Brief:

Modern homes need resilient systems that operate locally, even during internet outages. This project focuses on designing the data architecture of GeoAlta’s smart HVAC system: how environmental data moves from sensors → Hub → devices → user interfaces, and how local-first decision making is preserved.

Project Description:

Students will map out the system’s data flows, define control logic under different scenarios, and recommend strategies to ensure secure, low-latency performance without cloud dependence.

Collaboration Note:

This project is part of a 3-project collaborative series (“Smart HVAC System Architecture” Parts A, B, and C). Student teams will work on different aspects of the same system (device integration, data flow, and scaling). Collaboration across all three parts is required, with shared check-ins and aligned deliverables to ensure consistency in the overall ecosystem design.

Deliverables:

• End-to-end data flow diagram (sensor → Hub → device/UI)
• Recommendations for local-first operation with optional cloud fallback
• Prioritization logic for data handling in outage scenarios
• Documentation of how data triggers control actions
• 
  

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Designing local-first IoT control strategies
• Exposure to edge computing and resilience planning
• Applying data flow analysis to real-world automation