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Solar Insolation, Minnesota (2006-2012)

The analysis used to produce this dataset looks at geographic location, surface slope, surface aspect, and the effects of shading based on local topography and adjacent structures. A digital surface model was generated from raw LiDAR data. Then, using this DSM, an individual locations on a grid surface were assessed for the amount of direct and indirect radiation that reaches the surface. This analysis was conducted at a 1m resolution for the entire state of Minnesota.
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Additional Info

Field Value
dsAccessConst None
dsCurrentRef See map included as "lidar_collection_projects_dates.pdf" with dates of data collection and areas covered. Also, the included shapefile "lidar_collection_projects_dates_shapefile.zip" includes links to project specific metadata records.

Red River Basin: 2008-2009
South Dakota: Fall 2010
MN River Basin: Spring 2010
Blue Earth County: Spring 2012
Southeast: Fall 2008
Rice: 2007
McLeod 2007
Metro: Spring and Fall 2011
Stearns: 2006
Crow Wing: 2008
Central Lakes: Spring 2012
Arrowhead: Spring 2011
Pine: 2006
Chisago: 2007
Wright: 2008
dsMetadataUrl https://resources.gisdata.mn.gov/pub/gdrs/data/pub/edu_umn/atmos_solar_insolation/metadata/metadata.html
dsModifiedDate 2025-04-01 01:01:24
dsOriginator Brink, Christopher; Gosack, Ben;Kne, Len; Luo, Yuanyuan; Martin, Christopher; McDonald, Molly; Moore, Michael; Munsch, Andrew; Palka, Stephen; Piernot, Devon;Thiede, Dan; Xie, Yiquan; Walz, Andrew
dsPurpose The Minnesota Solar Suitability Analysis attempts to provide solar insolation analysis for the entire State of Minnesota. As far as we are aware, it is the only project of its scale in existence; similar studies have been limited to metro areas or focus on rooftop insolation. The project's existence is feasible because of statewide, freely available aerial lidar coverage. And the commitment of the team to work long hours on this unfunded project. The project finds itself at the intersection of renewable energy, big data analysis, geospatial technology, and open data availability. This data provides a measure of incedent solar radiation as it is intercepted by the earth surface, or features (such as vegetation and buildings) standing above the earth surface. The data is intended to be used to assess the suitability of a site for solar panel (photovoltaic cell) installations.
gdrsDsGuid {e0ea09ff-fbb4-4161-bad8-fb4fb1e8fdc1}
spatial {"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[-97.5, 43],[-97.5, 49.5], [-89, 49.5], [-89, 43], [-97.5, 43]]]}

Dataset extent

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