Capture a horizon profile

The survey records the horizon profile across the entire sector being assessed, including both obstacles and clear areas. Each point has an azimuth (horizontal direction) and an elevation (angle above the horizon).

Before you start

• Stand at the chosen survey position.
• Hold the phone in portrait orientation.
• Move away from objects that may interfere with the compass, especially large metal objects and magnetic accessories.
• If Azimutis asks you to hold the device steady or calibrate the compass, follow the instructions before capturing points.

Prepare the survey on Android

1. When the app asks you to aim at a landmark and hold the phone steady, aim at a fixed, clearly visible feature nearby, such as a building corner. Avoid pointing only at the sky.
2. Hold the phone steady. Preparation is automatic; there is no need to tap the screen.
3. When “Aim at the first point of the horizon profile, then tap the screen to add it.” appears, choose your starting point on the horizon profile and tap the screen to record it. The instruction disappears after this first capture.

You can carry out the survey when the sun is hidden. Align with the sun, marked Recommended, is an additional alignment step that requires a visible sun; it is not required to start the survey.

Cover the relevant sector

Scan the entire sector being assessed, following the horizon line, and add points wherever its height changes significantly.

1. From the measurement position, identify the area that may affect solar exposure at the installation.
2. Choose a starting point at one end of that sector.
3. Move in one direction, left to right or right to left, gradually rotating the phone without changing your measurement position.
4. Tap the screen to add points along the profile: treetops, nearby roofs, terrain and clear sections of horizon.
5. Adapt point spacing: place points closer together at height changes and irregular outlines, and further apart where the profile changes little.
6. Finish when the whole relevant sector is covered, then review the profile before confirming.

Example facing a building: from ground level, the survey may cover a sector of about 180°, sweeping from one side to the other. This is an example, not a required angle: the relevant extent depends on solar exposure, sun paths and surrounding obstacles.

An isolated obstacle: if only one tree or building is likely to cast shade, surveying its sector may be sufficient. Capture its outline and a few points on the clear horizon on either side, rather than taking unnecessary measurements.

The aim is neither to capture 180° or 360° systematically nor to target only obstacles. Represent the sector that is actually relevant to the assessment. Clear areas are part of the profile.

The built-in guide states that you can start in any direction and recommends rotating in the same direction throughout.

Edit points during the survey

During the survey, the on-screen controls let you:

• remove the last captured point;
• reset survey points;
• return to the home screen.

Resetting clears the current survey’s points. To correct a single capture, remove the last point instead.

Calibrate the device using the sun

Before capturing the first point, use Align with the sun when the sun is visible. This calibrates the device’s heading reference using the sun’s position, correcting the heading used for azimuth measurements.

Once calibration is complete, choose your starting point and survey the obstacles across the relevant sector. You can start in any direction: the sun provides a calibration reference, not a starting direction for the survey.

• Android: center the sun’s image in the displayed circle, then confirm on screen as instructed.
• iOS: center the sun’s image in the circle and hold the phone still; alignment is automatic, following the built-in guidance.

Safety: look at the phone screen, never directly at the sun.

Wait for the on-screen calibration confirmation before capturing points.

Understand the sun paths

The camera may show reference sun arcs for June 21, the equinox and December 21. These help relate obstacles to seasonal sun positions. You can show or hide them in the survey interface.

These paths are visual references, separate from the obstacle points you capture.

Confirm the survey

1. Check that you have covered the relevant sector, including transitions between obstacles and clear areas.
2. Use the horizon profile confirmation action.
3. The survey is saved and the app opens the results screen.

Confirmation requires at least two points. Afterwards, view the profile in Horizon profile.

If an unstable-orientation message appears

If the app reports magnetic interference, remove magnetic accessories or move away from the source before continuing. To prepare the survey on Android, follow the steps above.