Using geographic information systems to assess potential biofuel crop production on urban marginal lands

Niblick, Briana; Monnell, Jason D.; Zhao, Xi; Landis, Amy E.

doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.09.036

Cited by 37 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 24 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…To correctly determine the spatial variations of solar radiation into morphologically complex areas, such as the Province of Frosinone, it is necessary to integrate analytical models of solar radiation on a GIS basis with the information provided in high-resolution data sets, such as DEM (Digital Elevation Model). These models [23][24][25][26][27][28] are based on empirical physical equations, providing accurate estimates of solar radiation as well as the geographical location and the morphological characteristics of the area. In the proposed model, data are managed using the Solar Analyst model developed by ESRI ArcGIS 10 ® and modified according to [29].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In [22], the implementation of a GIS allows to: (i) locate sport facilities in Rome and to analyze the demand and supply of sports; (ii) to access and update many aspects of urban life in Modena (i.e., building heritage, energy consumption, city companies, and maintenance of green areas); (iii) to evaluate energy consumptions and to test some bio-architecture and green building strategies on a medium-size urban area; (iv) to plan the exploitation of lands with poor agricultural potential (or unsuitable for residential purposes) for biofuel crops production [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Development of a Geographical Information System (GIS) for the Integration of Solar Energy in the Energy Planning of a Wide Area

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:Energy planning has become one of the most powerful tools for urban planning even if several constraints, (i.e., aesthetic, archaeological, landscape) and technological (low diffusion of Renewable Energy Sources, RES) reduce its spreading. An efficient and sustainable urban planning process should be based on detailed energy issues, such as: (i) the effective energetic characteristics and needs of the area like urban density and energy consumption, (ii) the integration of different RES and (iii) the diffusion of high efficiency technologies for energy production like cogeneration and district heating. The above-mentioned energetic issues and constraints must be constantly updated, in order to evaluate the consequences on environment and landscape due to new distributed generation technologies. Moreover, energy strategies and policies must be adapted to the actual evolution of the area. In this paper the authors present a Geographical Information Database System (GIS DB) based on: (i) the availability of land use (Land Capability Classification, LCC) to evaluate the productive potential; (ii) the estimation of residential energy consumptions (e.g., electricity), (iii) the integration of RES. The GIS DB model has been experimented in a wide area of Central Italy, considering exclusively the solar energy source for energy generation. OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2014, 6 5731

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a Geographical Information System (GIS) for the Integration of Solar Energy in the Energy Planning of a Wide Area

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Three other studies first mapped marginal land, and then mapped the potential suitability of that land for specific bioenergy species [26,33,37]. The eight studies that mapped for generic bioenergy species first mapped marginal lands, then employed land use constraints, or masks, where bioenergy crops should not be planted [27][28][29][30][31]34,36,45]. Finally, three studies first targeted marginal lands for generic bioenergy species based on multiple input criteria, but employed no land cover constraints [13,40,44].…”

Section: Model Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For their city-level analysis in Pittsburgh, Niblick et al [45] used very localized datasets, such as commercial zoning at the parcel-level [45]. Their analysis also employed a greenways feature class, which included agricultural easements, forested floodplains, designated greenways, land trust properties, rivers buffered by 100 ft., conservation streams buffered by 50 ft., sensitive slopes, wetlands 1 acre or more buffered by 50 ft., golf courses, parks and trails.…”

Section: Issues Of Scalementioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping the Potential for Biofuel Production on Marginal Lands: Differences in Definitions, Data and Models across Scales

Lewis

Kelly

2014

IJGI

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:As energy policies mandate increases in bioenergy production, new research supports growing bioenergy feedstocks on marginal lands. Subsequently there has been an increase in published work that uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map the availability of marginal land as a proxy for bioenergy crop potential. However, despite the similarity in stated intent among these works a number of inconsistencies remain across studies that make comparisons and standardization difficult. We reviewed a collection of recent literature that mapped bioenergy potential on marginal lands at varying scales, and found that there is no common working definition of marginal land across all of these works. Specifically, we found considerable differences in mapped results that are driven by dissimilarities in definitions, model framework, data inputs, scale and treatment of uncertainty. Most papers reviewed here employed relatively simple GIS overlays of input criteria, distinct thresholds identifying marginal land, and few details describing accuracy and uncertainty. These differences are likely to be major impediments to integration of studies mapping marginal lands for bioenergy production. We suggest that there is future need for spatial modeling of bioenergy, yet further scholarship is needed to compare across countries and scales to understand the global potential for bioenergy crops.

show abstract

“…In some regions, this limitation may be exacerbated by predicted climate change as a consequence of elevated temperature, reduced rainfall, changing seasonal rainfall patterns, or reduced availability of irrigation water (Schlenker et al, 2007;Vano et al, 2010;O'Neill & Dobrowolski, 2011). Insufficient soil moisture may become particularly problematic for biofuel crops; to reduce competition with food crops, biofuel crops may have to be planted preferentially on sites that are not highly productive for food crops (Vuichard et al, 2009;Cai et al, 2011;Niblick et al, 2013), where some of the challenges include shallow and excessively draining soils. Improving the availability of water in these challenging soils will be of great importance to biofuel production.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biochar amendment of soil improves resilience to climate change

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Because of climate change, insufficient soil moisture may increasingly limit crop productivity in certain regions of the world. This may be particularly consequential for biofuel crops, many of which will likely be grown in drought-prone soils to avoid competition with food crops. Biochar is the byproduct of a biofuel production method called pyrolysis. If pyrolysis becomes more common as some scientists predict, biochar will become more widely available. We asked, therefore, whether the addition of biochar to soils could significantly increase the availability of water to a crop. Biochar made from switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) shoots was added at the rate of 1% of dry weight to four soils of varying texture, and available water contents were calculated as the difference between field capacity and permanent wilting point water contents. Biochar addition significantly increased the available water contents of the soils by both increasing the amount of water held at field capacity and allowing plants to draw the soil to a lower water content before wilting. Among the four soils tested, biochar amendment resulted in an additional 0.8-2.7 d of transpiration, which could increase productivity in drought-prone regions or reduce the frequency of irrigation. Biochar amendment of soils may thus be a viable means of mitigating some of the predicted decrease in water availability accompanying climate change that could limit the future productivity of biofuel crops.

show abstract

Using geographic information systems to assess potential biofuel crop production on urban marginal lands

Cited by 37 publications

References 24 publications

Development of a Geographical Information System (GIS) for the Integration of Solar Energy in the Energy Planning of a Wide Area

Development of a Geographical Information System (GIS) for the Integration of Solar Energy in the Energy Planning of a Wide Area

Mapping the Potential for Biofuel Production on Marginal Lands: Differences in Definitions, Data and Models across Scales

Biochar amendment of soil improves resilience to climate change

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About