Drones & Sustainability 

 

Drones are becoming increasingly used for answering questions about our relationship with the environment. We use drones to document and monitor a number of important aspects of the Las Positas College campus that include: energy consumption, solar array monitoring, foliage carbon capture, tree equity scores, shade index, canopy index, and urban heat mapping.

Energy Envelope

Our thermal sensors help us better understand the energy envelope of our buildings. By quantifying temperature variations across walls, roofs, and windows, it aids managers to monitor building performance, minimize heat loss, and reduce HVAC energy consumption.

Health & Wellness

We have been using our multi-spectral drones to quantify our trees, foliage, green spaces, and landscaping. Aerial images help us better understand how shade and proximity to foliage can help minimize heat risks. Is also helps us identify "shade deserts" (areas lacking adequate sun protection).

Sustainability & Equity

In partnership with our Horticulture program, we have identified, speciated, georeferenced, and measured the diameter of most of our campus trees, essentially our tiny urban forest. The result of this has helped us understand the amount of carbon that our trees store and continue to add as each tree progresses through their life cycle.

Play with the Data

We are currently partnering with the Quest Science Center in developing a comprehensive thermal and multispectral map of the campus. These data sets will form the foundation of ongoing work. This is the beginning of a long-term project to make Las Positas College a center of sustainability research. Please click the links below and watch the videos to learn how to play with our data sets.

• Download and Install QGIS
• Download the data 
  • Multispectral Image
  • Thermal Image
• Import the data into QGIS.
• Explore and ask quesitons about what you see in the data.
• Share what you find!