Part of Mayor Bloomberg's PlaNYC campaign involves taking detailed scans of the city from the sky to determine the suitability if sites for solar power.
The scan is taken using Lidar laser technology from a small plane sweeping over the city. The scan is intended to detect the presence of existing wetlands and the number of roofs suitable for solar power. The final result? A "solar map" that developers and building owners can consult to determine whether solar panels make sense for them.
Mireya Navarro writes, "Cities like San Francisco have already developed solar maps, and the new Lidar technology is increasingly being adopted by coastal regions around the nation, FEMA officials said. The laser system captures images of surface terrain and structures by shooting out laser pulses from an aircraft and measuring the time it take the pulses to bounce back, producing representations of what it hits."
FULL STORY: With Flyovers, a Solar Map of New York
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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