Solar access measurement

1. A method of determining solar radiation exposure at a predetermined location, the method comprising:

generating a first two-dimensional (2D) matrix including a plurality of elements, wherein each element of the plurality of elements of the first 2D matrix includes an elevation/azimuth pair representing a light ray extending from the predetermined location to one or more positions in the sky; and

generating a second 2D matrix including a plurality of elements, wherein each index of the second 2D matrix includes an associated elevation/azimuth pair of the first 2D matrix, wherein each element of the plurality of elements of the second 2D matrix represents an amount of solar radiation to impinge on the predetermined location from a direction of a respective elevation/azimuth pair.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a third 2D matrix including a plurality of binary elements, wherein each index of the third 2D matrix includes an associated elevation/azimuth pair of the first 2D matrix, wherein each binary element of the plurality of binary elements of the third 2D matrix represents whether or not a light ray extending from the predetermined location in the direction of a respective elevation/azimuth pair intersects with an obstruction.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein generating the third 2D matrix comprises analyzing a three-dimensional (3D) model digitally representing a real-world area including elements representing the predetermined location, the sun, and one or more obstructions.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein generating the third 2D matrix comprises analyzing an output of a virtual laser rangefinder within a 3D model digitally representing a real-world area.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising generating a fourth 2D matrix including a plurality of binary elements, wherein each index of the fourth 2D matrix includes an associated elevation/azimuth pair of the first 2D matrix, wherein each binary element of the plurality of binary elements of the fourth 2D matrix represents whether or not a sun ray will impinge on the predetermined location upon the sun being substantially in line with a vector originating at the predetermined location and extending in the direction of a respective elevation/azimuth pair.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising generating a fifth 2D matrix including a plurality of binary elements, wherein each index of the fifth 2D matrix includes an associated elevation/azimuth pair of the first 2D matrix, wherein each binary element of the plurality of binary elements of the fifth 2D matrix represents whether or not the sun will appear at a location of a respective elevation/azimuth pair from a perspective of the predetermined location at some time during a year.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein each binary element of the plurality of binary elements of the fourth 2D matrix is a logical AND of corresponding binary elements in the fifth 2D matrix and the third 2D matrix.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein generating the fifth 2D matrix comprises:

calculating a sun path for each day of a year;

determining a sun band based on the calculated sun paths, wherein the sun band is indicative of sun locations for each day of the year; and

generating the fifth 2D matrix based on the sun band.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein each index of the first 2D matrix corresponds to a row and column of an image of a virtual skyline within a 3D model digitally representing a real-world area.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of solar radiation to impinge on the predetermined location from a direction of the respective elevation/azimuth pair is represented by one of an amount of a predicted solar energy, a predicated amount of generated electrical energy, and a dollar value of the solar energy.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising utilizing the second 2D matrix for at least one of:

determining a location of at least one solar panel to improve solar production;

determining an orientation for the at least one solar panel to improve solar production; and

identifying at least one obstacle to remove to improve solar production.

12. A method of determining solar radiation exposure at a predetermined location, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of elevation/azimuth pairs, wherein each elevation/azimuth pair of the plurality of elevation/azimuth pairs represents a vector extending from the predetermined location; and

generating a two-dimensional (2D) solar access matrix including a plurality of elements, wherein each index of the solar access matrix includes an elevation/azimuth pair of the plurality of elevation/azimuth pairs, wherein each element of the plurality of elements of the 2D solar access matrix represents an amount of solar radiation to impinge on the predetermined location from a direction of an associated elevation/azimuth pair.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising generating a 2D open sky matrix including a plurality of binary elements, wherein each index of the 2D open sky matrix includes an elevation/azimuth pair of the plurality of elevation/azimuth pairs, wherein each binary element of the plurality of binary elements of the 2D open sky matrix represents whether or not a light ray extending from the predetermined location in a direction of an associated elevation/azimuth pair intersects with an obstruction.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising generating a 2D intersection matrix including a plurality of binary elements, wherein each index of the 2D intersection matrix includes an associated elevation/azimuth pair of the plurality of elevation/azimuth pairs, wherein each binary element of the plurality of binary elements of the 2D intersection matrix represents whether or not a sun ray will impinge on the predetermined location upon the sun being at a location pointed to by an associated elevation/azimuth pair from a perspective of the predetermined location.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising generating a 2D sun path matrix including a plurality of binary elements, wherein each index of the 2D sun path matrix includes an associated elevation/azimuth pair of the plurality of elevation/azimuth pairs, wherein each binary element of the plurality of binary elements of the 2D sun path matrix represents whether or not the sun will appear at a location pointed to by an associated elevation/azimuth pair from a perspective of the predetermined location at some time during a year.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein each binary element of the plurality of binary elements of the 2D intersection matrix is a logical AND of corresponding binary elements in the 2D sun path matrix and the 2D open sky matrix.

17. A method of determining solar radiation exposure at a predetermined location, the method comprising generating a two-dimensional (2D) open sky matrix including a plurality of binary elements, wherein each index of the 2D open sky matrix includes an elevation/azimuth pair of a plurality of elevation/azimuth pairs, wherein each binary element of the plurality of binary elements of the 2D open sky matrix represents whether or not a light ray extending from the predetermined location in a direction of a respective elevation/azimuth pair of the plurality of elevation/azimuth pairs is obstructed by an obstruction.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein each elevation/azimuth of the plurality of elevation/azimuth pairs represents a direction to a location of the sun from a perspective of the predetermined location.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising generating a 2D solar access matrix including a plurality of elements, wherein each index of the 2D solar access matrix includes an elevation/azimuth pair of the plurality of elevation/azimuth pairs, wherein each element of the plurality of elements of the 2D solar access matrix represents an amount of solar radiation to impinge on the predetermined location upon the sun being at a location pointed to by a respective elevation/azimuth pair from a perspective of the predetermined location.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein generating the 2D open sky matrix comprises analyzing an output of a virtual laser rangefinder within a three-dimensional (3D) model digitally representing a real-world area.