Solar and shadow study for your lot, in 3D
Parcela simulates the sun’s path over your lot and casts the real shadows of your proposed massing and the neighboring buildings — through the day and across the seasons. It is the solar/shadow study an architect usually prepares, available automatically online.
See the shadow study for my lot →How to run a solar and shadow study on a parcel
- 1Pick the parcel. Select the lot by address, APN or on the map — Parcela pulls its boundary and the surrounding building context from spatial data.
- 2Place the massing. Define the planned building or start from an A/B/C scenario; the app builds a 3D model on the real terrain of the lot.
- 3Review the shadows. See the sun-path and shadow simulation for a chosen day and time — daylight to the rooms, shadows cast on neighbors, and rooftop solar potential.
A sun path over the real 3D terrain
Parcela builds the lot from the digital elevation model (from LiDAR where available) and surrounds it with the geometry of the neighboring buildings. The sun follows its true trajectory for the latitude and date you pick, so the shadows correspond to what you would actually see on the ground.
From daylight to rooftop solar
The same analysis reveals the rooftop’s solar potential — how many hours of sun each roof plane receives over the year, with shading from the surroundings included — to size a future solar array.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a solar study and a shadow study?
A solar study tracks how long a point receives direct sun; a shadow study shows the shadow your massing casts onto its surroundings; solar access is the daylight a lot keeps once neighboring buildings and the terrain are accounted for. Parcela handles all three in one 3D model.
Does the study include neighboring buildings?
Yes. It casts shadows from both the proposed building and the existing buildings nearby, using their geometry and the terrain — so the result matches what you would see on site.
Can I use this for a zoning or permit application?
The Parcela study is a fast design and due-diligence tool. A formal shadow study submitted to a city (for example with a rezoning or a design review) must be prepared by a qualified professional — but Parcela lets you catch a shading problem very early.
Why study shadows before buying a lot?
A tall building to the south can permanently shade a lot, cut daylight to living spaces and reduce the return on a rooftop solar array. It is far cheaper to check before you buy than to find out on site.