Adjust arrays and generate site leveling general plan

9.17 Adjust arrays and generate site leveling general plan

Due to the inability of the N-S horizontal axis trackers to adapt to terrain with certain undulations, after arranging the N-S horizontal axis trackers in such terrain, this function needs to be used to level the earthwork and adjust the basic slope, ground height, etc. of the array to meet the parameter requirements of the column height difference range, maximum slope ratio, adjacent array height difference, etc. of the N-S horizontal axis trackers.

This feature is also applicable to fixed tilted arrays (creating single columns) scenarios.

9.17.1 Divide plot

Before leveling the terrain, please create pile positions for the array in the "Export post coordinates" interface. If there is no accurate design value for the span between adjacent piles ("E-W distance D1"), a smaller value can be input. After leveling the terrain according to the smaller D1 value, even when D1 becomes larger, it can still meet the requirements of the pile length range to the maximum extent.

After creating the pile position, use the function of "Divide plot" to divide the array area that needs to be leveled into one or several land plots, and then level it on a land plot basis. Generally, the entire site is divided into multiple flat plots according to the road, and the E-W spacing of the arrays within the same plot (with fixed supports spaced N-S) should be the same to facilitate the division of the earthwork grid according to the spacing of the arrays.

Click the "Divide plot" button:

"Auto": Automatically divide several plots of land according to the following parameters.

"Distance threshold": A array with a distance less than this value will be divided into one plot.

"Expansion distance": The distance between the boundary of the plot and the array.

"Manual": According to the prompts in the lower left corner of the screen, users can draw vertical lines, align X and Y axes, or import specified layer. Users can divide some plots manually first, and then automatically divide the remaining plots.

9.17.2 Main function menu

Click the "Adjust arrays and generate site leveling general plan" function button, and select the following tool pop-up window (4 main functions in total):

• "Adjust arrays and generate site leveling general plan": Adjust the arrays according to the set parameters and level the earthwork. The exported result files are placed in a folder.

• "Export data and view profile": Users can export the main field leveling result files mentioned above; users can view the adjusted arrays and mountain profile map.

• "Adjust the original terrain or import new terrain": Users can manually or automatically adjust the elevation of earthwork grid points. When certain parameters cannot meet the requirements of the set values, this tool can be used to adjust the grid endpoint elevation, and then level the earthwork again after adjustment. Site leveling can be iterated multiple times.

• "Replace terrain": Replace the original terrain with a leveled terrain, or restore the original terrain.

9.17.3 Adjust arrays and generate site leveling general plan

9.17.3.1 Parameter setting

Select the tool pop-up window and select "Adjust arrays and generate site leveling general plan". Right click to select a single plot, press "Ctrl" key to select multiple plots, or all plots can be leveled together.

After selecting the location to save the results folder, the following pop-up window appears:

Explanation of input setting parameters:

"Min, pile height": The minimum pile height required for a N-S hoirzental axis tracker. Set according to the requirements of the support.

"Max, pile height": The maximum pile height required for a N-S hoirzental axis tracker. Set according to the requirements of the support.

The pile height is equal to the distance from the projection point of the pile on the array surface to the projection point on the ground, without considering the connectors. The difference between the maximum and minimum pile heights affects the field leveling results.

"Max. height difference between adjacent arrays": This paremeter refers to the height difference between the centers of the short sides of adjacent arrays in the north and south of the same row (for fixed tilted arrays, adjacent arrays in the east and west).When the setting value is greater than ("Max, pile height" - "Min, pile height"), due to pile length limitations, the final height difference may not exceed ("Max, pile height" - "Min, pile height").This value setting mainly considers the maximum slope requirements for adjacent array shading and cleaning robots.

"Max. height difference between adjacent rows": The ground height difference of the projection points of the pile positions in the adjacent row array (E-W direction for a N-S hoirzental axis tracker and north-south direction for fixed tilted array) (within a range of 1.2 times of the pitch). If the value is set too small, the result may not be calculated. This value can control the E-W slope of the terrain after leveling (fixed tilted arrys control the N-S slope).

"Pile max z offset": In order to reduce the amount of leveling, there may be some pile positions that still do not meet the pile height range after leveling. This parameter controls the maximum allowable deviation of pile locations that do not meet the requirements. Generally, the default setting is 0m, and the software will maximize the satisfaction of the maximum and minimum pile height requirements.

