[QuelqueChose]

Is this the first time somebody's constructed an interactive map of every single building in the greater NYC metropolitan area? It's really the part of the article that I find most impressive.

[jannes]

Probably not. You can download the footprints of the buildings here:

https://data.cityofnewyork.us/browse?q=buildings&provenance=...

Other uses of this data:

https://nycopendata.tumblr.com/post/156085577820/one-dataset...

[pokemongoaway]

Seems like a good opportunity to sell data to those in real estate. For example, why would someone pay the same for two different apartments on the same floor when one gets direct sunlight door 30% of the day, and the other gets none!

[pavel_lishin]

For that matter, you can market both of those as advantages.

Apt A: "Save hundreds on air-conditioning in the summer - this apartment never feels the full brunt of the scorching sun!"

Apt B: "Wake up every morning to a New York sunrise - the best way to beat those winter blues."

Just gotta know what the tenant is looking for.

[rdnt02]

Almost always you want Apt B. Bright sunlight can be controlled with electronic transition glass, curtains and other methods. You can't reproduce sunlight in your apartment.

[yathern]

I find it surprising you mentioned electronic transition glass - I had thought it's not used pretty much anywhere as of yet, and prohibitively expensive.

[pavel_lishin]

The only place (I think?) I've seen it was on the Boeing Dreamliner.

[malnourish]

Didn't some Maybachs have it? Or is that a different kind of glass?