Table 5 The perceived benefits and... | Emerald Publishing

Table 5

The perceived benefits and drawbacks of the technologies utilised in this project concerning PV system design

Software packages	Benefits	Drawbacks
Revit – Dynamo plugin	Sun hour analysis Able to define project location and sun settings Providing 3D modelling tools Visualise the solar analysis results PV energy production estimates Shading assessment Generating the Solar cell components	Limited functionalities for solar analysis compared to Grasshopper plugin in Rhino. Limited functionalities for determining the ideal tilt angle and the optimal number of PV panels Lack of providing a realistic and interactive experience for solar engineers to assess the impact of shading changes or other modifications in the model Advanced programming is required in Dynamo plugin for shading assessment Challenges in importing site context from GIS platforms due to interoperability issues
UE5	Sun hour analysis Able to import site and GIS data for realistic sun position and the simulation of solar irradiance Providing 3D modelling tools Highly realistic and interactive environment for detailed shading assessment Explorable and immersive visualisation of environment through first-and third-person perspectives Accurate calculation of shaded area at rooftop Generating the Solar cell components Calculating power generation (PV panels output)	Fewer tools available for solar analysis compared to the Grasshopper plugin in Rhino
Ladybug plugin-rhinoceros	Sun hour analysis Precise simulation of hourly solar irradiance Calculate direct and diffuse solar irradiance Calculate the optimal number of PV panels by considering various variables such as inter-row distance, partial shading etc. Able to import site and GIS data for accurate simulation of solar irradiance Calculate the tilt angle of PV panels Calculating power generation (PV panels output) Generating the Solar cell components Shading assessment Providing 3D modelling tools Visualise the solar analysis results	Lack of providing a realistic and interactive experience for solar engineers to assess the impact of shading changes or other modifications in the model Advanced programming is required for shading assessment

Software packages	Benefits	Drawbacks
Revit – Dynamo plugin	Sun hour analysis Able to define project location and sun settings Providing 3D modelling tools Visualise the solar analysis results PV energy production estimates Shading assessment Generating the Solar cell components	Limited functionalities for solar analysis compared to Grasshopper plugin in Rhino. Limited functionalities for determining the ideal tilt angle and the optimal number of PV panels Lack of providing a realistic and interactive experience for solar engineers to assess the impact of shading changes or other modifications in the model Advanced programming is required in Dynamo plugin for shading assessment Challenges in importing site context from GIS platforms due to interoperability issues
UE5	Sun hour analysis Able to import site and GIS data for realistic sun position and the simulation of solar irradiance Providing 3D modelling tools Highly realistic and interactive environment for detailed shading assessment Explorable and immersive visualisation of environment through first-and third-person perspectives Accurate calculation of shaded area at rooftop Generating the Solar cell components Calculating power generation (PV panels output)	Fewer tools available for solar analysis compared to the Grasshopper plugin in Rhino
Ladybug plugin-rhinoceros	Sun hour analysis Precise simulation of hourly solar irradiance Calculate direct and diffuse solar irradiance Calculate the optimal number of PV panels by considering various variables such as inter-row distance, partial shading etc. Able to import site and GIS data for accurate simulation of solar irradiance Calculate the tilt angle of PV panels Calculating power generation (PV panels output) Generating the Solar cell components Shading assessment Providing 3D modelling tools Visualise the solar analysis results	Lack of providing a realistic and interactive experience for solar engineers to assess the impact of shading changes or other modifications in the model Advanced programming is required for shading assessment