A geographic information system-based large scale visibility assessment tool for multi-criteria photovoltaic planning on urban building roofs

Zhou, Y.; Wilmink, D.; Zeman, M.; Isabella, O.; Ziar, H.

doi:10.1016/j.rser.2023.113885

A geographic information system-based large scale visibility assessment tool for multi-criteria photovoltaic planning on urban building roofs

Title

A geographic information system-based large scale visibility assessment tool for multi-criteria photovoltaic planning on urban building roofs

Author

Zhou, Y. (TU Delft Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)
Wilmink, D. (Student TU Delft)
Zeman, M. (TU Delft Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)
Isabella, O. (TU Delft Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)
Ziar, H. (TU Delft Photovoltaic Materials and Devices)

Date

2023

Abstract

Integration of photovoltaics (PV) into the urban environment will play a major role in the energy transition. However, installing PV systems on building roofs can be challenging, particularly for monumental buildings with strict architectural and social value restrictions. Assessing roof surface visibility is, therefore, key to finding as much permitted roof surface area as possible that may be used for PV installation. In this study, a GIS-based large-scale visibility assessment tool is developed that can assist in evaluating roof visibility, using LiDAR, road networks, and cadastral data as inputs. The tool delivers multi-level outputs, including maps of roof binary visibility, roof visual amplitude, roof PV system layout, roof PV system AC yield, and roof PV module visibility. After optimization, an average speed of 0.12 s/m² is achieved. For each roof surface, an additional sensitivity analysis has been conducted. This step determines the optimal values for two visibility analysis parameters: assessment range and observer spacing, balancing the computational demand and result accuracy. Application of this workflow to the monumental buildings on the TU Delft campus revealed that approximately 2.68 GWh/year of electricity could be harvested from imperceptible PV modules, while an additional 0.42 GWh/year of energy is attributed to PV modules with medium visibility, and 0.37 GWh/year of energy is associated with PV modules with high visibility. This modeling workflow supports the multi-criteria decision-making process for urban roof PV planning.

Subject

GIS spatial analysis
Multi-criteria decision making
Rooftop PV
Urban planning
Visual impact

To reference this document use:

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:4a25e88a-d481-42d2-82e2-8799c06b5361

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113885

ISSN

1364-0321

Source

Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 188

Part of collection

Institutional Repository