Shadow maps provide information about which of the following?

• A. It identifies flood-prone areas.
• B. It tracks air pollution levels.
• C. It plans bus routes.
• D. It shows the duration of shade across streets formed by buildings.

Answer: (D)

Shadow maps focus on where light is blocked by objects and how long those shadows persist given the sun’s path. In cities, tall buildings cast shadows on adjacent streets, and a shadow map can show which streets are shaded and for how long at different times of day or year. This makes it especially useful for understanding daylight access, comfort, and solar planning in urban design. Among the listed possibilities, the information about the duration of shade across streets formed by buildings is the one shadow maps provide most directly.

The other options fall outside this purpose: flood-prone areas involve hydrology and terrain, air pollution levels depend on emissions and weather, and bus routes relate to transportation networks.