Solar Site Survey
A physical inspection of a solar project site, usually conducted after a customer commits but before final design, covering roof condition and structure, electrical service, shading, obstructions, and safe access, so the as-built system can be installed without redesigns or change orders.
The solar site survey is the moment digital design meets physical reality. Every preceding step (satellite layout, feasibility, preliminary proposal) used remote data. The survey is where a trained technician climbs the ladder, opens the electrical panel, and confirms that the system the rep sold can actually be installed, in this configuration, on this roof, at this price.
A good survey produces three outputs. First, confirmed specifications, roof dimensions, condition notes, structural observations, electrical service labels, conduit paths, interconnection point photos. Second, change flags, anything that differs from the initial design or proposal (a smaller usable area than satellite showed, a service panel that needs upgrading, a chimney the imagery missed). Third, hazard notes, things the installation crew needs to know, like brittle flashing, asbestos-era shingles, or limited access that requires extra safety equipment.
Where it fits in the pipeline
For residential, the survey typically happens after contract signing but before permit submission. If the survey finds a material issue (roof needs replacement, panel needs upgrade, shading changes the production estimate) the rep and customer reconcile in a change order. Without a survey, these problems surface during installation, at which point they are three to five times more expensive to resolve.
For commercial and utility projects, the survey is often a scheduled multi-day engagement with electrical, civil, and sometimes environmental consultants on site. The survey package feeds into final engineering, stamped drawings, and utility interconnection applications.
Why it matters for solar installers
Site surveys eat technician hours that do not directly produce revenue, so shops often push to minimize or skip them. Every minute saved at the survey stage is paid back with interest during installation and, worse, during customer disputes over scope. SolarVis links the survey data back to the original design, so the operations team sees exactly what the rep sold, what the surveyor confirmed, and what is about to install.
Common questions
- What does a site surveyor check?
- Roof material, age, and structural condition. Panel layout area free of vents, pipes, skylights, or setbacks. Electrical service panel capacity, main breaker rating, meter location, and interconnection point. Shading from trees, adjacent buildings, rooftop equipment, and chimneys. Safe technician access paths. For ground-mount, soil type, slope, groundwater, and utility locates.
- Can a site survey be replaced by satellite imagery?
- For early feasibility, yes. Modern aerial and LIDAR imagery gets residential layouts within 3 to 5 percent accuracy. But a survey catches the things satellite cannot see, roof age and wear, electrical panel labels, interior wiring paths, attic access, and anything that has changed since the last imagery pass. On commercial and ground-mount, a survey is non-negotiable.
- How long does a solar site survey take?
- A residential survey usually takes 45 to 90 minutes on site, plus documentation time. A small commercial survey runs half a day. Utility and ground-mount surveys can span multiple days and multiple disciplines (electrical, civil, geotechnical).
