and further education.
Visit the web app
