Renewable developers are in a hard space. On one hand, they are in a race to get leasehold agreements in place, submit interconnect applications, and break ground to keep investors happy. On the other hand, they have a lot of due diligence to conduct before they invest too much. It can be devastating to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into a site only to find your estimates for materials, vegetation clearing, and stormwater are all wrong. Or worse, that you can’t use the site at all.
That’s where Teren comes in.
Between “site selection” and “shovel-ready,” we offer a few simple analytics that can provide developers (and the engineers that work with them) with an accurate, granular view of their site. We rely on airborne LiDAR technologies to provide the highest fidelity data and to keep costs low (as compared to “boots on the ground”). Our experts looked at the problems that pop up every day in renewable development to create the four analytics below.
Hydrology Analytics
Teren’s Hydrology analytic models the flow paths and localized watersheds that can impact the project design, construction, and long-term resiliency of the site. This analysis helps inform the site suitability, optimize landform construction practices, and assist in the development of stormwater plans. Additionally, the analytic provides additional insights into potential inundation and problematic flow paths once your site is operational.
Surface Hydrology Analytics
Clearing Analytics
The Clearing Quantity analytic identifies individual trees, delineates their canopies, and estimates tree height, basal area, and canopy cover to inform vegetation clearing and timber harvesting.
Tree Clearing Analytic
Tree Shading Analytics
Teren’s shading analytic models the extent of shadows projected by trees within 20 feet outside of the project site boundaries during spring and fall equinoxes as well as summer and winter solstices. The analytic visualizes the number of times an area within the project boundary is shaded by adjacent trees at equinoxes and solstices during the year.
Shaded Area Analytic
Terrain Analytics
Teren’s Terrain analytics include both a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and a Digital Surface Model (DSM). Teren’s DSM is an image derived from the first return of the LiDAR scan and contains all of the site’s surface features such vegetation cover, structures, roads, fences, etc. Teren’s DTM is an image derived from the last return of the LiDAR scan and contains all of the site’s bare earth topographic features without surface features such as vegetation or structures.
Terrain analytics are similar to a traditional site survey but contain much more detail about the topography of the site. Terrain analytics are used to generate contours, perform cut/fill analysis, hydrology/stormwater analysis, shading/clearing analysis, and aid in other pre-construction site assessments.
Cleared Digital Surface Model to Show Digital Terrain
Digital Surface Model
We’ve found over and over that developers can get a more accurate assessment of what’s happening on the site and leverage that information to make more informed decisions and cost estimates. With Teren, they can continue in the race to market knowing they’ve conducted the highest quality assessment of the site possible.
Want to learn more?
Contact Teren to schedule a demo or to get more information on our analytics for renewable development.
