Mapping Roof Materials in Cities for Food, Water, and Energy Production: A Mediterranean Metropolitan Area Case Study

ABSTRACT

In recent years, rooftops have been used as productive spaces for local resource (e.g. food, water, or energy) production. The main objective of this study is to demonstrate the potential of hyperspectral data to identify roof materials in cities. The case study area is located in a Mediterranean region north of Barcelona (Spain); diverse building typologies, building uses (residential, industrial, office, services and retail) and population densities constitute this study area. Two hyperspectral remote sensors (HRSs) were used to obtain hyperspectral images. Seven roof classes were identified using the k-means clustering algorithm. Most roofs were identified as metals (33 percent), followed by ceramic tiles (22 percent). The findings showed that 51 percent of roofs could be suitable for food, water, or energy production. Nevertheless, for a more reliable assessment of this potential, more criteria are needed.

KEYWORDS:

• sustainable cities
• urban agriculture
• rainwater
• solar energy
• remote sensing (RS)

Acknowledgments

This work is part of the Fertilecity II project supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (CTM2016-75772-C3-3-R and CTM2016-75772-C3-1-R, AEI/FEDER, UE); from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities; through the María de Maeztu program for Units of Excellence (CEX2019-000940-M) and supported by MOVE4EDU. Authors want to thank to the University of Guadalajara (Mexico) for awarding a research scholarship to Perla Zambrano-Prado, and to the reviewers for their valuable comments.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Perla Zambrano-Prado

Perla Zambrano-Prado is a professor at the Art, Architecture and Design University Center (UdeG). Recently, she joined as a collaborator of the research group Technological Innovation for Design (UDG-CA-381) of the University of Guadalajara, México.

Alejandro Josa

Alejandro Josa is a member of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA) in the Civil Engineering School (Escola de Camins) at the, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), Barcelona, Spain.

Joan Rieradevall

Joan Rieradeval is a professor emerita in the Department of Chemical and Biological Environmental Engineering at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain.

Ramon Alamús

Ramon Alamús is a member of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DECA) in the Civil Engineering School (Escola de Camins), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), Barcelona, Spain.

Fernando Pérez

Fernando Pérez is the head of R&D in Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing at the Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya, (ICGC) Barcelona, Spain.

Juan Marchan

Juan Marchan is a member of the Àrea d'Observació de la Terra – PCOT, Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya, (ICGC) Barcelona, Spain.

Santiago Gassó

Santiago Gassó is a professor in the Department of Projects and Construction Engineering and Vice-Chancellor of Academic Policy at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech (UPC), Barcelona, Spain.

Xavier Gabarrell

Xavier Gabarrell is a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Environmental Engineering at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain.