SWAN
An open-source 3D shadow analysis tool for cities
Ziya Usta (TU Delft - Urban Data Science)
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Abstract
SWAN (S hado W AN alysis for Cities) is an open-source, platform-independent Python tool designed for high-fidelity 3D shadow analysis using CityJSON-format 3D city models. Unlike proprietary or limited tools, SWAN performs tessellation of building surfaces and applies ray-tracing via Open3D to compute shadow durations with fine spatial and temporal granularity. The software integrates results into PostGIS, enabling advanced spatial queries for urban planning, solar energy optimization, and microclimate studies. With modular architecture, reproducibility, and MIT licensing, SWAN provides a reusable and extensible solution for researchers, planners, and architects, advancing urban sustainability and supporting data-driven decisions in smart city applications.
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