Why LiDAR Matters for Solar

Solar panel efficiency depends heavily on terrain characteristics. LiDAR captures terrain data at centimeter-level accuracy across entire project areas in a single flight, penetrating vegetation to reveal true ground surface.

Key Deliverables for Solar Assessment

Digital Terrain Model (DTM)

The DTM reveals:
• Natural drainage patterns — identify where water will flow and pool
• Elevation changes — calculate cut/fill volumes for grading
• Foundation requirements — spot areas needing special treatment

Lidarvisor generates DTM rasters at your chosen resolution, typically 0.5m to 1m for utility-scale solar.

Slope Maps

Slope analysis is critical for solar sites:

0-5° slopes — Ideal for fixed-tilt ground-mount systems
5-10° slopes — Suitable with single-axis trackers
10-15° slopes — May require grading or special racking
>15° slopes — Generally excluded from development

Lidarvisor - Slope Map

Additional Products

Contour Lines

DXF-format contours for grading design in Civil 3D or AutoCAD.

Hillshade Visualization

Terrain shading reveals subtle features like old drainage patterns and potential obstacles.

Vegetation Classification

Identify clearing requirements before site preparation begins.

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