Patent ID: 8019117

Claim:
A method for evaluating a solar radiation amount in an area to be evaluated, comprising: using a computer to perform the following steps of: obtaining static satellite image data along with photographing chronological data; then combining the static satellite image data with a three-dimensional map model; then, in accordance with a ground resolution of the static satellite image data, setting a mesh based on plane coordinates to the combination data and, in accordance with the mesh, setting a predetermined area in the combination data as an area to be evaluated; thereafter calculating a shadow area, generated in the area to be evaluated, based on the three-dimensional map model and a solar position specified by the photographing chronological data and determining whether or not each cell of the mesh belongs to the shadow area in accordance with a predetermined criterion; and, with reference to a table associating a pixel value of each pixel in the static satellite image data with a solar radiation amount evaluation component of an area corresponding to each pixel, obtaining the solar radiation amount evaluation component of each cell in the area to be evaluated, and when the relevant cell is determined to belong to the shadow area, obtaining, instead of the solar radiation amount evaluation component, an evaluation component after terrain condition correction that is calculated by applying a predetermined correction calculation to the solar radiation amount evaluation component.