Google Maps goes beyond maps: Introduces Environment APIs Suite

We are a generation with power to define how our Earth would look in future. Our generation is at a juncture where we can either create a positive impact or ruin the environment for the upcoming generations. The kind of technological advancements we have, no other past generations had that. As quoted by uncle Ben, “ With great power comes great responsibility ”, it is important to continue our efforts to reduce the environmental impact we leave behind. Utilizing renewable sources of energy in an efficient way is one such aspect which will not only reduce the environmental impact at the present but, also will protect Mother Earth for our future generations.

Considering the same, Google unveiled some fantastic Google Maps Environmental APIs at the Google Cloud Next ‘23 event that took place from 29th to 30th August 2023 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California.

This environmental suite of APIs included three major APIs that would help in creating a lasting impact:

• SolarAPI

• AirQualityAPI

• PollenAPI

In this blog, we will delve into each of these in little more than brief, so that our fellow developers and the businesses can get an idea about utilizing it effectively.

1) SolarAPI:

Since times, Sun is considered as one of the front runners when it comes to renewable sources of energy due to various reasons viz. it’s in abundance, it's a non-ending source of energy, and it’s free to use. Clear energy like the sun is the best option to tackle the green-house gas emissions and bring down the levels of CO2 in the air.

One such use is the installation of Solar Panels on the rooftops and open fields. In the past year, Google saw an exponential increase of about 60% for the search term “rooftop solar power” which suggests that people are tending towards renewables and are willing to accept an alternative source of power.

Citing this shift of interest and to facilitate various stakeholders in the Solar Power Industry, Google unveiled SolarAPI which can be considered to be derived from Google’s ambitious Project Sunroof. SolarAPI is anticipated to be best used by the solar companies as it will surface up important data on two fronts.

a) Building Insights:

The Building Insights endpoint offers comprehensive data about a building's whereabouts, size, and solar viability, encompassing specifics like roof dimensions, slope, and the estimated energy output of a rooftop solar system. This data serves as a valuable resource for evaluating the advantages of solar installation, aiding solar experts in assisting homeowners and building owners in exploring and contrasting various solar setups.

b) Data Layers:

The Data Layers endpoint provides comprehensive information about solar data for a specific location, offering granular details such as shading effects on system performance and a digital rooftop surface model. Solar installers can utilize this data for tailored proposals, while SaaS developers can automate the design of optimized panel arrays.

How is SolarAPI anticipated to benefit the installation companies to cater efficiently to their customers:

a) Improve the sales process:

With the SolarAPI offering building insights, it would become quite easy for the companies to do away from the tedious task of manually measuring the rooftops and calculating the area, suggesting the best rooftop, and preparing the model of the installations, and preparing financial information. This would also won’t require the premise visit if utilized to the best of what it has to offer.

b) Improved customer experiences:

With SolarAPI, it would become easy to educate the customers about the problem as well as solution the companies suggest in a more visually appealing way there by giving the customers a clear picture of the array designs, their solar energy estimations, expected cost savings, and so on without even visiting the premises there by increasing the trust with the customers. This will expedite the sales and closure process.

c) Broadening opportunities and saving money:

Leveraging advanced data and imagery, solar professionals can craft precise, personalized solar designs and proposals. They can swiftly generate optimal panel layouts with visual aids showcasing ridge lines, roof obstructions, penetration points, and shade patterns.

The Solar API's data and insights are designed to replace labor-intensive manual procedures with efficient automation for assessing rooftop suitability and determining solar installation needs that harness the full energy potential of each panel. This saves the solar installers the time and money.

2) Air Quality API:

With the time, poor air quality due to the gas emissions has become a leading cause of environmental as well as personal health damage with a bulk of populations suffering from various respiratory diseases. It is estimated that more than 262 million people were affected by Astham in 2019 which has to do with the air quality we live in. While we work towards reducing it, till then we can work our best to go the prevention route. Citing this, Google’s environmental suite consists of Air Quality API.

Air Quality API tracks and reports the Air Quality data from various data sources viz. government monitoring stations, sensors, models, meteorological data, satellites, land cover, and live traffic information. This data is reported and processed dynamically each hour to ensure the best and most recent data is available to the applicators of this API.

The API empowers people to make informed decisions like, when to perform leisure activities, when to take a hike or trail, when to switch on the air purifiers, and most importantly when the vulnerable group can move out without much precaution.

Use Cases by industry:

a) Healthcare and HealthTech companies can leverage on the API to develop the treatment plans for the patients and use the data to monitor their health in conjunction with the API as to when to go out, what to track, and so on.

b) Automotive and Mobility companies can utilize the API to provide deep insights on when to turn on car AV enroute and when to close the windows to be safe from unhealthy air quality when approaching a low Air Quality hit region.

c) Smart Home companies can utilize the API to get an idea about the air during modeling the rooms as it gives them an idea about the times in the day when air quality is low or high and likewise designing the rooms for ventilation.

3) Pollen API:

With the recent environmental changes happening in the negative direction, the season of pollen has become lengthy and thus increasing the risk of getting pollen induced allergies more than once a year. According to WHO, 1/3rd of the population across the world suffers from allergic rhinitis. The next in the suite offered by Google’s environmental APIs is the Pollen API to overcome these issues.

The Pollen API is enabling the users to make early and informed decisions on the travel and planning their daily tasks during the pollen season thereby reducing the risk of health issues. The API gives following information to facilitate the users in daily decision making:

• Relevant, localized pollen count data

• Heatmap visualizations

• Detailed plant allergen information

• Actionable tips to minimize pollen exposure

The Pollen API tracks and processes the data dynamically with multi-facet input data such as climatological data, annual pollen production per plant, and more to deliver reliable output predictions of the local pollen level and exposure risk.

It provides location-specific, plant-specific, and timely pollen data arranged and well indicated within the map, for users to plan their movement well in advance in order to stay healthy and safe.

Use Cases by industry:

a) Travel and tourism industry can use these API to project the location and flora data on their client-facing apps and websites, so that their guests can plan the trips accordingly.

b) Real Estate and construction industry can plan use the APIs to showcase the data about the pollen season and its length for educating the clients and enable them to make a better informed decision for the purchase of a property.

c) Healthcare Applications can use the Pollen API data to provide timely and relevant alerts to their clients when they pick up their client’s movement in pollen affected areas.

Conclusion:

In closing, the launch of Google's Environmental APIs at the Google Cloud Next '23 event signifies a significant stride toward a more environmentally conscious future. These APIs, including SolarAPI, Air Quality API, and Pollen API, offer invaluable tools to address pressing environmental challenges and empower various industries to make informed decisions. From streamlining solar installations and safeguarding air quality to aiding individuals in navigating pollen seasons, these APIs demonstrate the potential of technology to create a more sustainable world. It's a reminder that as stewards of the Earth, we have the responsibility to harness innovation and work collectively to protect our planet for generations to come

If you are looking to integrate or get help with understanding the above mentioned APIs in more detail, you can connect with an app development company who provides such services. They would be the best to offer a valuable insight.