Journal of Renewable and New Energy

Mapping the Placement of Solar Panels in Urban Areas Using Three-Dimensional Analysis Based on LiDAR Data and Geographic Information Systems

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Seyedeh Aida Mirshafiey 1
Saeid Sadeghian 2

1 M.Sc. Student of Photogrammetry, Faculty of Civil, Water and Environmental Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Faculty of Civil, Water and Environmental Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
The expansion of renewable energy use, especially photovoltaic systems, has received widespread attention in recent years as an effective strategy for reducing dependence on fossil energy sources, enhancing energy security, and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. Among these, building rooftops—due to their large surface area, suitable location, and direct access to sunlight—are considered one of the key and sustainable options for installing solar panels in urban environments. The aim of this study is to conduct a technical and economic assessment of the potential of urban rooftops for solar system installation, using lidar data and geographic information system analyses. To this end, 10,369 buildings in an area of Brooklyn, New York, were examined in terms of effective area, slope, orientation, and amount of solar radiation received, based on a digital surface model derived from lidar. Subsequently, an economic analysis was performed using indicators such as return on investment and payback period. The results showed that approximately 63.75 percent of the suitable rooftops had a payback period of less than two years. The proposed integrated approach can serve as an efficient and practical tool for planning the development of solar infrastructure in dense urban areas.

Keywords

Digital Surface Model
Photovoltaic System
Point Cloud
Renewable Energy
Solar Radiation
Sustainable Development

Subjects

Journal of Renewable and New Energy

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 02 February 2026

  • Receive Date 20 March 2025
  • Revise Date 18 November 2025
  • Accept Date 25 November 2025

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