IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/abq/ijist1/v6y2024i6p97-112.html

Assessment of Rooftop Potential for Solar Energy and Rainwater Harvesting in Islamabad: A Geospatial Approach towards Sustainable Urban Development

Author

Listed:
  • Muhammad Muzmmil Saleem, Asmad Hussain,Hamza Hanif

    (Department of Meteorology, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Islamabad 45550, Pakistan. Department of Earth Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad (QAU), Islamabad 15320, Pakistan)

Abstract

Introduction/Importance of Study:The growing water and energy crises, exacerbated by abnormal temperature fluctuations, shifting precipitation patterns, and rapid urban expansion, have disrupted sustainable processes in many urban areas. This study explores the untapped potential of urbanrooftops in contributing to sustainable urban development by assessing their viability for solar energy generation and rainwater harvesting. By focusing on this underutilized aspect of urban infrastructure, the study aims to address critical issues related to water and energy management in cities.Novelty Statement:This research employs advanced geospatial techniques to evaluate rooftop characteristics, assessing their potential for solar energy generation and rainwater harvesting. The integration of cutting-edge geospatial data and methodologies provides new insights into the sustainable use of urban rooftops.Material and Method:To estimate the total rooftop area, the study utilizes Open Buildings V3 Polygons data with a resolution of 50 cm, which is freely accessible. Current rooftop uses and characteristics are derived from remote sensing data and analyzed using Geographic Information System (GIS) methodologies. The potential for renewable electricity generation is evaluated using Global Solar Atlas data, while rainwater harvesting potential is calculated based on precipitation data from the Pakistan Meteorological Department.Results and Discussion:The analysis reveals that the rooftops in Islamabad have the capacity to harvest approximately 778.92 million gallons of rainwater annually and generate about 16,504.29 MWh of solar energy per year. These findings indicate that rooftops could significantlycontribute to meeting the capital city's water and energy needs. Notable potential for solar energy and rainwater harvesting is observed in the sectors of I8, I9, H9, H13, I14, the Blue Area, Rawat Industrial Area, and DHA. Based on these results and public feedback, recommendations for future energy policies, urban planning, and the sustainable use of rooftop spaces are proposed. Islamabad is well-positioned to lead the way towards a more sustainable future.Concluding Remarks:Implementing the proposed systems for solar energy generation and rainwater harvesting could reduce reliance on non-renewable energy sources and mitigate urban flooding risks. This approach offers a viable solution for enhancing sustainability in urban environments and improving resource management.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Muzmmil Saleem, Asmad Hussain,Hamza Hanif, 2024. "Assessment of Rooftop Potential for Solar Energy and Rainwater Harvesting in Islamabad: A Geospatial Approach towards Sustainable Urban Development," International Journal of Innovations in Science & Technology, 50sea, vol. 6(6), pages 97-112, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:abq:ijist1:v:6:y:2024:i:6:p:97-112
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journal.50sea.com/index.php/IJIST/article/view/877/1427
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://journal.50sea.com/index.php/IJIST/article/view/877
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mahtta, Richa & Joshi, P.K. & Jindal, Alok Kumar, 2014. "Solar power potential mapping in India using remote sensing inputs and environmental parameters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 255-262.
    2. Xueting Zeng & Hua Xiang & Jia Liu & Yong Xue & Jinxin Zhu & Yuqian Xu, 2021. "Identification of Policies Based on Assessment-Optimization Model to Confront Vulnerable Resources System with Large Population Scale in a Big City," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-27, December.
    3. Chunyang He & Zhifeng Liu & Jianguo Wu & Xinhao Pan & Zihang Fang & Jingwei Li & Brett A. Bryan, 2021. "Future global urban water scarcity and potential solutions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Josiel Martins Costa, 2023. "Considerations on Electrochemical Technologies for Water Purification and Wastewater Treatment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-3, June.
    5. Kuldeep Tiwari & Rohit Goyal & Archana Sarkar, 2018. "GIS-based Methodology for Identification of Suitable Locations for Rainwater Harvesting Structures," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 32(5), pages 1811-1825, March.
    6. Xiaoyang Song & Yaohuan Huang & Chuanpeng Zhao & Yuxin Liu & Yanguo Lu & Yongguo Chang & Jie Yang, 2018. "An Approach for Estimating Solar Photovoltaic Potential Based on Rooftop Retrieval from Remote Sensing Images," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-14, November.
    7. Sun, Xingshu & Khan, Mohammad Ryyan & Deline, Chris & Alam, Muhammad Ashraful, 2018. "Optimization and performance of bifacial solar modules: A global perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 1601-1610.
    8. Gastli, Adel & Charabi, Yassine, 2010. "Solar electricity prospects in Oman using GIS-based solar radiation maps," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(2), pages 790-797, February.
    9. Mengfan Cai & Chunjiang An & Christophe Guy & Chen Lu, 2020. "Assessment of Soil and Water Conservation Practices in the Loess Hilly Region Using a Coupled Rainfall-Runoff-Erosion Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, January.
