Solar availability in cities

Dense urban environments provide a complex environment, where solar and daylight availability can become a scarce commodity, especially since buildings become increasingly taller. This is manly due to the complex dynamic overshadowing effects present on building surfaces. Accurately quantifying these effects is key in predicting reductions in solar availability. These in turn, can significantly affect daylight and thermal performance of buildings, as well as potential for PVs and other renewables. It is therefore necessary to use simulation tools to predict these complex effects.