The quality of a shading survey affects the calculation of shading losses and estimated PV production. Check the measurement conditions, calibration and captured points before using the horizon profile in your study.
A recurring question is whether measurements made with a smartphone are reliable enough to be used in a PV assessment.
The answer depends on sensor quality, measurement conditions and the mechanisms used to check and correct captured data.
Calibration and point checks help you verify the horizon profile used in the shading-loss and production calculations.
A horizon profile survey measures the obstacles visible from a given location in order to assess their impact on available solar exposure.
Obstacles may include:
The result usually takes the form of a horizon profile describing the site's solar environment.
This data can then be used to assess shading losses and refine photovoltaic production estimates.
Two angles describe the direction of an obstacle: its azimuth and elevation.
Azimuth is the horizontal direction of the obstacle relative to north. Elevation is the angle above the horizon.
To determine these values, a smartphone uses several built-in sensors:
The software then combines this information to determine the position of the observed obstacle.
Like any measurement system, built-in smartphone sensors have limits.
Measurement quality may be affected by:
These limits are not specific to photovoltaic applications. They apply to all apps that use phone orientation and spatial position.
Calibration helps check and improve the consistency of information provided by the sensors.
A poorly calibrated device can produce less consistent measurements, especially for orientation. Calibration procedures are therefore an important step before or during a field survey.
Regular checks help reduce certain errors and improve the overall quality of collected data.
Azimutis does not rely only on raw sensor data.
The app includes several mechanisms designed to improve the quality of field surveys:
These mechanisms are designed to limit certain errors that may appear during measurement. They help produce more consistent, more usable surveys for a PV assessment.
A field survey should not be treated as fixed data.
In Azimutis, captured points can be checked and adjusted directly after capture.
This makes it possible to:
The user keeps full control over the generated horizon profile.
Use the sun-alignment calibration to check orientation and pay attention to magnetic-interference warnings. Review the captured points and correct them where necessary.
If you use height simulation, you can assess shading at roof height from a ground-level survey without climbing onto the roof. Check the survey and simulation inputs before interpreting the results.
Use the checked profile to calculate shading losses and hourly PV production. In the same study, plan the module layout, analyse self-consumption and compare financial returns with or without battery storage.
Work on the same project in the mobile app and the Azimutis web portal, with your data kept in sync. Share the results in a PDF report or use hourly data and horizon profile exports.
Reliability depends on the sensors, measurement conditions and survey checks. Azimutis provides calibration, verification and point-correction tools to help you check the profile used in the calculations.
A smartphone generally combines a magnetometer, accelerometer, gyroscope and orientation sensors to estimate the azimuth and elevation of the observed obstacle.
Measurements can be affected by magnetic interference, metal objects, electrical installations, device sensor quality and insufficient calibration.
Azimutis includes calibration tools, consistency checks, correction processing, visual checks and the option to adjust captured points before export.
