topic Re: Point Solar Radiation Errors in ArcGIS Spatial Analyst Questions

Point Solar Radiation Errors

RabeccaThiessen — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 18:06:30 GMT

Hello, I am a a GIS novice and learning as I go. I need to calculate Solar Radiation for a point layer but even after reading all that I can find on this I still don't understand how to accomplish this. I have tried to run the tool and keep coming up with multiple errors.... 😞

I am completely lost here and would appreciate any help.

Re: Point Solar Radiation Errors

RyanDeBruyn — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 18:35:36 GMT

HI @RabeccaThiessen ,

Please can you verify if your points and raster have or are in the same spatial reference?

Does it work with any other data or if you test a smaller DEM areas? For example you can zoom into a small area and set environment extent="same as display".

Re: Point Solar Radiation Errors

RabeccaThiessen — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 19:35:28 GMT

I have checked the point file and the raster they have the same spatial reference:

I ran the tool again with the environment set to "same as display". Here are the errors now:

Re: Point Solar Radiation Errors

RyanDeBruyn — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 19:52:09 GMT

The error points to a data issue. You'll need to ensure the point data were created in the same projection as the DEM. How were the point data created?

Re: Point Solar Radiation Errors

RabeccaThiessen — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 20:37:42 GMT

I created a feature class (point) and then added each point through edit on each feature of interest

Re: Point Solar Radiation Errors

RabeccaThiessen — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 20:39:58 GMT

The coordinate system and the projected coordinate system are the same for both the DEM and the point layer

Re: Point Solar Radiation Errors

RabeccaThiessen — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 20:55:58 GMT

I have now created a test point layer and run the tool again with the same DEM. The tool was successful this time. The test layer has the same spatial reference as the point layer that I need to use so I'm not sure what is happening. Of course the idea that I need to recreate the original point layer crossed my mind but unfortunately that took many hours so I'm hoping there is another solution.

Also, when I open the attribute table for the point layer that the tool creates I am assuming the the field TO is the solar radiation at that point?

Re: Point Solar Radiation Errors

RabeccaThiessen — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 21:14:32 GMT

I have now converted the lat and long fields from the point layer to ASCII table and subsequently used this for the input on the point solar radiation. This came up with errors again:

The points are definitely within the DEM extent

Re: Point Solar Radiation Errors

RyanDeBruyn — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 15:46:56 GMT

Seems like there is some disconnect with the defined spatial reference and how the spatial points are being created.

There are different ways to create input point layers from a set of coordinates if you have them without doing it manually.

Check out the Make XY Event Layer tool if you have a list of X,Y coordinates. Can also take advantage or convert Excel To Table (Conversion) tool. You can then use Project or CopyFeatures (with environment setting) to set the appropriate coordinate system for you final output.

If you are continuing to have issues I suggest contacting Esri technical support to help you with your data and your process.