Research Article

Techno-Economic Validation of AI-Based Energy Optimization for Smart Campuses: A Digital Twin Simulation Approach

Number: Advanced Online Publication Early Pub Date: April 13, 2026
TR EN

Techno-Economic Validation of AI-Based Energy Optimization for Smart Campuses: A Digital Twin Simulation Approach

Abstract

Rising energy consumption in mid-to-large scale educational facilities and complexes with similar infrastructure necessitates intelligent management systems capable of adapting to dynamic operational conditions. This study evaluates the technical performance and economic feasibility of a proposed hybrid Artificial Intelligence-based energy optimization model for smart campuses. A digital twin of a mid-sized university campus with high user density and a 100,000 square meter indoor area (comprising administrative, laboratory, classroom, and cafeteria buildings) was developed to simulate real-time operations under distinct summer and winter scenarios. The control architecture integrates Deep Q-Networks for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning optimization, Convolutional Neural Networks for motion-based lighting control, and Multi-Layer Perceptrons for plug load management. Unlike theoretical models, this study validates performance through rigorous simulation. The results demonstrate that the proposed system achieves an average energy saving of 44.5% compared to traditional rule-based baselines, while maintaining a user comfort score of 91%. The study further recalculates economic feasibility using these simulation-verified savings. Financial analysis reveals that despite high initial capital expenditures, the system achieves a break-even point within 6 years and stabilizes at an Internal Rate of Return of 20%. These findings confirm that autonomous automation is not only technically robust but also presents a financially viable solution for sustainable campus infrastructure.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Modelling and Simulation

Journal Section

Research Article

Early Pub Date

April 13, 2026

Publication Date

-

Submission Date

January 5, 2026

Acceptance Date

March 9, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: Advanced Online Publication

APA
Manassra, A., & Işık, G. (2026). Techno-Economic Validation of AI-Based Energy Optimization for Smart Campuses: A Digital Twin Simulation Approach. Pamukkale Üniversitesi Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi, Advanced Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.65206/pajes.1856546
AMA
1.Manassra A, Işık G. Techno-Economic Validation of AI-Based Energy Optimization for Smart Campuses: A Digital Twin Simulation Approach. Pamukkale Üniversitesi Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026;(Advanced Online Publication). doi:10.65206/pajes.1856546
Chicago
Manassra, Abdalhadi, and Gürkan Işık. 2026. “Techno-Economic Validation of AI-Based Energy Optimization for Smart Campuses: A Digital Twin Simulation Approach”. Pamukkale Üniversitesi Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi, no. Advanced Online Publication. https://doi.org/10.65206/pajes.1856546.
EndNote
Manassra A, Işık G (April 1, 2026) Techno-Economic Validation of AI-Based Energy Optimization for Smart Campuses: A Digital Twin Simulation Approach. Pamukkale Üniversitesi Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi Advanced Online Publication
IEEE
[1]A. Manassra and G. Işık, “Techno-Economic Validation of AI-Based Energy Optimization for Smart Campuses: A Digital Twin Simulation Approach”, Pamukkale Üniversitesi Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi, no. Advanced Online Publication, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.65206/pajes.1856546.
ISNAD
Manassra, Abdalhadi - Işık, Gürkan. “Techno-Economic Validation of AI-Based Energy Optimization for Smart Campuses: A Digital Twin Simulation Approach”. Pamukkale Üniversitesi Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi. Advanced Online Publication (April 1, 2026). https://doi.org/10.65206/pajes.1856546.
JAMA
1.Manassra A, Işık G. Techno-Economic Validation of AI-Based Energy Optimization for Smart Campuses: A Digital Twin Simulation Approach. Pamukkale Üniversitesi Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026. doi:10.65206/pajes.1856546.
MLA
Manassra, Abdalhadi, and Gürkan Işık. “Techno-Economic Validation of AI-Based Energy Optimization for Smart Campuses: A Digital Twin Simulation Approach”. Pamukkale Üniversitesi Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi, no. Advanced Online Publication, Apr. 2026, doi:10.65206/pajes.1856546.
Vancouver
1.Abdalhadi Manassra, Gürkan Işık. Techno-Economic Validation of AI-Based Energy Optimization for Smart Campuses: A Digital Twin Simulation Approach. Pamukkale Üniversitesi Mühendislik Bilimleri Dergisi. 2026 Apr. 1;(Advanced Online Publication). doi:10.65206/pajes.1856546