Student Project Spotlight: “AURA” Turning Hidden HVAC Duct Leaks into Measurable Energy Savings

Student Project Spotlight: “AURA” Exposing the Hidden Energy Drains in Campus Buildings

A student-led project at Ajman University is turning a spotlight on the invisible energy losses that quietly inflate campus utility bills and carbon footprints. Titled “AURA” (Campus HVAC Energy Intelligence System), this initiative introduces an autonomous robotic solution that detects, measures, and prioritizes hidden duct leaks in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. By transforming undetected problems into measurable actions, AURA offers a scalable model for smarter, more sustainable building maintenance.

The challenge AURA addresses is significant: an estimated 25–40% of cooled air escapes through hidden duct leaks. Traditional maintenance is periodic and often misses these inaccessible issues. AURA changes that by deploying a compact in-duct robot that autonomously navigates the duct network. When a critical leak is found, the robot places an AURA SmartTag, a magnetic RFID marker that allows technicians to locate and repair the exact spot quickly from outside the ceiling. The robot then returns to verify the repair, closing the loop on maintenance efficiency.

All of this data is centralized in the AURA Insight Dashboard, a live HVAC health overview that visualizes the campus duct network, calculates real-time energy and cost losses, and prioritizes repairs based on return on investment. The dashboard highlights the tangible impact: potential annual savings of 218,450 kWh of energy and AED 65,535 in costs, while preventing 104.2 tCO₂e from entering the atmosphere each year.

Supporting SDG 13: Climate Action

This project directly supports Sustainable Development Goal 13 by addressing the root cause of excessive energy consumption in buildings. By reducing the energy wasted through duct leaks, AURA lowers the total electricity demand of campus facilities, which directly reduces greenhouse gas emissions associated with power generation. It also aligns with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). AURA demonstrates how student research can deliver practical, high-impact climate solutions by optimizing the very infrastructure we use every day.

Keywords: AURA, HVAC efficiency, energy intelligence, CO2 reduction, SDG 13, Climate Action, smart campus, in-duct robotics, sustainable maintenance, energy savings, Ajman University, student innovation.

To view the project, click here.