Abstract
This study presents a method to estimate the solar energy potential based on 3D data taken from unmanned aerial devices. The solar energy potential on the roof of a building was estimated before the placement of solar panels using photogrammetric data analyzed in a geographic information system, and the predictions were compared with the data recorded after installation. The areas of the roofs were chosen using digital surface models and the hemispherical viewshed algorithm, considering how the solar radiation on the roof surface would be affected by the orientation of the surface with respect to the sun, the shade of trees, surrounding objects, topography, and the atmospheric conditions. The results show that the efficiency percentages of the panels and the data modeled by the proposed method from surface models are very similar to the theoretical efficiency of the panels. Radiation potential can be estimated from photogrammetric data and a 3D model in great detail and at low cost. This method allows the estimation of solar potential as well as the optimization of the location and orientation of solar panels.
Highlights
Around the world, renewable energies are promoted, especially solar energy, in the drive to achieve smart cities and environmentally sustainable cities
We present the unmanned aerial vehicles–digital surface model (UAV-digital surface models (DSMs)) method based on the calculation of the hemispheric basin to estimate the surface model (UAV-DSM) method based on the calculation of the hemispheric basin to estimate the solar energy potential in different areas, such as the roofs of buildings, through analysis of geographic information information system system (GIS) data in solar energy potential in different areas, such as the roofs of buildings, through analysis of GIS data conjunction with high-resolution surface data resulting from the processing of images taken by an in conjunction with high-resolution surface data resulting from the processing of images taken by an
Photogrammetry is a 3D reconstruction technique based on stereoscopic images that is used to Photogrammetry is a 3D reconstruction technique based on stereoscopic images that is used to capture topographic information of the Earth’s surface from platforms such as airplanes, satellites, capture topographic information of the Earth’s surface from platforms such as airplanes, satellites, and UAVs
Summary
Renewable energies are promoted, especially solar energy, in the drive to achieve smart cities and environmentally sustainable cities. Photovoltaic energy can be actively applied for electricity generation in a distributed generation style; it can be applied passively by taking into account architectural designs and civil works where the building includes photovoltaic systems on its roofs and facades. In Colombia, the available sources on solar resource information indicate that the country has an average irradiation of 4.5 (kWh/m2 /d) [1], which exceeds the global average of. Electronics 2020, 9, x FOR PEER REVIEW of Hydrology, Meteorology, and Environmental Studies These maps show the wide geographic distribution of the solar radiation. These maps show the wide geographic distribution of the solar resource available in the country (Figure 1).
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