23 August 2010
Images via Polymaps
This amazing Polymaps project from SimpleGeo and Stamen shows where San Francisco's roads are a little worse for the wear. The "Pavement Condition Index Map" illustrates the condition of the street pavement across the city, pointing out in a very visual way where the asphalt needs a little TLC. Why do we care? Because cities that have smooth, safe roads are better for bicyclists -- oh, and hypermilers too. Check out how the team pulled together the information. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger
Images via 
All Images Courtesy of 
Image credit: 
Photo: Cree
Let There Be Light
At TreeHugger, we've been writing about ways to make lighting more energy efficient for years. Not because it's the most important things to do to reduce your footprint (more important things including: 
Photo via 
Photos courtesy of Arad Technologies LTD
They say that wars will some day be fought over water. In the meantime, a military-inspired flying "3G Drone" is helping pinpoint water loss in Israel. The "advanced meter intel collection" system was developed by Master Meter, an arm of 
Image: UCAR
One of the Primary Models Used by the IPCC
As Freeman Dyson said, "The great advances in science usually result from new tools rather than from new doctrines." The telescope, the microscope, X-rays and MRIs, etc. Climate modeling software is such a tool, allowing us to make probabilistic estimates about what is likely to happen to our planet's if we do X or Y or Z. And while we can never be 100% sure about the future, our tools are getting more sophisticated (models take more things into account, faster computers allow more simulations to be run, better instruments and satellites allow better inf... 
photo: