Tola Shakira Oniyangidesign · engineering · research
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04design engineering research · Google Earth · 2023–24

Solar assessment

Estimate a site’s solar potential in minutes. Every estimate starts from a panel layout that fits the real roof or parking lot.

Role
Computational design; lead from realistic panel layouts through the Solar API
Product
Solar studies
Timeline
2023–24, live
Links
Launch post (external link)
How-to docs (external link)
Roof plan: panels fill both roof planes, darker on the sunnier side, keeping clear of the fire-code setback and HVAC units
Fig. 1Fire-code setback and HVAC clearance.

01Context

Planners and developers want to know whether solar makes sense on a site before they hire anyone. Delve, and then Google Earth, had no way to answer that.

A useful estimate has to come from a layout that could actually be built, on a real roof or parking lot, or the numbers mean nothing.

02Approach

Solar went from nothing to two generations of the product:

  • The first version. Designed and implemented the first solar studies: placement logic for rooftops and parking lots that keeps panels clear of HVAC units and fire-code setbacks, design logic for solar canopies, and collaboration on the production code for carports.
  • The Solar API. Designed and led the integration of Google’s Solar API, the first in Google Earth, for residential and small commercial roofs up to 500 m². It cut the runtime of complex solar analyses by 32%.
  • Realistic output. Panel types switch between residential and commercial by building size, so estimates hold up for any project.
Fig. 2Before and after the Solar API integration, on two sites.

03Outcome

7.9 GWof potential solar generation identified in the first year
17.1 Mtof potential carbon mitigation in the first year

Solar studies are live in Google Earth for rooftops and parking lots, with three carport options and expected output, savings and payback for each design.

Fig. 3Starting a solar study alongside Earth’s other site studies.
Carport solar design with financials in Google Earth
Fig. 4A carport design with output, savings and payback.

Say hello.

Working on something for the built environment? I’d love to hear about it.

LinkedIn Resume (PDF)
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