"Array max slope ratio": The angle between the axis of the arrays and the horizontal plane. When the axis is horizontal, the slope is 0. N-S hoirzental axis tracker: Facing south is positive, facing north is negative; Fixed tilted array: Facing west is positive, facing east is negative. This parameter is set according to the requirements of the support and the required power generation.

"Height adjustment range of arrays's endpoints": When adjusting the slope of the array, the distance that the center of the short side of the array deviates up and down relative to the original position (the slope of the array remains unchanged, and the overall distance of upward and downward deviation is not controlled by this parameter). By default, "Auto" is used. If the allowable height difference between adjacent rows and the maximum allowable slope of the adjusted arrays are set to be small, and the "Auto" in software cannot calculate the result, users can uncheck "Auto" button and increase the "Height adjustment range of arrays's endpoints" before recalculating. The larger the adjustment range, the longer the calculation time.

"Height adjustment step of arrays's endpoints": The smaller the value set, the more precise the adjustment, and the slower the calculation speed, and vice versa. Generally, it can be set to the default value of 0.1m.

"Ignore height": If the deviation between the design elevation and the natural elevation is within this range, leveling is not necessary. Generally, the default value of 0.005m can be used.

"Leveling range-Boundary of arrays expand": This parameter controls the range of the earthwork grid. After expanding a certain range according to the outline of the arrays, the earthwork grids included in expanded range (including only intersecting grids) will be generated. Generally, the default value is 0m.

"Grid map size": The edge length of the grid in the earthwork grid diagram. Suggest setting according to the E-W pitch of the array (with fixed tilted arrays spaced N-S pitch).

"Overall earthwork balance of selected plots": After checking it, each plot will be leveled according to the set parameters, and the weight ratio of excavation and filling is adjusted to ensure that the total net volume of the selected plot meets the set value.

"Limit total net earthwork": Negative values indicate excessive excavation.

"Internal calculation param": This parameter can be set as default or customized.

When selecting custom internal calculation parameters, please click on "Grading weight coefficient" button:

"Ef ratio": This parameter does not represent the actual excavation and filling ratio. A value greater than 1 indicates priority excavation, while a value less than 1 indicates priority filling, generally ranging from 1 to 1.4. The larger the value, the more excavation. For example, to achieve a balance between excavation and filling, when the excavation is greater than the filling calculated according to 1.2, the setting value can be reduced and another earthwork leveling can be carried out, and vice versa.

Other parameters can be used as default values.

9.17.3.2 Output results

After clicking the "OK" button, the arrays will be adjusted according to the set parameters and the earthwork will be leveled. After calculation is completed, the main result files will be placed in a folder, including the following files:

1) Earthwork_results_statistics.xlsx

This file include statistics on the excavation and filling volume and area of each plot, statistics on pile length (absolute value) that does not meet the requirements, and statistics on adjacent rows that do not meet the height difference requirements.

2) Model after leveling

Save the flattened results in a folder according to the current "*.SKP" file name.

3) Draw-array-section_plot1. dat

Please use the command of "draw_array_section" in CAD, select the file to generate a front section view of the arrays.

4) Site-leveling-data_plot1. json

Please use the command of "leveling_plan" in CAD, select the file to generate a field plan.

5) Site-leveling-data-and-array-section_plot1. json

Please use the command of "eveling_paln_section" in CAD, select the file to generate a field plan and a array section view.

6) Terrain-data(by-grid-nodes)_plot1.txt

When using the "Adjust the original terrain or import new terrain" tool to adjust the XYZ coordinate data of the endpoints of the earthwork grid, if users need to level again on the basis of the terrain after the last leveling, users can choose this file.

9.17.3.3 Checking the results after leveling the terrain

1) Main Results

Main display results: N-S direction of the same row: pre-optimized array profile, current array profile, original terrain profile, and pile leveling terrain profile. Meanwhile, arrays that do not meet the "Max. height difference between adjacent arrays" criteria will be selected.

Use the "←" and "→" keys to switch the array (arranged in a N-S direction), and use the "↑" and "↓" keys to adjust the display scale of the sectional view; Use the "1", "2", and "3" keys to control whether to display the original terrain (Terrain layer), the terrain after leveling, and the terrain after leveling (only the excavation part). The cave part of the terrain after leveling (only the excavation part) is the terrain without leveling.

