NJ-EQUIP: A Spatiotemporal Analytics and Visualization Portal to Advance Energy Equity

Sarahana Shrestha; Andrew Taggart; Aparna S. Varde

doi:10.1109/CCWC67433.2026.11393697

NJ-EQUIP: A Spatiotemporal Analytics and Visualization Portal to Advance Energy Equity

Sarahana Shrestha
, Andrew Taggart
, Aparna S. Varde

Computer Science

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

Energy burden, the proportion of household income spent on energy costs, disproportionately affects low-income and historically marginalized communities, yet existing tools to assess and address this issue remain limited in spatial resolution, interactivity, and public engagement. This paper presents NJEQUIP (New Jersey Energy eQuity User Interactive Portal), a novel web-based platform designed to advance energy equity through interactive, spatiotemporal data visualization and public sentiment analysis. NJ-EQUIP integrates municipal-level and county-level data with a dynamic Energy Burden Calculator, overlays of overburdened communities, as well as filters for key demographic indicators. It further incorporates sentiment analysis to track public discourse data on energy policies from 2018 to 2023. By merging geospatial analytics, ubiquitous computing principles, and AI-driven insights, the platform offers a scalable, user-friendly tool for decision support, guiding researchers, planners and policymakers. By combining geospatial analytics with machine learning-driven insights, NJ-EQUIP demonstrates a transferable model for promoting transparency and equity in energy transitions at a statewide as well as local level.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2026 IEEE 16th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026
Editors	Rajashree Paul
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages	683-688
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Electronic)	9798331593971
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/CCWC67433.2026.11393697
State	Published - 2026
Event	16th IEEE Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026 - Las Vegas, United States Duration: 5 Jan 2026 → 7 Jan 2026

Publication series

Name	2026 IEEE 16th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026

Conference

Conference	16th IEEE Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026
Country/Territory	United States
City	Las Vegas
Period	5/01/26 → 7/01/26

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

AI in Energy Equity
Data Mining
Decision Support
NLP
Spatial Data Visualization
Ubiquitous Access
Web Tools

Access to Document

10.1109/CCWC67433.2026.11393697

Cite this

Shrestha, S., Taggart, A., & Varde, A. S. (2026). NJ-EQUIP: A Spatiotemporal Analytics and Visualization Portal to Advance Energy Equity. In R. Paul (Ed.), 2026 IEEE 16th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026 (pp. 683-688). (2026 IEEE 16th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/CCWC67433.2026.11393697

Shrestha, Sarahana ; Taggart, Andrew ; Varde, Aparna S. / NJ-EQUIP : A Spatiotemporal Analytics and Visualization Portal to Advance Energy Equity. 2026 IEEE 16th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026. editor / Rajashree Paul. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2026. pp. 683-688 (2026 IEEE 16th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026).

@inproceedings{c904ea4fa3f6494a88f95272a97fc739,

title = "NJ-EQUIP: A Spatiotemporal Analytics and Visualization Portal to Advance Energy Equity",

abstract = "Energy burden, the proportion of household income spent on energy costs, disproportionately affects low-income and historically marginalized communities, yet existing tools to assess and address this issue remain limited in spatial resolution, interactivity, and public engagement. This paper presents NJEQUIP (New Jersey Energy eQuity User Interactive Portal), a novel web-based platform designed to advance energy equity through interactive, spatiotemporal data visualization and public sentiment analysis. NJ-EQUIP integrates municipal-level and county-level data with a dynamic Energy Burden Calculator, overlays of overburdened communities, as well as filters for key demographic indicators. It further incorporates sentiment analysis to track public discourse data on energy policies from 2018 to 2023. By merging geospatial analytics, ubiquitous computing principles, and AI-driven insights, the platform offers a scalable, user-friendly tool for decision support, guiding researchers, planners and policymakers. By combining geospatial analytics with machine learning-driven insights, NJ-EQUIP demonstrates a transferable model for promoting transparency and equity in energy transitions at a statewide as well as local level.",

keywords = "AI in Energy Equity, Data Mining, Decision Support, NLP, Spatial Data Visualization, Ubiquitous Access, Web Tools",

author = "Sarahana Shrestha and Andrew Taggart and Varde, \{Aparna S.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 IEEE.; 16th IEEE Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026 ; Conference date: 05-01-2026 Through 07-01-2026",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1109/CCWC67433.2026.11393697",

language = "English",

series = "2026 IEEE 16th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026",

publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",

pages = "683--688",

editor = "Rajashree Paul",

booktitle = "2026 IEEE 16th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026",

