Menu path
Solar > Shadows
Solar > Insolation Calculation Options
Solar > Create Animation
🧾 What shadow studies do
The shadow function allows you to create shadows for a range of days and/or times (or just one day and time) and save the results to different layers for later use. An animation of the series of shadows may be produced and saved as an AVI file in whatever format is available on your PC.
🔧 Validation of AppliCad's Shadow Calculation Tool
The AppliCad Shadow and Aggregate-Shadow Tools use complex mathematics to determine the position of the sun and assumes rays from the sun are parallel for determining shadow positions. All AppliCad functions utilise double-precision (8 byte) floating point accuracy within a millimetre-based modelling system, maintaining accuracy across all tools.
Assess the effect of shadows on roof fittings.
Sun Positioning
The position of the sun is the single most important factor in determining shadow diagram accuracy. AppliCad uses a four-step process:
Specification of year, month, day, hour and minute, along with UTC time offset to determine a Julian Date
Calculation of approximate angular solar coordinates using mathematical algorithms based on Julian Date (accurate to 1 arcminute within two centuries of 2000, sufficient for 1800-2200)
Calculation of sidereal day from Julian Date (accurate to 0.1 seconds, or approximately 1.5 arc seconds)
Final calculation using angular coordinates and sidereal day to determine sun azimuth and altitude relative to Earth position
Single Shadow Calculation
AppliCad positions the sun at 5 kilometres height and requests shadow plane selection. All shadow-casting elements are triangulated using Delaunay triangulation method. Triangle shadows are calculated and clipped against selected shadow planes, with shadows outside planes disregarded. The result is a complex shadow polygon tagged and placed on a specific layer based on time and date.
Aggregate Shadow Calculation
The Gen-Insolation tool provides faster calculation times for complex models by dividing planes into user-specified squares (pixels). The sun is positioned at 500 kilometres height. A line from each pixel centroid to the sun determines shadow coverage - if any planes cut this line, the pixel is greyed (shadowed), otherwise left white.
🔧 How to set up insolation calculations
Selecting the option brings up the Shadow dialog box.
First, plan your shadow sequence - do you want same time on a series of days, same day each month, or series of hours in a day at solstices?
Select your date first - clicking the date field opens a calendar
Set the starting layer for shadow sequences (typically layer 100 or higher)
Define hourly increments against each layer - as hours increment, layers automatically increment
Use double left arrows [<<] to add times to calculation list
Use double right arrows [>>] to delete highlighted time/layer groups
Save sequences for regular use if working in particular regions
🛠 Location setup
The software needs your location. Select from the pre-defined list (latitude, longitude, and UTC time difference included) or define a new location. This information is stored in locations.csv in the Roof Wizard\User folder.
You may select from pre-defined cities using the [...] button next to Location field.
Note:
Longitude: Eastings are positive, Westings are negative
Latitude: Northings are positive, Southings are negative
Time: East of UTC is positive, West of UTC is negative
Daylight saving adjustments are not automatic
🔧 Running the study
Before running, ensure your model is properly prepared:
Add roof fixtures (panels, AC units, plumbing vents)
Include site base, trees, and surrounding structures
Orient the whole model towards north (top of screen is considered north)
Orientation before rotation towards North
Orientation before rotation towards North
Select Run Study and the software:
Creates shadows on each defined layer in sequence
Saves the information
Prompts for Codec selection for AVI file creation
Writes AVI file to User folder
⚠️ Note: AVI file creation uses Codecs resident on your PC, not supplied by AppliCad. File size varies based on model complexity, sequence number, and Codec used.
With date and time stamp
🔧 Creating animations separately
If you don't create animation during Sun Study, use Solar > Create Animation later. This option allows creating animations after study completion, including 'fly through' or 'spin' animations.
Layer On/Off Animation
Select Layer on/off Animation option
Set start and finish layers from original shadow study
Set path and filename for animation
Click Create Animation
Follow Path Animation
This creates animations showing how roofs look when approaching from specific directions:
Insert a 3D curve defining the 'flight path' using CAD > Curve Insert > Bezier
Set view to ISO View
Select Render > Create Animation > Follow Path
Set eye height and AVI filename
Select Create
Rotate About Point
Creates AVI animation by rotating about a point in current view:
Change view to ISO
Select Solar > Create Animation > Rotate About Point
Define AVI filename and rotation degree increments
Select Create
💡 Tip: Consider file size before emailing animations to customers - large files can clog email servers.
🔧 Show/Hide Layers
Select start layer (use layer 100 or higher) and shadows are saved incrementally:
First shadow: Layer 100
Second shadow: Layer 101
Third shadow: Layer 102, etc.
Turn layers on/off to view specific shadow calculations independently.
🔧 Show/Hide Entities
(Pulldown Menu only) Allows selection of entities to display along with roof model and shadows or insolation map.
💡 Tip: Add as much detail as needed using CAD functions, but remember more detail requires more time investment in customer jobs.