    10. Deepak Jain Veerendra Kumar & Lelia Deville & Kenneth A. Ritter & Johnathan Richard Raush & Farzad Ferdowsi & Raju Gottumukkala & Terrence Lynn Chambers, 2022. "Performance Evaluation of 1.1 MW Grid-Connected Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant in Louisiana," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-21, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ural Kafle & Timothy Anderson & Sunil Prasad Lohani, 2023. "The Potential for Rooftop Photovoltaic Systems in Nepal," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-13, January.
    2. Liu, Duan & Yu, Nizhou & Wan, Hong, 2022. "Does water rights trading affect corporate investment? The role of resource allocation and risk mitigation channels," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    3. Jin, Hui & Kong, Xiangyu & Wang, Chunjie & Zhang, Delong & Yao, Ye, 2025. "A methodology for simulation of power generation characteristics and enhancement of MPPT performance of offshore floating photovoltaic arrays," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 393(C).
    4. L. Reading & L. B. Gurieff & S. Catania, 2025. "Sustainable Groundwater Management through Collaborative Local Scale Monitoring," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 39(2), pages 725-740, January.
    5. Gastli, Adel & Charabi, Yassine, 2011. "Solar water heating initiative in Oman energy saving and carbon credits," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 1851-1856, May.
    6. Yilmaz, Osman Salih & Ateş, Ali Murat & Gülgen, Fatih, 2023. "A novel approach suggestion for assessing the impact of topographic shading on the estimation of the floating photovoltaic technical potential," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    7. Yuan, Qiuling & Meng, Fanxin & Li, Weijiao & Lin, Jianyi & Puppim de Oliveira, Jose A. & Yang, Zhifeng, 2025. "Tradeoff optimization of urban roof systems oriented to food-water-energy nexus," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 380(C).
    8. Huy Le & Kerry Key & Michael S. Steckler & Nafis Sazeed & Mark Person & Anwar Bhuiyan & Mahfuzur R. Khan & Kazi M. Ahmed, 2025. "Buried deep freshwater reserves beneath salinity-stressed coastal Bangladesh," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    9. Youssef Kassem & Hüseyin Gökçekuş & Aşkın Kiraz & Abdalla Hamada Abdelnaby Abdelnaby, 2025. "Integrating Rainwater Harvesting and Solar Energy Systems for Sustainable Water and Energy Management in Low Rainfall Agricultural Region: A Case Study from Gönyeli, Northern Cyprus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-42, September.
    10. Marcus Vinícius Coelho Vieira da Costa & Osmar Luiz Ferreira de Carvalho & Alex Gois Orlandi & Issao Hirata & Anesmar Olino de Albuquerque & Felipe Vilarinho e Silva & Renato Fontes Guimarães & Robert, 2021. "Remote Sensing for Monitoring Photovoltaic Solar Plants in Brazil Using Deep Semantic Segmentation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-15, May.
    11. Babak Zolghadr-Asli & Neil McIntyre & Slobodan Djordjevic & Raziyeh Farmani & Liliana Pagliero, 2025. "How Planning Shared Infrastructure could Support Agriculture and Desalinated Irrigation," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 39(3), pages 1215-1233, February.
    12. Mahtta, Richa & Joshi, P.K. & Jindal, Alok Kumar, 2014. "Solar power potential mapping in India using remote sensing inputs and environmental parameters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 255-262.
    13. Li, Zihao & Zhang, Wei & He, Bo & Xie, Lingzhi & Chen, Mo & Li, Jianhui & Zhao, Oufan & Wu, Xin, 2022. "A comprehensive life cycle assessment study of innovative bifacial photovoltaic applied on building," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 245(C).
    14. Chen, Qi & Li, Xinyuan & Zhang, Zhengjia & Zhou, Chao & Guo, Zhiling & Liu, Zhengguang & Zhang, Haoran, 2023. "Remote sensing of photovoltaic scenarios: Techniques, applications and future directions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    15. Yong Liu & Lihao Wang & Qianhui Ma & Xingtao Xu & Xin Gao & Haiguang Zhu & Ting Feng & Xinyue Dou & Miharu Eguchi & Yusuke Yamauchi & Xun Yuan, 2024. "Simultaneous generation of residue-free reactive oxygen species and bacteria capture for efficient electrochemical water disinfection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    16. Alessio Miatto & Nargessadat Emami & Kylie Goodwin & James West & Mohammad Sadegh Taskhiri & Thomas Wiedmann & Heinz Schandl, 2024. "Australia's circular economy metrics and indicators," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 28(2), pages 216-231, April.
    17. Juwon Lee & Giorgio Antonini & Ahmed Al-Omari & Christopher Muller & Jithin Mathew & Katherine Bell & Joshua M. Pearce & Domenico Santoro, 2024. "Electrochemical Methods for Nutrient Removal in Wastewater: A Review of Advanced Electrode Materials, Processes, and Applications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-23, November.
    18. Zhang, Xinyao & Yang, Kun & Shao, Changkun & Chen, Haochong, 2025. "A novel parameterization scheme for accurate and efficient radiation transfer modeling in large-scale PV power plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 384(C).
    19. Bilal, Hazrat & Govindan, Rajesh & Zekri, Slim & Al-Maktoumi, Ali & Rajabi, Mohammad Mahdi & Triki, Chefi, 2025. "Geospatial techniques for identifying optimal rainwater harvesting sites to enhance agricultural productivity in hyper arid areas," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 318(C).
    20. Joseph Kiesecker & Sharon Baruch-Mordo & Mike Heiner & Dhaval Negandhi & James Oakleaf & Christina Kennedy & Pareexit Chauhan, 2019. "Renewable Energy and Land Use in India: A Vision to Facilitate Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:abq:ijist1:v:6:y:2024:i:6:p:97-112. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Iqra Nazeer (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.