Availability: Manual designs are available in all Aurora plans. Aurora AI and Expert Design Services are add-on products or services – contact your account admin to confirm access.
Before you can place solar modules on a customer’s home in Sales Mode, you need a 3D site model. The site model captures roof geometry, obstructions, and surrounding structures — and is the foundation for accurate production simulations and shading analysis.
There are three ways to create one. This article helps you choose the right method for your workflow.
In this article:
The three methods
- Aurora AI (add-on) — Aurora automatically generates a 3D roof model from HD imagery and LIDAR data in under 15 seconds. Shading from trees and surrounding structures are accounted for via LIDAR shading rather than drawn manually. This is the fastest option.
-
Expert Design Service (add-on) — Aurora's team of professional designers builds the model for you — including roof faces and manually drawn trees and surrounding structures. Hands-off and high-accuracy.
- Standard – turnaround time of 3 hours or less
- Expedited – turnaround time of 30 minutes or less
- Manual design — You draw the roof yourself in Design Mode using SmartRoof or Draw Roof Face, then access that design in Sales Mode. This gives you the most control over the model.
📝 Note: For models created with Aurora AI or Expert Design Services, you are still able to make edits to the site model in Design Mode if needed.
How to choose
Choosing the right method depends on your preferences, the products and services available in your account, and the workflow set up by your account admin. Below are some general guidelines with all three options available:
- Use Aurora AI if speed is the priority and HD imagery and LIDAR data are available at the address.
- Use Expert Design Services if you want a professionally built, hands-off model — especially for complex roofs or sites with many obstructions.
- Use manual design if Aurora AI or Expert Design Services are unavailable at the address, or if you need full control over the creation of the roof model. Manual design is done in Design Mode before entering Sales Mode.
Step-by-step guides
- Creating a site model using Aurora AI in Sales Mode
- Requesting a 3D site model using Expert Design Services in Sales Mode
- Manual design — see Site Modeling & Imagery in the Design category
After your site model is ready
Once the site model is complete, you can place modules and assess shading. See:
FAQ
Do I need a site model before entering Sales Mode?
No. You can enter Sales Mode and create a new design from scratch. If a site model has not already been created, Aurora will prompt you to either run Aurora AI or request an Expert Design.
Can I use a design already created in Design Mode?
Yes. If a design exists on the project, you can select it when entering Sales Mode — you don't need to recreate the site model.
What if Aurora AI isn't available at my address?
Aurora AI requires both HD imagery and LIDAR data at the site address. If either is unavailable, you'll see a message in the app. In that case, use Expert Design Services or draw the roof manually in Design Mode instead.
Are Aurora AI and Expert Design Services included in my plan?
Both are add-on products or services. Contact your account team to confirm what's included in your plan.
Why can't I access Design Mode from Sales Mode?
Your account administrator may have restricted your role from accessing Design Mode. When this setting is off, Design Mode is hidden and you can only view and work with designs within Sales Mode. Contact your account admin if you need Design Mode access. See User Management: Advanced Roles for more information.