Google Environment AI tools to map rooftop solar potential, air quality, and pollen.
Google has been instrumental over the past few years in implementing sustainable features into its services. In 2021, they announced they would start to show users more sustainable options on their services, including Maps, Travel, Search, and Nest. In 2022, Google Maps added an option on their app to search for electric vehicle stations with fast chargers. They have also added a feature that allows users to see the most fuel-efficient routes. The feature has helped to prevent around 1.2 million metric tons of planet-heating carbon dioxide emissions.
This year, Google Maps announced that they are offering three new tools to help map rooftop solar potential, air quality, and pollen. The tools use Google’s artificial intelligence, machine learning, environmental data, and aerial imagery to provide more information about the environment.
Google’s Solar API
Google environment AI tools’ Solar API maps are designed to provide detailed data on rooftop solar potential. The platform allows customers to design solar panel arrays from anywhere. It allows them to remotely take measurements for solar panel arrays. It also allows users to select a location and see the data available to create custom solar quotes and proposals. The Solar API was developed to pull data on roof geometry, trees, and shading from aerial imagery, in addition to other factors like weather patterns and energy costs.
By providing detailed imagery, design and solar production estimates, this program helps homeowners considering solar make an informed choice. This new tool will share the solar potential for over 320 million buildings in 40 countries. The tool provides users with aerial imagery, rooftop analysis, building analysis, and even shading analysis, which provides an hourly breakdown of sunlight and shade on a roof based on year-round weather data.
Google’s Air Quality API
Google environment AI tools’ Air Quality API provides in-depth air quality information to users. It pulls data sources, including government monitoring stations, sensors, meteorological data satellites, and live traffic data, giving users production location-specific and highly detailed air quality information. It offers air quality data to users all over the world. Moreover, the Air Quality API pinpoints the air quality at a 500-metre resolution and updates the information every hour.
The program helps patients avoid breathing hazards. It also helps to make buildings smarter by managing the health of buildings more effectively by programming HVAC systems to respond to local air quality. The Air Quality API also helps hiking, cycling, or driving people choose healthier routes. The Quality API tool provides users with a 30-day hourly history, actionable recommendations to help reduce exposure to air pollutants, in-depth pollutant details, and heatmap options.
Google’s Pollen API
Finally, Google environment AI tools’ Pollen API offers information on pollen count from top pollen sources. It relies on land cover, climatological data, annual pollen production for different plants and other data to determine pollen levels and risks. The Pollen API offer 5-day pollen forecasts for locals or travellers and helps users avoid exposure. The program provides actionable data for specific pollen types and species. The program helps to provide allergy sufferers information to help manage their pollen exposure. The tool provides users with a global universal pollen index, tree, grass and weed pollen species information, colour-coded heatmap, and detailed allergen information.
Google environment AI tools to map rooftop solar potential, air quality and pollen can help developers and businesses plan sustainable solutions and help users lessen their environmental impact. These new tools might also influence users to think about their actions, try to reduce their environmental impact and encourage others to do the same.
They are innovative ways to encourage renewable energy, clean our cities, and help people who suffer from allergies. Google is constantly finding new ways to reduce environmental impacts and to encourage its users to do the same, and we can’t wait to see what they come up with next.