Single-site analysis

Overview 

The Site analysis project type allows you to analyze parcels that you have already located for a potential site (vs. searching for brand new sites in a greenfield search). This project type is great for inbound landowner/client calls, brownfield sites, M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) projects, and KMZs with specific boundaries.

The steps of this workflow are detailed below. 

Step 1: Create a new Site analysis project

From the Portfolio View page (home page), create a new project to get started.

1. In the left sidebar, click New Project
2. Fill in project details:

• Name your project
• Select a region from the dropdown
• Fill in optional fields, if desired: Project Technology, Status, Stage, Priority, Description.

3. Click Create Project 

Step 2: Select parcel(s) to add to project

Since you already know where the land is for the site, you can locate and select the target parcel(s) through a few different methods: 

• Import parcel boundaries from KMZ
  • This works well if you already have the parcels identified in Google Earth or already in a KMZ. Rather than relocating the same parcels in our parcel dataset, you can simply import the parcels directly from a KML/KMZ
• Locate individual parcels within an AOI (Area of Interest) polygon from a KML/KMZ
• Use the parcels layer
  • Select the parcels you want to add to the project right from the Parcels layer. This layer is automatically activated on the Primary Land map in the create project flow. Just zoom in to see the orange parcel boundaries display on the map and click each parcel you want to add to add to the project. 
• Select from previously saved parcels on the map
  • If you or someone else in your organization has saved the parcels in PVcase Prospect previously, they will be visible on the map (blue parcel boundaries with blue dot). You can reselect them for your new project.
• Create custom parcels by drawing
• Search for parcels by APN/PIN

• Search for parcels around saved project features (must add other assets first)

   

Step 3: (Optional) Add additional parcels to build out site acreage

There are many methods to find additional land for siting if you need to add additional acreage to what you started with:

• Parcel search task: Search for parcels based on criteria like proximity to the parcel or parcels added in step 2
• Parcel layer: Add parcels directly from the map with the parcels layer

• Trace out search area: Find parcels within custom search area

   

Step 4: (Optional) Combine individual parcels (super parcel) 

Creating a super parcel will allow you to make one site boundary out of multiple parcels. This also allows you to apply site boundary setbacks properly in the Buildable area analysis if you only want to apply parcel setbacks to the site boundary.

Step 5: Create constraint maps and calculate buildable acreage

1. Run the Buildable area analysis to identify Exclusion areas and Intersection areas.
2. View the constraint maps and drawings created through the analysis, including the Buildable area drawings.
3. Check out the calculated buildable area for each parcel (there are also columns for each layer's coverage, percent of the parcel, etc.)

4. Manually remove exclusion areas, as needed. 

    

Step 6: Check out nearby grid infrastructure (substations and lines)

There are many different datasets that show grid infrastructure. You can turn the layers on from the various sources below and save grid infrastructure to the project for future reference. 

• Turn on basic substations or lines layers (Rextag) from the Layer catalog

  • Click on individual subs or lines and save them to the map by clicking Create or select, filter, and save many at once.

    Most of the EIA/HIFLD substations and lines are 69 kV+, though there may also be lower voltage subs and lines. 

• DG Grid Infrastructure
  • Use Public Hosting Capacity Maps: Copy lines or substations from hosting capacity maps
  • Manually add infrastructure: Draw DG substations and/or lines to subsequently site around
  • Premium DG Data: Please reach out to support@pvcase.com if you're interested in purchasing our Distribution Grid data
  • Import substations or lines from a KML/ KMZ

  • Use Ventyx, Velocity Suite, or Energy Acuity grid infrastructure layers (only available in the Layer catalog if your company has integrated them from a separate subscription). 

     

Step 7: Review parcels 

Review parcels including sorting them by buildable acreage, marking star ratings, etc.

• Sort/filter parcels based on key attributes (e.g. filter to show just parcels over X buildable acres, sort by distance )
• Star rate parcels to track which parcels are best/worst
• Save notes
• Remove parcels that are not a good fit (use the filtering tool to filter and then select and bulk delete bad parcels via the parcels list view).

• Track site control status and agreement type throughout owner outreach.

   

Step 8: Export project data

Export all key data from a siting project to seamlessly continue downstream work. Export project map/constraint maps, landowner information/parcel data, and PDF reports.

• Export as a KML/KMZ (project map, including parcel boundaries, constraints, grid infrastructure, user drawings).
• Export as a Shapefile (project map, including parcel boundaries, constraints, grid infrastructure, user drawings).
• Export as Excel or CSV file with landowner/mailing list info/parcel details.
• Export a Report (PDF) (parcel and Buildable area analysis details).
• Export parcel images (PNG) or screenshots.
• Export PVcase Ground Mount file (project map) for use in PVcase Ground Mount.