}

Shrestha, S, Taggart, A & Varde, AS 2026, NJ-EQUIP: A Spatiotemporal Analytics and Visualization Portal to Advance Energy Equity. in R Paul (ed.), 2026 IEEE 16th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026. 2026 IEEE 16th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., pp. 683-688, 16th IEEE Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026, Las Vegas, United States, 5/01/26. https://doi.org/10.1109/CCWC67433.2026.11393697

NJ-EQUIP: A Spatiotemporal Analytics and Visualization Portal to Advance Energy Equity. / Shrestha, Sarahana; Taggart, Andrew; Varde, Aparna S.
2026 IEEE 16th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026. ed. / Rajashree Paul. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2026. p. 683-688 (2026 IEEE 16th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AU - Taggart, Andrew

AU - Varde, Aparna S.

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - Energy burden, the proportion of household income spent on energy costs, disproportionately affects low-income and historically marginalized communities, yet existing tools to assess and address this issue remain limited in spatial resolution, interactivity, and public engagement. This paper presents NJEQUIP (New Jersey Energy eQuity User Interactive Portal), a novel web-based platform designed to advance energy equity through interactive, spatiotemporal data visualization and public sentiment analysis. NJ-EQUIP integrates municipal-level and county-level data with a dynamic Energy Burden Calculator, overlays of overburdened communities, as well as filters for key demographic indicators. It further incorporates sentiment analysis to track public discourse data on energy policies from 2018 to 2023. By merging geospatial analytics, ubiquitous computing principles, and AI-driven insights, the platform offers a scalable, user-friendly tool for decision support, guiding researchers, planners and policymakers. By combining geospatial analytics with machine learning-driven insights, NJ-EQUIP demonstrates a transferable model for promoting transparency and equity in energy transitions at a statewide as well as local level.

AB - Energy burden, the proportion of household income spent on energy costs, disproportionately affects low-income and historically marginalized communities, yet existing tools to assess and address this issue remain limited in spatial resolution, interactivity, and public engagement. This paper presents NJEQUIP (New Jersey Energy eQuity User Interactive Portal), a novel web-based platform designed to advance energy equity through interactive, spatiotemporal data visualization and public sentiment analysis. NJ-EQUIP integrates municipal-level and county-level data with a dynamic Energy Burden Calculator, overlays of overburdened communities, as well as filters for key demographic indicators. It further incorporates sentiment analysis to track public discourse data on energy policies from 2018 to 2023. By merging geospatial analytics, ubiquitous computing principles, and AI-driven insights, the platform offers a scalable, user-friendly tool for decision support, guiding researchers, planners and policymakers. By combining geospatial analytics with machine learning-driven insights, NJ-EQUIP demonstrates a transferable model for promoting transparency and equity in energy transitions at a statewide as well as local level.

KW - AI in Energy Equity

KW - Data Mining

KW - Decision Support

KW - NLP

KW - Spatial Data Visualization

KW - Ubiquitous Access

KW - Web Tools

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DO - 10.1109/CCWC67433.2026.11393697

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:105035601643

T3 - 2026 IEEE 16th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026

SP - 683

EP - 688

BT - 2026 IEEE 16th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026

A2 - Paul, Rajashree

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

Y2 - 5 January 2026 through 7 January 2026

ER -

Shrestha S, Taggart A, Varde AS. NJ-EQUIP: A Spatiotemporal Analytics and Visualization Portal to Advance Energy Equity. In Paul R, editor, 2026 IEEE 16th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2026. p. 683-688. (2026 IEEE 16th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference, CCWC 2026). doi: 10.1109/CCWC67433.2026.11393697

NJ-EQUIP: A Spatiotemporal Analytics and Visualization Portal to Advance Energy Equity

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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