GIS-based estimation of rooftop solar photovoltaic potential using LiDAR

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology now become a new trend for the home builders and buyers of the twentieth century, in order to have not only good in structure, but also more environmentally friendly. Understanding the rooftop PV potential is important for planning, accommodate grid capacity, and many more, this paper demonstrate the technique utilizing the LiDAR data merge with the Geographical Information System to determine the suitable location to locate the PV solar panels. There are five criteria that had been used to select the best location which is generate the ground mask, aspect mask, slope mask, human mask and high radiation layer. Based on the output of the suitable location, the estimating number of solar panel can be generate based on the calculation of one-and half square area meter was used as a required area for each solar panel. This new understanding of roof area distribution and potential PV outputs will guide energy policy formulation in Georgetown area and will inform future research in solar PV deployment and its geographical potential.