Project Development: sun and shadow analysis
See sun and shadow on buildings and outdoor areas year-round in 3D. Drag the timeline through day and months, assess sun per facade and amenity area, and adjust the geometry before the project moves on.
The sun and shadow analysis in Project Development shows how sun and shadow fall on your buildings and outdoor areas throughout the year — directly in the 3D model. Drag the timeline through the day and the months and watch sun and shadow hit facades and open areas, so you can adjust building shape and placement before you take the project further.
1Open the 3D model in Project Development
Go to Project Development in the left sidebar, open your project, and move to the 3D / site plan step. Here buildings, terrain and surroundings are rendered in full 3D.
The sun and shadow analysis runs in the 3D engine and requires a desktop at least 1024px wide. It is not available on mobile.
2Turn on sun/shadow from the timeline
In the 3D viewer you'll find the sun button in the top right. Click it to open Sun/shadow.
12:00 · Jun · 42°
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Reset to now
- The top value shows the time of day, the selected month, and the sun's altitude above the horizon in degrees.
- When the sun is below the horizon the icon switches to a moon and the panel shows Below horizon.
- Click Reset to now to jump back to today's date and the current time.
3Drag through day and year
Use the two controls to step through the lighting conditions:
- The time slider moves the sun across the day (00–24). Shadows update live — short at midday, long at sunrise and sunset.
- The month row (Jan–Dec) sets the date to mid-month. Compare e.g. Jun (high sun, short shadows) with Dec (low sun, long shadows) to see the extremes of the year.
Switch between June and December to quickly judge whether neighbours or your own outdoor areas end up in full winter shade — that's often where the challenges lie.
4Assess sun per facade and outdoor area
Shadows from your buildings, terrain and surroundings are cast onto one another in the scene, so you see realistically what gets lit:
- Facades and windows — see which sides receive direct sun at the selected time.
- Open areas and balconies — judge whether courtyards, terraces and amenity areas get daylight at the times that matter.
- Neighbour conditions — check whether the buildings' own shadows fall across the boundary.
In the facade analysis you can also switch between Daylight and Sun and pick an Analysis date. The Sun view colours the windows by number of Sun hours on the day, broken down Per floor — useful for finding the worst-lit homes.
5Adjust and document
If an outdoor area or facade gets too little sun, adjust the building height, rotate the proposal or move rows in the 3D model — the analysis recomputes as soon as you change the geometry.
The sun and shadow view is a geometric planning tool computed for Danish latitude (~56°N). A professional shadow diagram (SBi method) for neighbour consultation, and a documented daylight analysis pursuant to DS/EN 17037 for the building permit, are prepared by your consultant.