X Æ A-12

https://youtu.be/KuBNV6m4PVA

https://github.com/elijah0528/NSA2021dash

urbanDev enables city developers to investigate an area of interest through a search bar or an interactive map. Data is retrieved from the LP DAAC Data Pool server and is scored using algorithms to suit a location’s specific priorities and assess physical, societal, and economic sustainability. Visual analytical summary, rated improvement suggestions for smart urban growth, and comparison with other locations are provided to give planners a comprehensive analysis of urban planning. Finally, recognizing that many rural areas have insufficient datasets that could be compensated by drone-surveyed data, users can make UAS. Overall, urbanDev was designed with visual analytics and intuitive navigation for easy access around the world.

How does it work?

The urbanDev platform is a React Website. Users indicate their area of interest through the search bar or interactive map powered by Leaflet.js where the coordinates are recorded into a shapefile. After thorough research on studies detailing metrics for successful urban development such as by UN Habitat and Sustainable Urban Systems, we have compiled a selection of data products to capture a summary of the potential development area. We then call the LP DAAC Data Pool web server for the most recent data products, preprocess and filter with quality assurance layers, then stitch together a mosaic of geospatial information for the array of data (which are also available for the user to download if desired). Each data set is scaled to 0-100 and weighted average is taken to the user along with an in-depth analysis for scoring and suggestions for the most sustainable urban expansion.

What benefits does it have?

City developers can easily recognize strengths and weaknesses in their city's sustainability by referencing multiple NASA databases at once with our app. They can also learn everything about their general location through

What do you hope to achieve?

With this app we hope that city developers can score existing cities or cities being built to make them more environmentally sustainable. In the future, we hope to increase the functionality of the dashboard to show other statistics about a city, add various languages, and add more features to the map. 

What tools, coding languages, hardware, or software did you use to develop your project?

We used HTML, CSS, Python, React and React-leaflet to build out our app, Canva to design graphs and ResearchGate to find scholarly articles that would provide us with the knowledge necessary to score locations. We also used Youtube and Stack Overflow for any troubleshooting. 

https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/

https://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/epi-environmental-performance-index-2020

https://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/grand-v1-reservoirs-rev01

https://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/food-food-insecurity-hotspots

https://earthdata.nasa.gov/

https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/tools/appeears/

We accessed a number of data products from the NASA EarthData Data Pool with Python by modifying the produced described on the LP DAAC User Resources. The raw data was then preprocessed to extract the data product in the desired file format, projection and coordinate reference system, and filtered using quality assurance layers. The data products used includes:

• MODIS Land Cover Type
• SEDAC Environmental Performance Index
• SEDAC Dams and Reservoirs of Water
• SEDAC Human Built-up And Settlement Extent
• SEDAC Food Insecurity Hotspots
• ASTER DEM

How would you describe your Space Apps experience?

 We learned so much and were exposed to what truly is smart urban development and how to build back better by leveraging the untapped potential of remote sensing and UAS data. Having access to a supportive community of other youth and mentors made the experience approachable and encouraging. The amount of open-source resources and tools was mind-blowing to say the least! This event also pushed us to work as hard as possible within two days which really allowed us to stay focused and have all the information fresh in our minds. 

What did you learn?

• Elijah: I learned how to build out a front-end using React and also learned about the various tools and datasets such as worldview, SEDAC and MODIS
• Caroline: I learned how to build a React website that integrates with geospatial data and interfaces, as well as how to leverage various NASA tools and resources.

What inspired your team to choose this challenge?

Urbanization in developed countries is often meticulous, paying close attention to how urban plans affect everything. From the social community to energy consumption, economic sectors to biodiversity, these are the prudent considerations being deliberated in our communities. But both of our families originated from South and East Asia, communities that don’t enjoy the same quality of urban planning. Over the past year, as climate change engulfed villages in floods and climate refugees packed sprawled urban settlements, the consequences of unsustainable urban planning has never been clearer. The problem is that developing urban community leaders often don’t have accessibility data analytics, such as the localized gaging facilities familiar to the West, to make thoroughly educated smart urban cities. That’s where remote sensing and UAS systems can make all the difference. Thus, inspired by an issue that hits close to home, we sought out ways to make an easy-to-use platform where urban developers around the world can easily reference data to make informed choices on locations to develop sustainable resilient urban communities. 

What was your approach to developing this project?

We took our idea, broke it down into steps, divided the work, set deadlines and communicated with each other through discord and multiple calls. We divided work while on call to make work faster and hold each other accountable. As I (Elijah) am writing up what you're reading, Caroline is hard at work creating our demo video to get it done in time.

How did your team resolve setbacks and challenges?

Like the uncertainty of space travel, our team was prepared to tackle any obstacle. From navigating the overly complex file storage format of geospatial data, Caroline's computer dying because of a water spill to a dependency not being able to install properly on Elijah’s computer. However, through the power of screen sharing, we were able to problem solve our way through. 

Is there anyone you'd like to thank and why?

 "I wanna thank me" - Snoop Dogg

https://www.desmos.com/calculator/n4omibof9p

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341944301_Mathematical_model_for_assessing_environmental_risk

https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov/

https://www.canva.com/

https://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/epi-environmental-performance-index-2020

https://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/grand-v1-reservoirs-rev01

https://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/data/set/food-food-insecurity-hotspots

https://earthdata.nasa.gov/

https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/tools/appeears/

#drone #app #urbandevelopment #SDG11

This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.