3

Can you help me to calculate solar radiation from GTOPO30 DEM image at the 30 m spatial resolution.

I've tried to do this many times using spatial analysis solar radiation calculation tool in ArcGIS. However, there is always an error message saying unknown problem.

What does it mean? Is there anyone who has a experience with this. Your suggestions will help me a lot.

Improve this question
1
  • 2
    GTOPO30 is approximately 1km resolution, not 30 meter, and my guess is that the algorithm used makes low resolution data inappropriate for analyzing solar radiation.
    – scw
    Commented May 24, 2011 at 7:35

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
4

The solar radiation calculation is computationally expensive, and it isn't something that can be run on extremely large regions. I've run it on a 250 km^2 area which took three days at a low resolution, so it may not be feasible to do for all of Mongolia. See this thread and the help page for further background on the constraints. If you are set on performing the analysis, divide up your raster into small regions, and run it independently on each. With a little experimentation, you should be able to determine the size at which it runs reliably.

Improve this answer
5
  • Sorry I'm confused with the resolution of GTOP030. My area of interest is whole territory of Mongolia. it is a quite big area (1,566 sq km). Can I use SRTM elevation data at the resolution of 90 m.
    – user3063
    Commented May 22, 2011 at 21:10
  • Wouldn't this answer be better as a comment?
    – Sean
    Commented May 23, 2011 at 19:15
  • @Sean Separated out the 'comment' component and rewrote my answer.
    – scw
    Commented May 24, 2011 at 7:44
  • Thanks for your helps. Another one think I'd like to ask is: actually I need solar radiation data for the last 8-10 years for my temporal anaysis. Is it possible I can get these information from DEM. Is there DEM data 'during 10 years'? I downloaded GTOPO30, SRTM 30m, 90m. But these DEM data were acquired within just one year.
    – user3063
    Commented May 26, 2011 at 15:05
  • DEM data isn't something which changes much over time, particularly not on an annual basis. But certainly other factors which have major effects on solar radiation such as cloud cover and light dispersal do change over time, if you're trying to produce a systematic model you may want to also think about those.
    – scw
    Commented May 26, 2011 at 19:05

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.