Applied Research Center Florida International University

GIS Mapping of Florida’s

Biomass ResourcesAngelique Lawrence

Outline

Introduction – The Applied Research Center (ARC)

Project Background – Florida Biomass Resources for H2

Production (NASA KSC)

Florida Biomass Resources for Local Energy Production

Available Data – GIS Map Display

Florida Biomass Resources Website Demonstration

Potential for Analysis & Future Development

The Applied Research Center (ARC) – Florida International University Applied research and technology development center Multidisciplinary, industry-experienced team of scientists and engineers Focused on solving real-world problems through multi-disciplinary research collaborations within

the University's applied and basic research units as well as applied researchers and academia of other universities, the government, private sector and industry partners.

Develops next-generation, integrated solutions to environmental, energy, and information challenges to federal, state and local governments, as well as the private sector and industry.

5 Core Areas of Research Environment

Innovative solutions in the remediation and restoration of contaminated sites. Waste Management

Strong track record in risk assessment and waste characterization, transport, treatment, and disposal. Energy

Comprehensive expertise in biomass conversion to energy, fuels and chemicals, hydrogen production, and fuel cell development.

Defense Applied experience in sensors, remote monitoring, imaging, and detection.

Water Unique capabilities in treatment, remediation, bioremediation, contaminant characterization, desalination and

restoration.

GIS Assessment of Florida’s Biomass Resources for Hydrogen Production for

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center

Client: National Aeronautic & Space Administration (NASA)

FACT: Each Shuttle launch requires roughly 1/2 million gallons of liquid hydrogen.

On an average, this represents 41 tanker trucks of liquid hydrogen transported over 600 miles from New Orleans to Kennedy Space Center. High Transportation Costs Risk of Road Accidents Terrorist Threat Boil-off Losses

Objectives Utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to

classify bioregions within Florida that can serve as biomass resources Municipal Solid Waste

Landfills, class I and III, 40-50% moisture, estimated 22 million tons, Primarily stalks and leaves, corn stover, wheat husk, rice straw, etc.

Forest Residues Total of 17 million acres comprising of tree branches, trunks tops, stumps, branches, and

leaves Agricultural Residues and Energy Crops

3.8 million acres in Florida Switch grass, miscanthus, bamboo, sweet sorghum, tall fescue, kochia, wheatgrass

Industrial Waste More than a million tons/year citrus peels Sugarcane bagasse, milling residues

Determine best processing facility locations and the most suitable transportation routes

Geographic Information System (GIS) Standard methodology for displaying geographic data

Provides graphic tool used for storage, retrieval, mapping and analysis of geographic data

Decision support system integrating spatial data with problem solving capabilities

Digitized spatial data simplifies data retrieval, manipulation and analysis

Integrates spatial (location) and attribute/descriptive (information)

Advantages

Provides new and exciting ways to manipulate and display geographic knowledge

Facilitates connections between activities based on geographic proximity

Integration of map displays, databases, query tools (both spatial and attribute), spatial and attribute analyses, map products and reporting in a single framework

Estimated standard deviation of biomass from all sources is in the range of 25%

Hydrogen content in the biomass ranges from 4-6%

Total amount of available biomass from all sources approaches 70,000 kilo tons /year

Ratio of Available Tons of Biomass/Distance rapidly decreases for distances greater than 150 miles

Analysis Results

Best Potential Bioregions in Florida

Possible configuration: 6 Biomass Drying/Gasification plants Each Plant collects biomass within 75 miles F3 is expected to have higher efficiency with highest ratio of Available Biomass/Distance

F1 F2F3

C1

L1

L2

Forest Residues (F)

Landfills (L)

Citrus Peels ©

Dominant Biomass Types

Available Biomass [KT/year] Biomas[KT]/Distance[mi]F3 19446 259L2 6660 89F1 18420 246F2 16194 216L1 6337 84C1 1460 19

GIS Assessment of Florida’s Biomass Resources for Local Energy Production

Objectives To utilize GIS technology to create a portfolio of biomass

resource maps and identify installed and potential biomass energy production capacity

To develop a website to provide open access to informationrelated to available biomass resources in the State of Florida for potential energy production.

To provide a means by which the potential of various biomass resources can be assessed by region and available technologies in order to generate a list of priority areas within which to focus future development.

To increase biomass awareness and knowledge among the general public and the emerging Florida Biomass Network participants who will be assisting the Florida Energy Office with strategic planning.

Available Data – GIS Maps

The Florida Biomass Resources Website

http://hcetgis.hcet.fiu.edu/website/FL_Biomass

About, Disclaimer, Metadata, Help

Hyperlinks

Zoom In, Select Features, Retrieve

RecordsMapping Tools

Buffer AnalysisMapping Tools

Measuring Distances

Mapping Tools

Querying DataMapping Tools

Printing MapsMapping Tools

Potential for Analysis & Future DevelopmentPotential for Analysis

All GIS data created using National Spatial Data Standards Compatible with any GIS system for data transfer or sharing

Analysis capability: Determination of Best Potential Bioregions in Florida - greatest amount of a specific resource or overall total

biomass Determination of counties which may benefit the most from this technology based on population size, available

resources and existing processing technologies/facilities/infrastructure Technology and methodology can extended and applied in other States as utilizing standard data formats and many

existing public databases

Future Development: Things to Consider

Can be further developed to increase querying capability and data manipulation on client side depending on needs

GIS Transportation/Route analysis component (Network Analyst Extension) to find shortest/fastest/most economical route for biomass resource transfer (FDOT good data resource)

Issues: Update & Maintenance: Determined by data update frequency of governing agency (Census, road networks, new or

shut-down facilities) Costs: Servers/computers, Software, Data, Salaries Improved of accuracy of facility location data: Telephone surveys, Ground surveys (GPS)

Contact Information

Angelique LawrenceEnvironmental Scientist/Lead GIS Analyst

Phone: (305) 348-2590E-mail: Angelique.Lawrence@arc.fiu.edu