An on-site horizon profile survey is the field workflow used to capture a shading profile around a PV site. It records obstacles by azimuth and elevation, reads them against the sun path diagram, and gives teams a reliable base for solar access, shading impact and preliminary PV assessment.
Use this mode as soon as shading uncertainty can impact the project.
The goal is to move from assumptions to measured, documented shading constraints.
Different teams use different terms for the same field need: understanding which obstacles reduce solar access for the PV array.
Common terms include:
Azimutis turns the site observation into usable data: azimuth, obstacle elevation, horizon profile curve, masked area visualization and a traceable base for the next PV planning steps.
PV shading can come from close obstacles or from the distant horizon. Both should be described clearly because they do not always affect the project in the same way.
Near shading
Near shading comes from obstacles close to the array: chimneys, parapets, trees, adjacent buildings, roof equipment or other objects near the installation area.
Far shading
Far shading, also called horizon shading, comes from distant terrain, hills, tree lines, skylines or remote buildings that block the sun at specific times of day or year.
Not every site needs a full horizon profile capture.
In these cases, the No Shading mode can be used for faster site qualification.
This is not only about spotting obstacles, but about quantifying impact in the on-site PV assessment.
This keeps continuity between what was measured on site with Azimutis and what is used later in the project workflow.
During site surveys, horizon profile capture helps teams validate doubts quickly, compare options, and document constraints from day one.
It identifies obstacles that reduce solar access and estimates their impact on photovoltaic production assumptions.
A horizon profile or shading profile describes obstacle height by azimuth. A sun path diagram shows the sun trajectory; combining both helps visualize when obstacles block the sun.
Near shading comes from obstacles close to the PV array, such as chimneys, parapets, trees, nearby buildings or roof equipment.
Far shading comes from distant terrain, skyline, hills, tree lines or buildings that affect solar access through the horizon profile.
A survey is useful when obstacles or the horizon may affect solar exposure and when visual estimation is not enough to support the PV assessment.
No. Clear, open sites can be handled first with No Shading mode.
