Optimizing Your Site Survey Process With EagleView Powered Models in the Aurora Platform
Site surveys are an essential part of any solar project. For solar contractors, the site survey process directly impacts how effectively a project is planned, how smoothly it is installed, and, how productive the energy system will be over its projected life span.
However, as important as these surveys are, the traditional methods of conducting them can be time-consuming, labor-intensive, physically dangerous to employees, and costly. The good news? Thanks to EagleView Powered Models (EVPMs) in the Aurora platform, the entire process can be optimized, reducing time on site, improving efficiency, increasing overall employee safety, and cutting down on costs while delivering accurate, high-quality results. Let’s dive into how these models can help streamline the site survey process for solar contractors.
The Traditional Site Survey: A Time-Consuming Necessity
Traditionally, conducting a site survey for a solar installation involves a series of significant steps. These steps not only require a considerable amount of time and effort, but also come with various logistical and safety challenges. Here are some of the steps that typically go into a solar site survey:
- Researching Preliminary Information: Before even stepping onto the property, solar contractors need to gather preliminary data, such as the property’s layout, location, and roof characteristics. This might involve sifting through public records or using basic mapping tools to gather a rough idea of the property.
- Gathering Equipment: Once the initial information is collected, the surveyor needs to gather the necessary equipment. This can include ladders for climbing roofs, measuring tools, cameras, and sometimes drones (which may also require a Part 107 license).
- Traveling to the Site: Once the equipment is ready, the surveyor must travel to the property, which could be miles away, taking up precious time.
- Roof Surveying: After arriving at the property, the surveyor climbs onto the roof to measure dimensions, assess roof condition, note obstructions like vents or skylights, and take photographs of each facet of the roof. This is one of the most labor-intensive and dangerous parts of the process, as it requires the surveyor to physically navigate and measure the roof in potentially challenging conditions.
- Inspecting Electrical Systems: Surveyors also need to inspect the property’s electrical system, determining the level of compatibility of the existing electrical infrastructure with the planned solar project.
- Structural Analysis: Contractors must also assess the property’s structure to ensure it can handle the weight and installation of solar panels. This may require gathering additional structural data.
- Uploading Data: Once all this information is gathered, surveyors must upload it into their system for analysis, which can take additional time.
The traditional process can be slow and cumbersome, requiring significant resources to complete each survey. These inefficiencies lead to delays in the overall project timeline, and increase both labor costs and the risks involved, especially when climbing on rooftops is required.
Optimizing the Process with EagleView Powered Models
EagleView Powered Models (EVPMs) in the Aurora platform offer a powerful solution to streamline the entire site survey process. These models leverage high-resolution aerial imagery and cutting-edge technology to create detailed, highly accurate measurements and 3D models of rooftops, reducing the need for physical presence on the property. Here's how EVPMs can optimize the process for solar contractors:
- Remote Measurements: No Roof Climb Required
One of the key benefits of EagleView Powered Models in Aurora is that they provide comprehensive remote measurement solutions. Contractors can get precise measurements of the roof, including its pitch, dimensions, and the location of obstructions such as chimneys, vents, and skylights—without having to climb on the roof. This dramatically reduces the labor required to conduct a site survey and also eliminates the safety risks associated with accessing and traversing the roof surface. Contractors can now gather the necessary roof data from a comfortable, secure location, greatly reducing the time spent on-site and the need for special equipment like ladders or drones, and the associated drone operation licensing. (It is important to note that if the site survey requires a roof condition assessment, a more traditional onsite roof inspection may still need to be conducted.)
- Detailed 3D Models for Better Planning
EagleView Powered Models in Aurora go beyond simple 2D sketches, offering detailed 3D digital models of the roof. These models include not only the roof’s size but also the precise location of obstructions. This level of detail allows solar contractors to visualize the roof’s layout more clearly and plan their solar installations with a higher degree of accuracy. Instead of relying on basic 2D sketches that may require further clarification or correction, contractors can use EVPMs to get a precise and comprehensive view of the property. This leads to fewer errors in planning, quicker project timelines, and more efficient use of resources.
- Faster Surveys and Increased Throughput
By reducing the time needed for on-site surveys, EagleView Powered Models in Aurora enable solar contractors to complete more surveys in a given day. With fewer resources spent on physically traveling to and inspecting each site, contractors can accelerate their backlog of site surveys and move projects forward faster. From a site survey department’s perspective, throughput increases, meaning that the same number of employees can handle more surveys, speeding up project timelines and ultimately benefiting the contractor’s bottom line.
- Remote Site Surveys: Easier Scheduling and Greater Flexibility
Another significant advantage of using EVPMs is the flexibility they offer when it comes to scheduling site surveys. Traditional site surveys typically need to take place during daylight hours and can be dependent on good weather. Such surveys, in most instances, require the homeowners to take time off work to be present during the survey. This can be a significant inconvenience for homeowners and can lead to delays if scheduling or weather conflicts arise. With remote site surveys powered by EagleView Powered Models in Aurora, contractors have more scheduling flexibility. The initial survey does not need to take place during daylight hours and weather can be almost entirely eliminated as a constraint. Site surveys can now be completed in the evening or during off-hours, further increasing efficiency and providing contractors with greater flexibility.
- Improved Safety for Surveyors
Safety is a top priority for any solar contractor. Traditional roof and site surveying pose inherent safety risks, especially when surveyors must climb on roofs that may not be in optimal condition or could be subject to weather conditions that increase the risk of slips and falls. By using EagleView Powered Models in Aurora, the need for roof climbs is eliminated, reducing the risk to the surveyor, and improving overall safety. This not only protects workers but also reduces the liability associated with workplace accidents.
- Consistency Across Sites and Projects
Accuracy is critical in any solar installation, but consistency is just as important. With human measurements, there can be variability across different sites and projects. One surveyor may measure a roof slightly differently than another, leading to discrepancies and potential errors in the final installation. EagleView Powered Models in Aurora, on the other hand, provide a high level of consistency. The models are created using sophisticated technology that eliminates the potential for human error, ensuring that every site survey is as accurate as the last.
Conclusion: Enhancing Efficiency and Reducing Costs
The solar industry is competitive, and the ability to optimize workflows and reduce costs can make a significant difference in a contractor’s success. EagleView Powered Models in the Aurora platform offer solar contractors a way to dramatically streamline their site survey process, saving time, reducing costs, and improving accuracy. With remote measurement solutions, 3D digital models, and increased safety, contractors can complete more surveys in less time and get their projects off the ground faster.
By leveraging the combined advanced technologies of EagleView and Aurora, solar contractors can reduce the burden of traditional site surveys, increase throughput, and ultimately deliver better results to their clients, all while keeping costs low and safety high. The future of solar site surveys is here, and EagleView Powered Models in the Aurora platform are leading the way.
