Origin & Aker
Origin
I’ve been thinking about how urban forests could actually help keep cities cool and cut energy use—maybe we could sketch a plan for a green corridor network that also boosts biodiversity and resilience. What do you think?
Aker
Good idea, but we need a concrete framework. First identify high‑heat zones, then map potential corridor routes and analyze land use and ownership. Next run a cost‑benefit analysis, and once we have the data we can draft a phased implementation plan.
Origin
Sounds solid. I’ll start with satellite temperature data to flag the hottest spots, then pull GIS layers for zoning, easements, and current landowners. Once we have a shortlist of feasible routes, we can estimate planting and maintenance costs against projected cooling, energy savings, and habitat value. We’ll keep the phases realistic—pilot in the most critical zone first, then expand outward as we prove the concept and secure more support. Let me know what tools you prefer, and we can get the first draft out soon.
Aker
Sounds structured. For temperature, a quick scan in ArcGIS or QGIS with MODIS data will flag hotspots. Use QGIS for zoning, easements, and ownership layers – it’s open source and good for batch processing. For cost‑benefit, a spreadsheet model with inputs for planting density, species mix, and maintenance curves will give you energy savings estimates. I’ll pull historical weather data from NOAA to validate the cooling projection. Once you’ve got the shortlist, we can run a simple Monte‑Carlo to assess risk and build a phased timeline. Keep the pilot zone tight; that will let us tighten the model before scaling. Let me know if you need help setting up the GIS workspace.
Origin
That workflow fits my thinking. I can set up the QGIS project with the MODIS layers, pull in the zoning and ownership data, and run the temperature overlay. I’ll start drafting the spreadsheet with planting densities and species. Could you share the NOAA data set you mentioned and the ownership shapefiles? Once I have those, I’ll pull everything together and we can tweak the model before we pick the pilot corridor. Let me know how you’d like to coordinate the GIS workspace.
Aker
I’ll upload the NOAA temperature data set to a shared Google Drive folder and add the current ownership shapefiles from the city’s GIS portal. Once you set up the QGIS project, import the MODIS layers, overlay the zoning and easements, and add the ownership layer. Then bring the spreadsheets into the same folder for version control. We’ll meet after you’ve processed the first pass to adjust parameters and lock the pilot corridor. Keep the workflow tight and file names clear so we avoid confusion.