Solar Radiation Modelling in ArcGIS (UK Digital Twin Project)
📍 London (Hybrid Preferred) | 🌍 UK Digital Twin Project | 💼 £15k–£25k Project Contract (with Full-Time Potential)
Apexion is building the digital twin of Earth’s infrastructure, starting with a complete solar intelligence layer for 2M+ UK commercial buildings.
We’ve already built the full backend dataset (ownership, occupancy, polygons, segmentation) and secured 5–12.5 cm high-resolution LiDAR + imagery across the UK.
We now need a top-tier GIS / ArcGIS Pro / ArcPy engineer to architect the solar radiation modelling algorithm. This is the critical missing piece — and we’re looking for someone exceptional to build it.
Why This Role Matters
This is the first modelling engine powering our long-term vision: a complete digital twin of Earth’s infrastructure.
The system you build will become the foundation for:
* National-scale rooftop PV modelling
* Battery + EV charging simulation
* Expansion into Spain, Germany, Denmark, and beyond
* Future layers for water, heat, grid, nature and climate
* A global renewable infrastructure twin used by developers, investors, and governments
If you want your work to shape how infrastructure is built globally - this is the place.
The Mission
Design and build an end-to-end solar radiation modelling system inside ArcGIS Pro / ArcPy, turning complex geospatial data into a UK-wide solar intelligence engine.
1. LiDAR + Imagery Integration
* Integrate 5–12.5 cm LiDAR/DSM/imagery into ArcGIS/ArcPy
* Derive roof geometry, tilt & azimuth
* Perform roof plane segmentation
* Identify obstructions and shading losses
* Build 3D meshes / surface models to visualise the UK digital twin
2. Solar Algorithm Development
Create an algorithm that incorporates:
* Solar irradiation (GHI, DNI, DHI)
* Orientation & tilt
* Hourly shadow modelling
* Maximum sunlight hours
* Weather patterns (cloud cover, TMY data)
3. Panel Layout Logic
Enable filtering and customisation for:
* Panel size & spacing
* Obstruction clearance
* Edge-of-roof safety margins
* Minimum usable contiguous roof area
4. Advanced Outputs
Generate:
* Usable roof area
* Optimal panel placement maps
* Maximum system size (kW)
* Estimated annual electricity generation
* Visual GIS outputs + spreadsheet-ready data
5. Full UK-Scale Automation
Build a system that can run the entire pipeline across 2 million+ UK buildings, efficiently and repeatably.
About You
We care less about years of experience and more about raw talent, creativity, and ambition.
You thrive when:
* You’re building something that’s never been done at this scale
* You enjoy solving complex geospatial/remote sensing problems
* You want ownership, autonomy, and creative control
* You get excited by national or planetary-scale datasets
* You want your work to have long-term real-world impact
Your Skills
* Strong expertise in ArcGIS Pro + ArcPy (Python required)
* Experience with LiDAR / DSM, solar modelling, or remote sensing
* Comfortable designing algorithms and automating large-scale workflows
* Intellectually curious, driven, and excited by global infrastructure challenges
If solving complex geospatial challenges and building a national-scale digital twin excites you - apply or send me a DM, and let’s talk!