Advice needed – modeling a complex multi-plane roof in PV*SOL (beginner)

[Greentechbau]

Title: Advice needed – modeling a complex multi-plane roof in PV*SOL (beginner)

Hello everyone,

I am still fairly new to PV*SOL and would really appreciate some guidance from the more experienced users here.

I am currently working on a project with a rather complex roof geometry. The building has several roof planes with different orientations and inclinations, including hipped sections, multiple ridges and valleys, and a few smaller adjoining roof areas (please see the attached aerial view from the PV*SOL map import).

The customer's explicit wish is to have the entire roof fully covered with modules – on all available roof surfaces. This is a fixed requirement on their side, so I am not looking for advice on whether it makes sense, only on how to model and realize it cleanly in PV*SOL.

My main questions:
• What is the best workflow for building this kind of multi-plane roof in the 3D view? Should I model each roof surface separately and then combine them, or is there a more efficient approach?
• How do you handle the transitions between hipped/triangular surfaces and the trapezoidal areas so the module placement stays clean?
• Are there any tips for keeping the orientations and tilt angles accurate when working from the Google/orthophoto import?
• Any general best practices you wish you had known as a beginner with irregular roofs?

Since I am just starting out, any advice – even small tips – is genuinely helpful to me.

Thank you very much in advance for your time and support.

Best regards

[hotline_oh]

Hello,

Thank you for your inquiry.

Two planning methods are rather unsuitable:
- Using the Rexplorer API, because the L-shaped building (two intersecting gable roofs) is unfortunately not rendered correctly. (However, you can use this method effectively to retrieve building and roof dimensions by drawing layout areas onto the 3D models and displaying their measurements; please see the attached project file.)
- Using the Google Solar API, because the image quality is rather poor.

We would therefore recommend importing a Bing Maps section, as the image quality is significantly better and allows you to easily position the various obstructions (roof windows, chimney, etc.) based on the texture. We would:
- extrude two gable roofs,
- adjust the building dimensions accordingly,
- disable building collision, and
- overlap the two building sections.

In this video tutorial, we demonstrate how to assemble a complex roof from multiple roof sections using an L-shaped bungalow as an example. (Please use the English subtitles for translation.)

The disadvantage of planning with a Bing Maps section (compared to the Rexplorer API and Google Solar API) is that you cannot automatically account for shading caused by the church tower and the tree (located northwest of the house). In this case, you must manually insert the objects that cause the shading.

Rugendorf with Bing Maps and extrusion.pvprj Rugendorf with Google Solar API.pvprj Rugendorf with Rexplorer.pvprj

[Greentechbau]

Thank you very much for your reply , i tryed to create an Rexplorer account but from unkown reason i don`t get the CODE via email. Thank you very much for your time. Appreciate

[hotline_oh]

Hello,

Thank you for your message.

Registration on the Rexplorer website is not required. You can generate an API key within the PV*SOL premium 3D environment.

If you do not yet have an API key for Rexplorer, or if you have not yet entered it in PV*SOL premium, only the button for managing the API key will appear. Clicking the button will take you to the window where you can manage the API key.

In this dialog, you can manage your Rexplorer API key.

• If you don’t have a Rexplorer API key yet, simply leave the API key field blank. An account will then be automatically created on Rexplorer using the email address displayed above, and an API key will be generated.

When you sign up, your email address will be transmitted to Rexplorer’s servers. Rexplorer’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use apply.

• If you already have an API key from Rexplorer, you can simply enter it here.

• If you have forgotten your API key, you can retrieve it in the Rexplorer portal.

You can find further information about the Rexplorer API and managing the Rexplorer API key in our help section.