u-plan is a web platform designed for construction planners, governments, and urban developers to gather crucial environmental insights by simply entering a zipcode. The platform helps users make data-driven decisions for sustainable urban development, focusing on reducing the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, increasing vegetation cover, and selecting materials with better albedo for energy efficiency.

• UHI Index: Provides the temperature difference between urban and rural areas.
• Vegetation Cover: Displays the percentage of vegetation in the area, helping in the planning of green spaces.
• Albedo: Shows the reflectivity of surfaces, enabling the selection of materials to reduce heat absorption.
• Climate Risks: Highlights potential climate risks such as heatwaves or flood risks in the area.
• Built Environment Data: Displays the number of homes at risk and other crucial infrastructure information.

1. Enter a Zipcode: Get instant data on Urban Heat Island index, vegetation cover, albedo, and climate risks for the selected area.
2. Analyze the Data: Use the provided insights to plan urban projects, such as building energy-efficient structures or increasing green spaces.
3. Actionable Insights: Get customized recommendations for sustainable planning, improving public health, and reducing the environmental impact.

Make sure you have the following installed:

• Node.js (version 16 or higher)
• Python (version 3.11 or higher)
• Google Earth Engine API (for environmental data)
• Mapbox API (for interactive maps)
• Conda (for managing Python environments)

1. Clone the Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/u-plan.git

2. Navigate to the Project Directory:

   cd u-plan

3. Install Dependencies:

   • For the frontend:

     npm install

   • For the backend: Make sure you're in the root folder and install backend dependencies via pip or Conda:

     pip install -r requirements.txt

4. Set Up Environment Variables:

   • Create a .env file in the root directory and add the following environment variables:

     MAPBOX_API_KEY=your-mapbox-api-key
     GOOGLE_EARTH_ENGINE_CREDENTIALS=your-gee-credentials

5. Run the Application:

   • Start the frontend server:

     npm run dev

   • Start the backend server:

     python app.py

6. Access the Application: Visit http://localhost:3000 in your browser to start using u-plan.

• Next.js: Frontend framework for server-side rendering.
• Python: Backend logic and data processing.
• Google Earth Engine API: For gathering environmental data such as UHI, vegetation cover, and albedo.
• Mapbox: For interactive mapping and visualizing zipcode data.
• Conda: For managing Python environments.
• SQLite: For local database management.

We welcome contributions to improve u-plan! Here’s how you can help:

1. Fork the repository.
2. Create a new branch (git checkout -b feature-branch).
3. Make your changes.
4. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add new feature').
5. Push to the branch (git push origin feature-branch).
6. Open a Pull Request.

For major changes, please open an issue to discuss your proposed changes beforehand.

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for more details.

This README provides a comprehensive overview of the u-plan project, setup instructions, and contribution guidelines, which are essential for any open-source or collaborative project on GitHub.