Before we get started, make sure you have the following information available:
KML file containing the site boundaries
The capacity (peak power) of the site in MWp
A design file (DWG or DXF) containing the components you want to track, including the used coordinate system (EPSG code)
A schedule that defines when different works / activities are planned
(optional) A site layout that indicates the boundaries of zones/regions
We'll cover these requirements in more detail below, but this list gives you the foundational elements you'll need.
1️⃣ Create your site
Once in the platform, you can go to Sites and click on Create Site, where you will have to enter some necessary information(*) in order to move through the site's creation process:
The Site's Name
Select the Site Type as "Solar"
Select the Site Stage as "Construction"
Upload the KML or draw the site boundaries manually
Fill in the peak power of the site in MWp.
2️⃣ Import Design File
Sitemark is able to upload your design file (DWG or DXF) containing the components you want to track, including the used coordinate system (EPSG code).
Ensure that your CAD file is geographically correct and contains the component layouts of the site in separate design file layers.
3️⃣ Import components from your design file
Components in sitemark digitalize the hardware components from your design file. They're automatically used for target setting and deviation detection if you create them, while enabling you to keep a well-organized digital track record of everything you do on site.
To be able to compare the drone flights with the components, we need to know the exact location of each component. These locations are extracted from the design file.
For ease of use please design your DXF according to Sitemark's standards. You can find more information related here: How to make your dxf file Sitemark compatible
In any case, since all design files are different, your success manager will make sure the file is converted into the right format and imported into the platform. Just make sure the file contains the must-have componets: piles, structures, panels, and fences, in the right spots.
4️⃣ Set-up your project schedule / targets
Components allow us to track progress (e.g. 50% of piles in region A has been placed), but they don't tell us when you expect them to be placed. That's where the schedule comes in.
There are two ways to set up the schedule:
If you already have a schedule (in Microsoft Project, Primavera or Excel), send it to your support manager or upload from in the "Create Schedule" tab
Once uploaded, you will be able to visualize it similarly as in the image below. Then you can link each activity to the relevant component to enable automatic progress updates and displaying planned progress in the reports.
If you don't have a schedule file to share, you can create your schedule directly in the Sitemark platform as well.
Once done, you can create an activity for each component you would like to track, linked to a component type and defining a desired start and end date according to your schedule.
5️⃣ Set up regions for your site (optional)
The setup above ensures proper site-wide reporting. If you want to get more fine-grained reporting, you can define geographical regions on your site. Make sure to define region-level activities as well, as the schedule defines the targets for reporting.
6️⃣ Create operations
That's it. Your site setup is complete. You can now create operations to schedule the drone inspections and see results come in.