In submitting a project for DA approval and often subsequent appeal in the Land & Environment Court, it is essential to accurately calculate and document the mid winter and in some cases equinox shadows cast by both existing and proposed buildings.

To provide accurate diagrams of the shadows cast by your project and to allow for possible subsequent design changes, we computer model your building, adjoining buildings and the site ground surface (terrain modelling). We also set the north point to true north (or MGA) from the survey drawing which is usually already part of your project.

Trees and other site features including fences can also be modelled to determine any overshadowing.

We then generate orthographic plan views or 3D views (of  wall faces etc) showing the shadows cast at any time of the day and for any season.

SOLAR ACCESS MODELLING & PRIVACY ISSUES

Planning guidelines (eg Development Control Plans) require careful attention to the maintenance of winter sun penetrating existing windows and falling on private open space both proposed and existing (such as neighbour's outdoor areas).

As an additional service we can add detailed modelling of the windows on your project and the neighbour's to determine the sun penetration (or lack of) into the buildings at any time of the day. Please note that for existing buildings accurate certified survey data is required including position, sill height and head height of windows.

This approach can also be used to model and check the effectiveness of sun screens and hoods and provides information for adjustment of the design to maximise solar performance.

Detailed modelling of windows can also be used to resolve privacy or overlooking issues by checking the views from within rooms in your project. 

Sun penetration of individual rooms or units in a development such as the scheme illustrated above can be scheduled. Click here for a PDF file example