Google is planning to sell new mapping APIs (Application Programming Interfaces).
According to reports, the tech giant is planning to license new sets of mapping data to a range of companies. E.g, companies that build products around renewable energy, would essentially need energy and environmental data.
These range of products define the companies that are being considered for the mapping data licenses.
Google has data on over 350 million buildings, and it plans to sell access to new APIs with solar and energy information and air quality.
The company already sees a range of potential customers including Zillow, Marriott, Tesla and PG&E.
Potential customers considered for the Solar API include;
– Solar installers like SunRun and Tesla
– Energy and solar design companies like Aurora Solar,
-Real estate companies like Zillow, Redfin
– Hospitality companies like Marriott Bonvoy, and
– Utilities like PG&E
One of the sources of the data from the Solar API is a consumer-focused pilot called ‘Project Sunroof’ – a solar savings calculator launched in 2015.
Sunroof allows users to enter their address and to receive estimated solar costs such as electric bill savings and the size of the solar installation they’ll need.
With Google Maps data, Project Sunroof offers 3D modeling of the roofs of buildings and nearby trees.
Google also plans to announce an Air Quality API. This will be for customers who would request air quality data, such as pollutants and health-based recommendations for specific locations.
Digital heat maps of the data and hourly air quality information will be included as well as air quality history of up to 30 days.
API access will be available to data for individual buildings, as well as aggregated data for all buildings in a particular city or county.
