Solar Mapping of Portland State University

Project Description: Finding the Optimal Full Sun Ornamental Container Placement Using LiDAR Data and ESRI’s ArcPro Solar Radiation Toolset

Portland State University (PSU) is a very urban campus with limited sunlight because of it’s tall buildings and dense tree canopy. This creates a challenging environment for ornamental plants to survive. By identifying the solar intensity across campus facilities staff can locate the ideal locations for ornamental plants. Different plants require varying levels of solar intensity. This analysis results in a map of proposed planter locations and their solar intensity values which allows staff to match ornamental plants to those locations. For this study campus leadership in the past asked if it would be possible to add some above ground planting containers at the proposed locations selected in this study. Using a 3 foot digital elevation model (DEM) and a 3 foot digital surface model (DSM) based on ground point and first return LiDAR data I clipped PSU’s campus and some surrounding buildings. The DEM and DSM were supplied by Metro’s Regional Land Information System. I then used ESRI’s solar radiation tool kit to map the effects of the sun over PSU for two distinct planting seasons, Fall (Nov. to March) and Spring (end of March to end of June). To identify the sun’s effect on campus I ran the Area Solar Radiation tool in ArcGIS Pro. With this analysis I was able to confirm full sun (6+ hours) of ornamental plants will succeed at the proposed locations on campus. Yarrow, Heather, Mahonia and Hellebore should all do well on both Sky Bridges based on the amount of sun they receive.

Tools Used: ArcPro, Solar Radiation Tool

Skills Used: Spatial Analysis, LiDAR, Data Collection