Site Surveys

The Site tab for a project is meant to contain information about an existing project site. All information on the Site tab is optional.  However, with a set of detailed site data, your project's system and scope of work can be defined in more detail, and with greater accuracy.

The site auditor can upload photos of load centers, rooftops, potential equipment locations, and conduit routes to SolarNexus as part of the site survey data collection. The project serves as the virtual "manila folder" where everyone can access the photos and site survey information.

Use SolarNexus for the in-field Site Survey

Recommendation: use a mini tablet (e.g. iPad mini)

Using iPad:

1. Login, open desired project's workspace, open Site tab
2. Open desired site element (roof area, electric panel, equipment location, conduit route).
3. Add new element. Complete as much data as your company feels is important. Save.
4. Add photos to element (does not support video). In array areas, there is an icon. In other elements there is an Add Photos link.

If you only need to take one photo:

1. 1. Click the Drop photos or click to select them link. (You can use drag/drop of files if you're on a computer)
   2. iPad will prompt you to either Take Photo or use Photo Library. Select Take Photo.
   3. You'll be put into camera. Snap photo and use/retake.
   4. Click the Upload/Done button. Click the Upload/Done button. Thumbnails of your photos will appear next to the element.

If you want to take several photos, we recommend first taking your pictures, and then doing bulk uploads from photo library:

1. Take photos of desired element.
2. Click Add Photos link for that element.
3. Click the Drop photos or click to select them link.
4. Select the Photo Library option.
5. Select photos you want to upload for that element.
6. Click the Upload/Done button. Thumbnails of your photos will appear next to the element.

NOTE: For sites without internet access, SolarNexus provides a detailed site survey data form that can be printed out and taken to the site. The user can record the data in the paper form, then transfer that data into the application on returning to the office.

Array Areas and Solar Access Data (Shading)

Array areas are places on a project site where an array may be installed. An array area is either a sloped roof face, a flat roof face, or a ground area. Sloped roof faces have an azimuth and slope defined for them. If the on site measured data is different from the azimuth and slope assumed during initial design, the user may input the measured on site values for each array area.

If you use the Solmetric SunEye to measure solar access, you can import the Solmetric AverageSolarAccess.csv file for each array area instead of manually typing in the 12 months of solar access values. This file is an average of all the skyline's for a single session. Each Solmetric "session" corresponds to an array area.

Once input, the values measured on site can be used in a revision to the solution, causing updates to PV production estimates, and potential changes to design.