Using the 3D map and drawing tools

The interactive 3D map

Tips: Operate the map by:

• left mouse button (click & hold) to move the map around,

• right mouse button (click & hold) to rotate and change the viewing angle,

• mouse wheel to zoom in/out.

The energy system UI's core is an interactive 3D map. This map visualizes any changes in the configuration in real-time and lets you perform tasks such as creating segments, adding buildings, and defining restricted areas.

It also allows you to move around transformers and grid connections, view the sun’s path in different seasons, and see the surrounding environment's related shading impact.

The map interface offers the following:

1. Left toolbar: Use the available tools to create segments, restricted areas, and line objects or buildings.

2. Right toolbar: Use to change map layers (satellite by default), adjust zoom, or turn on parallel projection or top view.

3. The date/time sliders: Allow you to view shadows cast by the tables and the surrounding environment at different times and dates.

4. The File menu with import/export features and a View menu with options to display terrain wireframe, hide time/date sliders, show sun path’s plot, or hide sun ray pointing to the reference point. The System menu provides access to the validation tool and the bill of materials.

The drawing tools

Important: A segment vertical can not be placed further than 2000 meters from the reference point.

The left toolbar offers the following drawing tools:

• Ground segments create designated shape and size areas for the PV array installation.

• Building segments help you place shading objects, such as buildings, on the map.

• The line object, restricted line, and restricted area provide tools to insert regions that should be avoided, such as swamps, fences, trees, or rock formations. The line object can also represent an object casting a shadow over the area that needs to be considered.

Note: You can find drawn segments under the Segments section of the navigation menu, and restricted areas, lines, and line objects are located within the Site secion under Constraints.

Using the drawing tools

Here are general tips on how to use the drawing tools.

Tip: Press the Esc button to cancel the drawing at any time. For Windows users, hold Shift to draw perpendicular lines and Ctrl key to draw lines in cardinal directions.

Once you are familiar with the interactive 3D map, you can start drawing your segments and restricted areas.

Transformer and grid connection move tool

The 3D map lets you move around transformers and grid connections to better reflect reality. Select the grid connection or transformer in the main menu and proceed as follows:

1. Click the move tool on the 3D map.

2. Drag and drop the device to the desired location and press enter.

Note: Your selected device will be placed at the selected location, and all related data will be recalculated.

Time and date tools.

Tip: If you do not want to see the time and date tools, you can hide it using the View menu at the top of the interactive map.

You can use the date/time tools to visualize the shading of the surrounding environment and the tables. This is very useful when you need to verify the surrounding environment, or that objects do not cast a significant shadow on the adjacent modules.

1. Move around the sliders.

2. Examine the shading at the selected time and date.

Tip: Playing around with shading can help you identify areas where too much shading can cause unwanted loss, and avoiding such regions would be more beneficial.