Methods and systems for determining a distribution of balloons based on population densities

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored therein instructions, that when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:

• dividing a region into a plurality of horizontal bands of latitudes;
• receiving information indicative of a population density for one or more areas of the region;
• associating the population density for a given area with a corresponding horizontal band of latitude in which the given area resides;
• based on the population density associated with each horizontal band of latitude, determining a distribution of a plurality of balloons per horizontal band of latitude;
• determining one or more altitudes for the distribution of the plurality of balloons to travel, per horizontal band of latitude, to remain in a trajectory substantially within a respective horizontal band of latitude;
• and
• based on the determined one or more altitudes, providing instructions to control the distribution of the plurality of balloons per horizontal band of latitude, wherein the instructions cause at least one balloon of the plurality of balloons to remain in the trajectory substantially within the respective horizontal band of latitude.

A system, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• data storage comprising program instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to perform functions comprising:
• receiving information indicative of a region divided into a plurality of horizontal bands of latitudes and indicative of a population density for one or more areas of the region;
• associating the population density for a given area with a corresponding horizontal band of latitude in which the given area resides;
• based on the population density associated with each horizontal band of latitude, determining a distribution of a plurality of balloons per horizontal band of latitude;
• determining one or more altitudes for the distribution of the plurality of balloons to travel, per horizontal band of latitude, to remain in a trajectory substantially within a respective horizontal band of latitude;
• and
• based on the determined one or more altitudes, providing instructions to control the distribution of the plurality of balloons per horizontal band of latitude, wherein the instructions cause at least one balloon of the plurality of balloons to remain in the trajectory substantially within the respective horizontal band of latitude.