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In order for PVcase to successfully evaluate terrain data, it has to work with clearly distinguished objects that indicate topographical height information.
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Some of the topographical surveys have many different indicators clustered together on the same layer which can cause errors in terrain recognition.
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Before generating a layout it is best to create a Terrain mesh. Prior to that in the Layout generation settings select Topography data. Then we may open the Terrain mesh menu to adjust all necessary parameters and generate a Terrain mesh. To investigate the mesh and PVcase's estimation of the terrain you may go to the Isometric view in AutoCAD.

To find out more about terrain mesh functionalities refer to the article below:

Height measurement topography

We may review an example terrain survey that has some issues. As you can see in the example below, once the mesh is generated, some steep and unrealistic undulations are indicated and must be regarded as false.

By checking the area in a 3D Isometric view such extremities can be identified as well as issues that may cause them. Here are some of the examples that may come up:

• A comma, instead of a dot, is used as a decimal separator in some height measurements.

Solution: Manually adjust the values or use the FIND command to change the decimal comma into a dot.

• Tree height measurements are on the same layer as terrain height measurements. (see image below).

Solution: Manually change the layer of tree height measurements.

• Other topographical or documentation indications are on the same layer as terrain height measurements (see image below).

Solution: Manually transfer the indicative numbers on another layer.

After these issues are resolved, do not forget to reselect terrain data, and then you may generate the Topography mesh again and evaluate the results.

Contour line topography

Another common issue with contour line topographical surveys contour lines are missing elevation or Z vertex data and as a result, rendering large parts of the topography unusable.

If terrain mesh shows extreme deviations or even the selection of topography cannot be done, then contour lines need to be fixed.

Similarly, the best option is to assess the topography in 3D view by isolating topography and rotating it with a 3D Isometric view. Most of the time some contour lines will be visually seen as faulty.

Simply placing these polylines on another layer or giving elevation data to it will fix the issue.

For more information on what types of terrain surveys are currently compatible with the software, please read this article: