Construction Management - FAQs
General Questions
What are the key features of the Construction Management area of SolarGain?
The purpose of Construction Management is to give all stakeholders a clear, real-time view of solar plant construction progress.
Can I create my own reports from SolarGain?
Yes, for those who have Editor rights, data can be exported in different formats, for use in separate reports:
- Progress Reports and Annotations can be downloaded as CSV for use in Excel sheets, so data can be added to any organisation report
- Progress reports can also be downloaded as a PDF, in a formatted view, ready made to send out with your company logo
Where can I find detailed step-by-step guides?
Each feature has a dedicated help page with instructions:
Additionally, you can request further support below or contact your Technical Account Manager (TAM).
Progress Reports
What does the Progress Report show?
The Progress Report tracks construction progress for each part of the solar plant. It displays percentages and charts showing what has been started, what is in progress, and what is complete. Progress is updated automatically from drone survey data and can also be updated manually by users.
Which components are included?
The components that are displayed depend on the list provided by the commissioning organisation have requested Above to onboard.
Progress is grouped into three main areas:
- Mechanical – Piles, tables or trackers, modules
- Electrical – AC, DC, LV, MV and HV cables
- Infrastructure – Transformers, inverters, substations, fencing, roads and other site works
Can I update progress myself?
Yes. Alongside drone survey data, you can enter your own updates through the Update Progress tab. This allows you to record construction activity between surveys. Your entries are shown on the Progress Report together with survey data, so you get a complete picture.
What is the “Predicted Completion Date”?
The system calculates an estimated date when each component will be finished, based on the rate of progress recorded across several surveys. At least three survey events are required before a prediction can be made.
What is the “Completed Items to Date” chart?
This chart shows how much of each component has been finished by the most recent event, and how completion has changed over time. Both drone-collected data and user-entered data are displayed.
Can I view progress at a more detailed level?
Yes. You can filter by project blocks (such as electrical sections or fields) and expand each component group to see detailed sub-steps, like cable trenching or module installation. This video explains the steps to search by blocks.
Map View
What is the Map View?
Map View shows the construction site as an interactive map. You can overlay different layers such as mechanical, electrical and infrastructure components, as well as CAD design drawings, to see how the build compares with the plan.
What tools are available in Map View?
Tools included are:
- View map by event date (i.e. the drone events, not user entered data)
- Compare design drawings with actual construction progress
- Topographical, orthomosaic, CAD and any other onboarded drawings
- Switch component layers on or off
- Turn annotations on or off
- Zoom in for detail or expand to full screen
- Download map images for reports
- Measure distances and areas
- Create annotations directly on the map
How do I know what date I am looking at on the map?
In the lower left corner of the map, the latest drone event date is displayed. By clicking on that date, a right drawer opens, showing all dates. To see progress from previous dates, select the date of choice.
When I opened the map, I saw that Above has added some annotations already. Is this normal?
Yes, Above will add an annotation if there are deviations exceed 50 centimetres. The markers will be pink under the "quality" category.
Annotations tab
What are Annotations?
Annotations are digital notes you can place directly onto the map to highlight an issue, observation or update. Each annotation includes a location, category (e.g. quality, safety, status), description and date. They provide an easy way to track and communicate site activity.
How can I use Annotations?
- Record construction quality observations
- Flag safety concerns
- Track the status of specific works
- Mark “other” points of interest for the project team
Who can see my Annotations?
Annotations can be kept private to your organisation or made visible to all organisations with access to the project. This makes them a useful tool for collaboration between owners, EPCs and contractors.
Can I link an Annotation to a component
Yes, when creating or editing the annotation, if that component has been onboarded, it can be selected. The annotation will then link to that components history.
How do I find an Annotation on the map?
Each annotation is geo-referenced with GPS coordinates. Clicking the location link takes you directly to its position on the map.
Can Annotations be exported?
Yes. Annotations can be exported as CSV files for reporting or record keeping, and can also be added to task lists within SolarGain for action tracking.
Documents tab
My organisation has requested to have additional construction files. Where can I access these?
Depending on the services requested, Topographical or Construction would appear in the Documents tab. The files can be downloaded directly from that tab.
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