2) Other results:

To view the earthwork grid: open the marked "EarthWork_PV site leveling general plan_Plot1" layer in SU. This figure is consistent with the earthwork mesh generated in CAD.

"EarthWork_Marking of low-lying areas": User can open the annotation layer "EarthWork_Marking of low-lying areas" in SU. When the design elevation is lower than the adjacent grid points after leveling, yellow font will be marked to indicate how much lower the point is than the average elevation of the four adjacent grid points.

"EarthWork_Marking of piles exceeding the length range": User can open the annotation layer "EarthWork_Marking of piles exceeding the length range". -0.02 means it is 0.02m lower than the minimum pile height, and+0.02 means it is 0.02m higher than the maximum pile height.

9.17.3.4 Right click menu after leveling

Users can right click mouse to view function menu after leveling:

1) Export result file

Users can export the earthwork grid, array section, and terrain after leveling (resampling) of the local plot or all plots by right clicking mouse.

2) Check the height difiference of terrain in adjacent rows of this plot

Users can check the ground elevation difference between adjacent rows of the local plot or all plots by right clicking mouse, and select the arrays that does not meet the "Max. height difference between adjacent arrays". The default value for height difference limit is the setting value on the terrain level limit condition interface.

3) Export local plot leveling result statistics table

Export "Earthwork_results_statistics.xlsx".

4) View terrain profile

By drawing a section line on users own, display the profile of the terrain field in any direction before and after leveling.

5) Adjust the original terrain or import new terrain: This button can witch to the corresponding functional tool.

6) Measure the length and slope beween the specified cwo points

This function can measure the length and slope of the inclined plane between two points in the profile diagram, and the measurement value is indicated in the lower left corner of the screen.

9.17.4 Exportdata and view profiles

For plots that have already completed "Adjust arrays and generate site leveling general plan", the leveling results can be viewed. This function is consistent with the terrain leveling display function described in 5.47.3.

9.17.5 Adjust the original terrain or import new terrain

9.17.5.1 Select terrain grid types

Users can choose one of the three terrain data displays shown in the following figure:

1) "Original terrain grid": The elevation of the endpoints of the earthwork grid is the natural elevation (i.e. the original terrain elevation), and the endpoint color is green.

2) "Last leveled terrain grid": The elevation of the earthwork grid endpoint is the design elevation (terrain elevation after leveling), the yellow endpoint indicates that the design elevation is not the natural elevation, and the green endpoint indicates that the design elevation is as the same as natural elevation.

3) "Manually adjusted terrain grid": The displayed grid endpoints are manually adjusted. The adjusted endpoint is yellow, while the original mountain endpoint is green.

9.17.5.2 Right click menu

• The elevation of the grid endpoints can be modified through the right-click menu, which can be used as the terrain for the next leveling stage.

• "Modify elevatlon of selected nodes - Set new elevatlon": This function can set the absolute elevation of the selected endpoint.

• "Modify elewation of selected nodes - Set offset walue": The selected endpoint is offset by a certain value as a whole, with positive values increasing and negative values decreasing.

• "Modify elewation of selected nodes - Restore to elevation in original terrain": This function can select endpoint to restore to original terrain elevation.

• "Seleced nodes - Adjust the elevation by fitting them to a plane": After selecting endpoints and adjusting elevation, a plane is formed. Use the minimum adjustment amount for all endpoint elevations as the fitting scheme.

• "Selected nodes - Adjust the elevation by fitting them to some small pianes": After selecting endpoints to adjust elevation, form multiple continuously changing planes according to the parameters shown in the following figure.

"Fitting direction": This parameter can choose which direction of height difference to control as needed. If users need to control the height difference between adjacent rows, choose the E-W direction for the N-S horizontal axis tracker and the N-S direction for the fixed tilted arrays.

"Fitting order": The default setting is "Auto", at this time the software uses the minimum adjustment amount of all endpoint elevations as the fitting scheme. Users can also manually select the order.

"Fitting accuracy": This parameter refers difference accuracy of endpoint height .

"Limit of elevation difference of nodes": The height difference value between adjacent endpoints in the fitting direction.

• "Selected nodes - Adjust elevation difference between adjacent nodes to the set value": After adjusting the elevation of the selected endpoint, follow the adjustment direction set in the following figure to meet the height difference between adjacent endpoints.

