The city of San Francisco has created a geospatial
application where they have mapped all known locations within the city where
solar panels have been installed. This application pinpoints all types of areas
that are using solar panels to power, or help power the building. The vast
majority shown on the map are residential buildings. This application is
important because it shows the growth in renewable resources. The San Francisco
Solar Map’s goal is to advertise the success and importance of solar power. On
the map there are special bubbles to click on which take you to a case study
depending on the bubble. Each one tells a story of a home, business, or office,
and their experience with solar energy. These case studies advertise local
businesses and links to their websites who install the panels. With each
installation in the city, the coordinates are uploaded to the website and
placed on the map with a marker depending on their zone. This map is a great
way to spread awareness and information on the renewable energy source of solar
power. This application holds many links to other resources on solar power,
expanding the knowledge of a user. This geospatial application promotes and
advertises the use of solar energy within the city, and around the world. Other
application projects for San Francisco Solar Map include the uploading of
additional information on previous installations, and the acquiring of solar
potential of a certain area on the map. If you are a previous owner of solar
panels and have added more to your building, or upgraded, you can add more
information to the map by accessing your previous account to share with the
community. Also if you do not yet have solar panels and are inquiring, you can
input your address and the map will show a picture of your building along with
a rooftop's solar PV potential, along with estimates on prices, and how to get
started in fitting your home with solar panels. “What a great selling tool for
people interested in purchasing PV, but are unsure whether they have the right
roof for solar.” (Underwood, 2008)
Katrina Sunter
Eric Dance
Brian McMullen
Mark Elbertsen
Stephan Pidruczny
