Virtual Site Visit

A Virtual Site Visit is a digital, remote assessment of a property used to evaluate its suitability for a solar installation without requiring a physical on-site visit. Solar designers, EPCs, sales teams, and installers rely on virtual site visits to collect roof, shading, structural, electrical, and layout data using satellite imagery, LiDAR, high-resolution maps, customer photos, and digital measurement tools.

In modern solar designing workflows—especially in fast-moving residential and commercial sales cycles—virtual site visits significantly reduce project friction. They accelerate proposal creation, lower soft costs, and enable teams to complete system designs before dispatching field crews.

By combining Shadow Analysis, Solar Layout Optimization, Stringing & Electrical Design, and automated design workflows, virtual site visits now replace 70–90% of traditional in-person surveys.

Key Takeaways

Virtual Site Visits eliminate most physical site surveys
They accelerate design, sales, and proposal workflows
LiDAR and satellite data enable high-accuracy modeling
Shading, roof geometry, and electrical details can be captured remotely
Soft costs drop while project speed increases
Ideal for residential, commercial, and early-stage utility projects

What It Is

A Virtual Site Visit is the remote equivalent of a physical site survey, performed using digital data sources such as:

Satellite imagery and aerial mapping
3D roof and terrain modeling
LiDAR elevation data
Customer-uploaded photos and videos
Solar engineering calculators
Digital measurement tools (pitch, distance, obstruction height)

Instead of scheduling an on-site technician, solar teams capture critical design inputs digitally, including:

Roof geometry, orientation, and pitch
Shading conditions throughout the year
Usable array area and code setbacks
Obstructions and safety hazards
Electrical service panel capacity
Mounting structure constraints
Ideal inverter and battery placement

These datasets integrate directly into Solar Designing, Shadow Analysis, and Solar Proposals—allowing teams to move from lead to design to proposal in minutes.

How It Works

A Virtual Site Visit typically follows a structured digital workflow.

1. Remote Data Collection

Teams collect property data using:

Satellite and LiDAR imagery
Customer-submitted roof, attic, and electrical panel photos
Sun-path and horizon modeling
Roof geometry detection
Utility bill uploads

Tools like the Roof Pitch Calculator, Sun Angle Calculator, and Solar Panel Sizer streamline this phase.

2. Roof Modeling & Array Planning

Designers digitally model the roof, identifying:

Ridge lines, hips, valleys
Obstructions (vents, skylights, chimneys)
Fire setbacks and AHJ compliance constraints
Module placement and spacing

This stage relies heavily on Solar Layout Optimization and Array Boundary Tool logic to define usable installation zones.

3. Shading & Energy Modeling

Teams simulate shading using:

Azimuth and tilt angles
Seasonal sun paths
Nearby trees and structures
Horizon obstruction profiles

Professional Shadow Analysis generates hourly and annual irradiance data, improving production estimates and performance ratio accuracy.

4. Electrical and BOS Review

Designers remotely evaluate:

Service panel capacity and breaker limits
Conduit paths and routing
Inverter and battery placement
AC/DC system sizing

Validation is performed using tools such as the Voltage Drop Calculator, AC Size Calculator, and Battery Size Calculator, while preparing the Bill of Materials (BOM).

5. Proposal Creation

Once all remote inputs are validated, the design flows directly into Solar Proposals.

System size, energy production, financial assumptions, and ROI projections—often modeled using the Solar ROI Calculator and Generation Financial Tool—are finalized without an on-site visit.

Types / Variants

1. Full Virtual Site Visit (Design-Ready)

A comprehensive assessment covering:

Roof and terrain modeling
Shading simulations
Electrical and BOS review
Array layout optimization

Commonly used by design teams, EPCs, and permitting workflows.

2. Sales-Ready Virtual Site Visit

A rapid version focused on speed:

Approximate roof pitch and orientation
Basic shading analysis
Surface area estimation
Preliminary system sizing

Ideal for sales teams using Solar Proposal Sales workflows to close deals faster.

3. Hybrid Virtual + Physical Site Visit

Used for complex rooftops, commercial buildings, or utility-scale projects.

Most analysis is completed virtually, with a limited on-site visit reserved for structural or electrical verification.

Practical Guidance

For Solar Designers

Always validate LiDAR assumptions with Shadow Analysis results.
Confirm tilt and azimuth using the Roof Pitch Calculator.
Document assumptions for downstream AHJ compliance and permitting.

For Installers

Review electrical panel photos carefully before mobilization.
Use virtual data to pre-plan conduit routing and inverter placement.

For Sales Teams

Virtual site visits enable same-call proposals.
Combine with Solar Proposal Sales workflows for faster conversions.

For EPCs & Developers

Use hybrid visits for complex projects.
Integrate data into Solar Project Planning & Analysis to accelerate feasibility studies.

Real-World Examples

Residential Rooftop

A homeowner uploads roof and panel photos.

Designers perform LiDAR-based modeling, Shadow Analysis, and pitch verification, producing a full design and proposal via Solar Proposals in under 15 minutes.

Commercial Warehouse

Satellite elevation data is used to assess a 30,000 sq ft roof.

Shading and system sizing are validated using the Solar Panel Sizer and AC Size Calculator, avoiding an early site visit.

Utility-Scale Ground Mount

Developers analyze terrain, sun paths, and spacing digitally.

Virtual analysis informs layout decisions before field surveys—saving weeks in early-stage planning.