Interactive 3D visualization and configuration of solar panel layouts in XR
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Author (Corporation)
Publication date
2025
Typ of student thesis
Course of study
Collections
Type
04B - Conference paper
Editor (Corporation)
Supervisor
Parent work
EuroXR 2025. Proceedings of the application, poster, and demo tracks of the 22nd EuroXR International Conference
Special issue
DOI of the original publication
Series
VTT Technology
Series number
440
Volume
Issue / Number
Pages / Duration
50-53
Patent number
Publisher / Publishing institution
VTT
Place of publication / Event location
Winterthur
Edition
Version
Programming language
Assignee
Practice partner / Client
Abstract
The accurate visualization of solar panel layouts plays a crucial role in the transition to renewable energy by improving stakeholder communication and decision-making. Traditional static visualizations lack the ability to dynamically represent environmental factors such as dynamic sun paths and shading or dynamic visualization of power generation, limiting their effectiveness. This work addresses these limitations by leveraging Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) to enable immersive, interactive 3D visualizations, configurations and simulations of solar panel installations.
Our research focused on creating a real-time visualization system that serves various stakeholders through two key solutions. First, our mobile AR solution provides a tabletop experience that allows users to interactively explore solar panel layouts with precise light and shadow calculations, providing an intuitive spatial understanding. Second, and complementarily, our VR solution supports multi-user sessions that enable real-time collaboration and interactive scene customization in a shared virtual space.
Furthermore, we present a unified core system that powers both AR and VR applications and ensures scalability, maintainability, and seamless cross-platform interaction. Technical achievements include the integration of an online design tool for exporting and sharing 3D scenes via QR codes, the visualization of realistic environmental simulations, and the facilitation of real-time collaborative adjustments in VR. These innovations significantly improve stakeholder engagement and streamline the design process for solar panel layouts.
By demonstrating the effectiveness of immersive visualization techniques, this paper highlights the potential of AR and VR to drive renewable energy solutions, promote informed decision-making and accelerate the adoption of sustainable energy technologies.
Keywords
XR, Solar energy, Interaction, Collaboration
Event
22nd annual EuroXR conference: EuroXR 2025
Exhibition start date
Exhibition end date
Conference start date
03.09.2025
Conference end date
05.09.2025
Date of the last check
ISBN
ISSN
Language
English
Created during FHNW affiliation
Yes
Strategic action fields FHNW
Publication status
Published
Review
Peer review of the abstract
Open access category
Closed
License
Citation
Hüsser, C., Fluri, L., & Cords, H. (2025). Interactive 3D visualization and configuration of solar panel layouts in XR. In K. Helin, B. Schiavi, & E. Tsaknaki (Eds.), EuroXR 2025. Proceedings of the application, poster, and demo tracks of the 22nd EuroXR International Conference (pp. 50–53). VTT. https://doi.org/10.32040/2242-122X.2025.T440