Annual Solar Exposure Heatmap

Overview of the Solar Exposure Heatmap

The Solar Exposure Heatmap visualizes the relative annual solar irradiance received on each roof or surface of the 3D model. It is derived from month-hourly plane-of-array (POA) irradiance calculations, projected onto the actual inclined plane of each surface based on its tilt, azimuth, and elevation.

The model accounts for direct beam, diffuse sky, and ground-reflected irradiance components using local meteorological data. Each surface’s shading losses are estimated by tracing the 3D geometry of surrounding structures and terrain to determine periods of partial or full obstruction throughout the year.

The resulting irradiance is then normalized so that the brightest (best-performing) surface appears at full scale (100%), and other surfaces are displayed in proportion to their relative exposure. This makes it easy to identify which planes of a building offer the best yield potential.

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The heatmap layer provides a rapid visual summary for:

• Comparing annual exposure between roof sections.
• Identifying shading impacts or obstructions.
• Guiding surface selection and array placement before detailed module layout or hourly simulation.

What the heatmap accounts for

• Obstructions & surroundings: trees, nearby buildings, parapets, vents, and terrain—using their position and height to cast time-varying shade.
• Roof geometry: each surface’s tilt, azimuth, and elevation (multi-level roofs, carports, pergolas).
• Facet boundaries: shading and irradiance are computed per surface (not merged), so edges and shared boundaries are handled correctly.

Resolution & updates

• Computed at 0.5 m grid resolution across each surface.
• Editing surface shapes, pitches/azimuths, or obstructions will update the heatmap to reflect the revised geometry.

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It complements the detailed shade analysis by providing a lightweight, continuous view of surface irradiance distribution. Toggle it using the icon (“Annual Solar Exposure Heatmap”) on the lower right section of your screen on the Map Design page. The heatmap layer refreshes automatically when changes are made to the roof geometry or shading objects. Please note that it needs to be reapplied after any surface or obstruction edits.