Solar Site Feasibility Study (Dededo) for Pacific Energy Corp

Detailed Topographic Map of a potential site

Client

Pacific Energy Corp

Project Type

Topographic Mapping

Location

Dededo, Guam

Project Overview

Pacific Energy Corp. required a detailed feasibility study for a proposed solar farm development. To support their planning, 2cofly utilized advanced LiDAR sensing technology to capture high-resolution elevation data and terrain features.

By leveraging drone technology, we provided the developers with a clear and accurate assessment of the land, helping them identify both opportunities and challenges for the project—without the need for traditional, costly, and time-consuming surveying methods.

The Challenge

When evaluating a site for a large-scale solar farm, developers need to consider several factors:

Terrain & Slope Analysis – Understanding elevation changes is crucial for panel placement and drainage planning.
Site Accessibility & Land Features – