In an attempt to create a bird’s-eye view solar map of New York City, City University of New York representatives and city officials last month joined forces to fly a laser-equipped airplane over the Big Apple.

The joint effort was aided by Sanborn, a Colorado-based mapping firm. The crew collected data needed to pinpoint prime areas for solar installations. The photos that were taken are being digitized as you read, with the team aiming to produce a final solar map of NYC by this fall.

Solar maps have become common in metropolitan epicenters such as Boston and San Francisco, supported by funds from a branch of the U.S. Department of Energy that encourages solar technological development.

The Sanborn crew used a laser system called Lidar to produce in-depth images of the city, which will provide a clear look at the angles of rooftops and shading factors from surrounding skyscrapers and trees.

It has been estimated that New York City has enough space to produce enough solar energy to generate approximately one-fifth of the electricity consumed by eight million residents. As part of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s PlaNYC program, an initiative that calls for a 30-percent reduction in New York City’s atmospheric carbon emissions by 2030. The solar map will help analysts determine the extent to which solar energy technologies can help meet that goal.