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New York City Case Study:LiDAR and the Power of Solar

2011 Texas GIS ForumAustin, TX

Presented By: Llana Hines, Director, Business Capture Strategy

The Sanborn Map Company, Inc.

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Case Study Synopsis

• Program Initiative• Stakeholders• Project Approach• Desired Outcome• Accomplishments

New York City Solar Map

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Program Initiative: Strategic Plan

• Long term Strategic Plan (PlaNYC)– Initiated Earth Day, 2007; Mayor Blumberg– Green Energy; reduce greenhouse gas emissions by

30% in full by 2030 (from 2005 baseline)– Improve the environment– Improve Quality of life

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Program Initiative: Solar Energy

• NYC Greener, Greater Buildings Plan– Electricity, heating and hot water consumed in

buildings accounts for 75-80% of the greenhouse gas footprint

– Energy Savings– US Green Building Council (LEED Guidelines)

• Water Efficiency• Improve interior building environmental quality• Energy Savings

• Future; Develop ‘passive survivability’• Portion of the Plan implements Solar Energy

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Stakeholders

Hunter College - CUNY

These are the four project partners that are working on the SOLAR NYC Project.  These partners have signed an MOU outlining specific roles and responsibilities. 

Our utility and state partners.  These groups provide financial and advisory support.  

We work with these City agencies on various solar initiatives.  They provide expertise on how to integrate solar into their processes and programs. 

Sustainable CUNY on behalf of the City University of New York

Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability

NYC Solar America Cities Advisory Board

• Eight industry representatives • Ten non-profit solar/energy advocacy organizations • Six additional government agencies

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Solar Mapping: Incident Solar Radiation(Insolation)

• Measure of Solar Radiation Energy• To Calculate:

– latitude and elevation– atmospheric condition– seasonal and daily shifts of sun angle– Orientation (slope and aspect) – shadowing

• 3D Building Model Required

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Empire State Building

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Project Approach: LiDAR Acquisition

• Collection of 362 sq. miles of high density LiDAR (8-12 points per meter)

• Post-Midnight Flights

• Twin-engine Shrike Commander

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Project Approach: LiDAR Acquisition

• Collection Completed April 14 2010 –May 1 2010

• Collected using– 2 sensors; Leica ALS 50 II–– Flight Height – 1066m (~3497) ft– (Empire State Building 1,453’)– FOV – 28 degrees– Air speed – 120 knots (~138 Mph)– Laser Power 94.7 Khz– Normal Collection window - 1-5am

• Total 440 Lines• Over 15 Billion Points

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Project Approach: Area of Interest

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Project Approach: Base Stations (5)

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Project Approach: Workflow

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Project Approach: QA Checkpoints

22 Checkpoints

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Project Approach: Processing and Filtering

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Project Approach: Manual Editing

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Desired Outcome: High Accuracy Data

• Hunter College (CUNY) Quality Control• Minimum density of 8 points per m2

• Independently Surveyed Points by ConEdison(2 cm accuracy)– Manhattan: 198 points– Queens: 260 points– Brooklyn 450 points– Bronx: 290 points– Staten Island: 90 points

– Total 1,290 points

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Desired Outcome: High Accuracy Data

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Desired Outcome: Madison Square Garden

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Desired Outcome: World Trade Center

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Desired Outcome: Measuring Insolation

• Incident Solar Radiation• Topography is a major factor• Buildings are a major factor• ESRI Insolation Tool; Variations

– Elevation– Orientation

– (steepness (slope) and compass direction (aspect)

– Shadows Cast/Effects– Atmospheric effects– Site latitude and elevation – Seasonal and daily shifts of sun angle

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Desired Outcome: ESRI Solar Insolation Model

• Create surface model for City• Use building footprints to cut out rooftops• Use ESRI insolation tool• Calibrate with installation data (ConEdison)• Long Term Goal; interactive website for public

access

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Desired Outcome: ESRI Solar Analyst tool

The Solar Analysis calculates incoming direct and diffuse solar radiation over time for any point in the landscape based on the local topography, including obstructions like buildings and trees.

Lower Manhattan, WorldView-2 imagery. CARSI, 2010

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Accomplishments: http://nycsolarmap.com/

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Accomplishments: http://nycsolarmap.com/

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Accomplishments: http://nycsolarmap.com/

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References:http://nycsolarmap.com/www.sanborn.comwww.nyc.govwww.esri.com

Professor Sean Ahearn, PHD; Center for Advanced Research of Spatial Information (CARSI), Hunter College, CUNY, 695 Park Avenue, Room 1023, North Bldg, New York, NY 10021Read more: NYC Solar Map: Two-Thirds of City Rooftops are Suitable for Solar Panels NYC Solar Map – Inhabitat New York City

Thank you!