Abstract
 Satellite Imagery: A Crucial Resource in Municipal Stormwater Billing Track: Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater Author(s): Carl Stearns, Sean McKnight, Edward Cherry II In 1994, the City of Durham, North Carolina began assessing a stormwater utility fee based on the amount of impervious area on individual parcels. The amount of impervious surface on a property is the foremost factor affecting the peak rate and pollutant loadings of stormwater runoff from developed property. Traditionally, impervious surface GIS data has been maintained by direct digitization using aerial photography, importation of CAD files, and permit drawings. In 2005 and 2006 the Stormwater Services Division obtained QuickBird satellite imagery and associated impervious area extraction for the city. This imagery has been invaluable in the maintenance of the GIS impervious area database and the accuracy of the billing database. Evaluation of the program is presented, including impervious area extraction methodology, accuracy of the impervious area extraction, comparison to the billing database and subsequent revenue generated, and a general discussion of ancillary uses of the QuickBird satellite imagery. Carl Stearns City of Durham, North Carolina Public Works 101 City Hall Plaza Durham , NC 27701 US Phone: 919-560-4326 Fax: 919-560-4316 E-mail: carl.stearns@durhamnc.gov Sean McKnight City of Durham Public Works 101 City Hall Plaza Durham , NC 27701 US Phone: 919-560-4326 Fax: 919-560-4316 E-mail: sean.mcknight@durhamnc.gov Edward Cherry II City of Durham, NC Public Works 101 City Hall Plaza Durham , NC 27705 US Phone: 919-560-4326 E-mail: edward.cherry@durhamnc.gov |
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