"Adjustment direction": This parameter can choose which direction of height difference to control as needed. If users need to control the height difference between adjacent rows, choose the E-W direction for the N-S horizontal axis tracker and the N-S direction for the fixed tilted arrays.

"Fitting order": The default setting is "Auto", at this time the software uses the minimum adjustment amount of all endpoint elevations as the fitting scheme. Users can also manually select the order.

"Limit of elevation difference of nodes": Adjust the direction to determine the height difference between adjacent endpoints.

• "All nodes of the plot-Restore to elevation in original terrein": The local plot endpoint is restored to the original terrain elevation.

• "All nodes ofthe plot-Restore to elevaton in last leveled terrain": The local plot endpoint is restored to the elevation after the most recent leveling.

• "All nodes of the plotlmport terrain data from txt flle": This parameter can select endpoint data from a previous leveling event.

• "Remove nodes outside the arrays": This parameter can control the display range of endpoints by setting the outward expansion distance of the arrays outline. When fitting a plane or automatically adjusting endpoint elevations, this function controls the range of endpoints to be adjusted.

• "Check the modes elevatlon difference between adjacent rows": This parameter can identify endpoints that do not meet the height difference between adjacent rows and select them.

• "Measure the length and slope between the specified two poinas": This parameter can measure the length and slope between two points on a line chart, with the measurement values displayed in the lower left corner of the screen.

9.17.5.3 Adjustment methods for some parameters not meeting requirements

1) Adjustment method for accumulated water in the plot

By using "↑↓←→" keys to control the terrain (yellow) and horizontal plane (adjustable elevation, blue) composed of grid endpoints, it is possible to check whether there is water accumulation in the terrain after leveling, identify low-lying areas, manually adjust the grid point elevation, and then perform earthwork leveling again.

Specific steps: User can right click on "All nodes ofthe plot - Restore to elevaton in last leveled terrain" - select the terrain txt file exported by grid point endpoint after leveling - manually turn off the "Terrain" layer - control the display of the surface (yellow) and horizontal plane (blue) composed of endpoints through the "1" and "2" keys - control the elevation of the horizontal plane through the "↑↓←→" keys - check the flooded area (blue area surrounded by yellow) - select the flooded area and the grid endpoint expanded to a certain range - adjust the grid endpoint above the water surface - recalculate "Adjust arrays and generate site leveling general plan" - keep the parameters unchanged, select "Manually adjusted terrain grid" - re level and generate a new earthwork grid diagram.

Note: The new earthwork grid is also calculated based on the excavation volume of the original terrain, so the new earthwork grid should be used as the output result.

2) Adjustment method for pile length not meeting requirements

When the pile length does not meet the requirements, as indicated in the following diagram, if the pile length is too long, it will be green, and if it is too short, it will be red.

The grid endpoint elevation needs to be adjusted based on the original terrain elevation. For piles that are too short, select the grid points around the pile position, right-click to adjust the elevation of the grid endpoints and vice versa. When adjusting the grid endpoints, they can be offset as a whole or set to a uniform value, and the range should be appropriately expanded.

After adjusting the endpoint elevation, recalculate the "Adjust arrays and generate site leveling general plan", select "Manually adjusted terrain grid", level again, and generate a new earthwork grid diagram.

If the requirements cannot be met after two rounds of leveling, multiple iterations can be performed.

3) Adjustment method that cannot meet the height difference between adjacent rows

After leveling, the height difference between adjacent rows cannot meet the requirements - enter the "Adjust original terrain or import new terrain" function - select "Last leveled terrain grid" - right-click the mouse and select "Remove nodes outside the arrays" - set to 0m - box select all grid endpoints of this plot - right-click the mouse and select "Selected nodes - Adjust elevation difference between adjacent nodes to the set value" - adjust the direction to N-S for fixed tilted arrays (N-S horizontal axis tracker is E-W direction), set endpoint height difference limit is as equal as allowable height difference between adjacent rows (provided that the size of the earthwork grid is equal to the pitch of the arrays, if not equal, convert according to proportion) - level again, keep the parameters unchanged, select "Manually adjusted terrain grid" - re level and generate earthwork grid diagram- if there is still a height difference between adjacent rows of the arrays that does not meet the requirements, follow the above steps again