Solar Automated Feature Extraction: Interview with Steph Stoppenhagen, Sustainability Lead and Head of the Critigen Solar Mapping Program Initiative by Willi Paul

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Solar Automated Feature Extraction: Interview with Steph Stoppenhagen, Sustainability Lead and Head of the Critigen Solar Mapping Program Initiative by Willi Paul

Edited email correspondence from Steph Stoppenhagen to Willi Paul (2-10-10)

San Francisco developed the first solar map utilizing Critigen’s SAFE methodology. The SAFE methodology gives very accurate results for the solar potential of each individual roof. We did the SAFE analysis for every building in San Francisco.
In Sacramento, we chose to do the SAFE analysis for all commercial buildings in the SMUD service area, but did a much less accurate solar analysis for residential buildings in the area. This was done as their target audience was business owners. Critigen did the solar analysis for both residential and commercial buildings in Sacramento.

Also Sacramento has integrated the solar map into a “"green community” site.

Other maps include:

• Los Angeles
  
• San Diego
  
• Berkeley
  
• Finally here is the the link to the San Francisco Urban EcoMap that we worked on the development of with Cisco.

This is the first generation solution, and we will be working with SF to bring more functionality to the map. The current version tracks GHG emissions by zip code in the city in three separate areas, transportation, building energy use, and waste. Critigen developed the data structure and worked with the data sources to get the information into a usable format.

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How does the data get into the data base? What are the offline and online technologies that come into play as you build a snap shot of green resources?

As folks get solar PV, solar thermal or even wind generators installed at your house, they fill out forms for the incentives to receive the rebate, the City’s track those and we use the database for upload to our technology…

Are there security issues as local workers seek information on buildings and programs?

All solar installations are approved by the owners of the installation to be incorporated into the map portal.

Tell us more about The SAFE methodology?

At Critigen we have built a team to create solar map portals for cities and utilities, as you have heard. We do this as a consulting engagement and the cost is determined by the area we map and the concentration of buildings. To do this, we use a methodology called SAFE™ (currently in the patent process) which is a combination of aerial imagery, 3D modeling and variables that allow us to determine obstacles such as chimneys, exhaust fans, air-conditioning etc. and subtract them from the roof’s square footage space while also taking into consideration shading from buildings, roof pitch and weather patterns.

What are the key precursor programs and models for the Solar Map tech?

Usually the City has created goals for themselves on GHG reductions and this helps them track these goals…

Are you using a combination of open source and proprietary software?

A Google Maps or Microsoft VE map is used with various open source technologies. The Critigen proprietary software is our SAFE™ methodology.

What did/does Cisco provide? Get in return?

Cisco is only involved in the SF UrbanEcoMap and you can get the info on their CUD (Connected Urban Development) Initiative by Googling it…lots of information.

What are the underlying principles and values here? Do all organizations agree?

Underlying principle is educating the public on renewable energy and how this relates to them financially. Everyone will want to help the environment BUT it might not always make sense financially, and in these rough economic times, it is imperative to show the return on investment…

What is the best example of a Solar Map to date? What functionality is coming?

A great example of our solar mapping web portal engagement with a utility is SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District) - the mapping area is all of Sacramento County.

Our next phase with SMUD is linking our PV potential of all rooftops to the customer billing systems, for example, as you put in your address, it zooms into your rooftop and then you can click on your utility bill and see how PV will effect your pocketbook, how long to see a return on investment, it will show what your utility bill is now and what it would be if you had solar PV on your roof or garage.

It’s a piece of a larger platform approach that adds the necessary elements of consumer and utility control, in addition to device-level information, that enables a real-time dialogue between consumers and their energy provider. It’s great to see quickening momentum among vendors, utilities and consumers as we drive innovative energy efficiency!

How can one calculate the actual solar system costs, utility savings and green house gas emission reductions as a result of "going solar" with the Berkeley map?

Go to the Action tab – follow those steps…

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Bio for Ms. Steph Stoppenhagen -

Steph Stoppenhagen is the Sustainability Lead and heads up the Solar Mapping Program Initiative for Critigen, which is the new company that was created from the CH2M HILL IT business group. Steph is a Project Manager and Renewable Energy Mapping Consultant with the firm in the Enterprise Management Solutions Business Group in Portland, Oregon. She is recognized as a technical subject matter expert and an organizational leader; a dedicated, reliable, and successful IT professional now focused on renewable energies.

Steph is responsible for the development of the technical team of solar experts that have defined a methodology called SAFE ™ Method (Solar Automated Feature Extraction) which automates the process of examining the Photovoltaic (PV) potential of rooftops and reduces the time to analyze this potential by 75 percent. This process is being patented.

Steph now integrates SAFE™ with various City and Utilities globally to link with customer billing systems to meet current RPS requirements.

Prior to joining CH2M HILL in Portland, Steph served as a geo-integration officer and business consultant internationally with the Department of Defense in the United Kingdom, where she provided technical oversight for mission-critical design and GIS project management of Space Command installation spatial data. Steph also was a Senior Consultant and Project Engineer with SCHLUMBERGER focusing on water and electric utilities. Steph has also contracted for the EPA and has a background in Secret Service projects.

Steph has a B.S., in Environmental Science/GIS/Mathematics from the University of Iowa and now serves on various renewable energy panels, specifically solar and wind energy.

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Connections –

Steph Stoppenhagen
Critigen - Visualize+Collaborate+Secure+Manage
steph.stoppen at Critigen dot com
503.736.4150 (O) 303.319.6916 (M)