Site & GIS — Geospatial Intelligence
Route: /gis
Purpose: Comprehensive site analysis — climate, solar, risk, ecology, planning context and urban analysis
8.1 Available Analyses
Site Analysis (run this first)
The foundation analysis that every project should start with.
What it returns:
- Climate zone classification (Köppen classification)
- Prevailing wind direction and speed range
- Annual solar radiation (kWh/m²/year)
- Flood zone classification (Environment Agency zones 1/2/3)
- Seismic hazard level
- Ground conditions overview
- Planning policy area (conservation, SSSI, greenbelt, etc.)
- Adjacent context summary
How to run:
- Enter a full address or postcode
- Add optional context (building type, storeys, use)
- Click Run Site Analysis
- Results appear below — review each category
Solar & Orientation
Determines the optimal building orientation and passive solar strategy.
What it returns:
- Recommended building orientation (degrees from north)
- Estimated daylight factor for each orientation
- Shadow study summary (equinox + solstice)
- Passive solar design recommendations
- Overhang depths for shading
Best practice: Run this before committing to a layout in LAD — orientation decisions at concept stage are very hard to change later.
Space Syntax
Graph-based analysis of urban movement and connectivity.
What it returns:
- Integration value (global accessibility)
- Choice value (betweenness / movement potential)
- Angular depth from key destinations
- Wayfinding quality score
- Recommendations for entrances, public interfaces, servicing
When to use: Concept Design stage — before fixing the entrance location and ground floor arrangement.
Wind & Microclimate
Analyses wind environment around and on the site.
What it returns:
- Prevailing wind direction and seasonal variation
- Microclimate zones on site (sheltered / exposed)
- Pedestrian wind comfort levels (Lawson criteria)
- Recommendations for wind mitigation (planting, canopies, set-backs)
- Chimney effect risk for tall buildings
Flood & Ground Risk
Detailed flood and ground contamination assessment.
What it returns:
- Flood zone classification (Environment Agency / local flood risk)
- Surface water flood risk
- Historic flooding events
- Ground contamination indicators (brownfield risk)
- Foundation strategy recommendations
- Insurance implications
Landscape & Ecology
Biodiversity and landscape character assessment.
What it returns:
- Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) baseline assessment
- Designated habitats and species (SSSI, BAP habitats)
- Landscape character type
- Green infrastructure connectivity map
- Recommendations for planting strategy
- BNG unit calculations (pre-development baseline)
Urban Context
Planning and contextual analysis for the site.
What it returns:
- Adjacent land uses and potential conflicts
- Listed buildings and conservation areas within 200m
- Transport accessibility level (PTAL score for London)
- Protected views and sightlines
- Planning policy summary (Local Plan allocation)
- Relevant planning history summary
8.2 Using GIS Results with Other Tools
| GIS Output | Use in |
|---|---|
| Climate zone + solar orientation | LAD Engine — orientation constraint |
| Flood zone | Tools — Site Analysis, Graph (site node properties) |
| PTAL / transport nodes | Journey — feasibility brief context |
| BNG baseline | Algorithms — Landscape & Ecology |
| Space Syntax integration | Algorithms — Space Syntax (cross-validate) |
| Conservation area | Tools — Floor Plan Audit (planning constraints) |