Project Description
The Milwaukee Urban Observatory is an interdisciplinary collaboration involving members of the UWM departments of Physics, Geography, and Architecture and Urban Planning, as part of the Multi-city Urban Observatory Network (MUON) with additional locations in New York City, Wilmington, DE, and Berkeley, CA. MUON applies imaging and analysis techniques developed for astronomy to urban sources, focusing on nighttime lighting and on detection of pollution plumes from buildings; applications include energy efficiency and usage, public health and the environment. The Milwaukee Urban Observatory is currently in a pilot phase, having acquired a camera, pan-tilt mount system, and Raspberry Pi computer for camera control. We are currently focused on preliminary image analysis and on automating camera control in order to take time series of nighttime and daytime images. During the second phase of the pilot project we will further develop techniques to analyze these images, beginning with the automated detection of pollution plumes using difference images and the study of the time variability of nighttime light sources. These methods will be based on the ongoing work at the NYC Urban Observatory, and will later be expanded to more extensive camera systems and larger data sets as the Milwaukee Urban Observatory acquires them.
Tasks and Responsibilites
Work with a Raspberry Pi computer to control the camera and automate the taking of multiple images, and use the Raspberry Pi to operate the pan and tilt camera mount. Work on data analysis techniques, using source-finding and measuring algorithms to study light sources and difference imaging to identify changing sources such as pollution plumes.
Desired Qualifications
None Listed.