TIN surfaces

TIN surfaces


What is a TIN surface?

A "TIN surface" refers to a Triangular Irregular Network (TIN) surface, which is a common method used in geographic information systems (GIS) to represent a continuous surface by connecting irregularly spaced data points with triangles. It's a way to create a digital model of a terrain or any other continuous surface, where each point is connected to its neighbours to form a mesh of interconnected triangles.

The TIN surface typically represents either the ground level or even the entire Digital Surface Model (DSM).

Why do we offer them?

You may need TIN surfaces for several reasons:
  1. Topographic Analysis: A TIN surface of the ground level can provide detailed topographic information, helping you better identify slopes, ditches, elevation changes, and potential shading obstacles. This information is crucial for determining the optimal placement and orientation of solar tables/trackers to maximize energy production.
  2. Shading Analysis: A TIN surface of the DSM can be used to simulate shadows cast by surrounding structures, trees, or other obstructions. This analysis helps you identify areas with potential shading issues throughout the day and across different seasons, allowing you to avoid these areas or adjust the layout of the site to minimize shading and maximize energy output.
  3. Ground grading: For solar plant designs, it's essential to ensure a stable foundation and proper land grading. TIN surfaces can help in understanding the contour of the land, guiding the grading process, and ensuring that the tables/trackers are securely installed.
In summary, TIN surfaces are valuable tools for solar plant developers, providing detailed spatial information that aids in site analysis, shading analysis, layout design, and other aspects of solar plant design, ultimately leading to more efficient and productive solar energy systems.

How do we incorporate TIN surfaces into our deliverables? 

We'll provide two TIN surfaces within our linework CAD file.

Firstly, the DSM-based TIN surface is generated semi-automatically, encompassing nearby trees and shading obstructions. This facilitates a seamless replacement of the linework, significantly expediting this processing stage.

Secondly, the creation of the ground-level (DTM) TIN surface necessitates the expertise of a skilled CAD technician. This refined TIN surface will serve as a representation of the terrain. Subsequently, Above's CAD technicians will transform this TIN surface into a precise DTM surface, from which we'll derive accurate contour lines and grid points.

What are the limitations of TIN surfaces from photogrammetry?

TINs generated from photogrammetry have certain limitations, particularly in areas with water bodies and dense vegetation:
  1. Water Bodies: Photogrammetric methods, can struggle to accurately capture water bodies like rivers, lakes, and ponds. The reflective and dynamic nature of water surfaces makes it challenging to obtain precise elevation data. As a result, TINs generated from photogrammetry might have inaccuracies in representing water features, leading to discrepancies in elevation and surface details.
  2. Dense Vegetation: TINs from photogrammetry may struggle to capture the ground accurately in areas with dense vegetation, such as forests or thick vegetation cover. The process relies on distinguishing ground points from the rest of the scene, and this can be hindered by the presence of vegetation. Vegetation can obscure the ground, leading to incomplete or erroneous terrain models. LIDAR, which uses laser pulses, can penetrate vegetation to some extent, but photogrammetry is more susceptible to these issues.
  3. Shadows and Occlusions: Photogrammetry relies on line-of-sight from the camera to the target. This means that areas in deep shadows, or regions blocked from the camera's view (occluded areas), may not be captured accurately. This can lead to gaps in the TIN representation, particularly in rugged terrains or areas with tall structures.
  4. Processing Challenges (human error): Generating accurate TINs from photogrammetry requires careful processing, particularly in areas with complex topography. Ensuring that the software correctly identifies ground points and properly constructs the TIN can be challenging, and the results may require manual adjustments or clean-up, especially in difficult terrain.


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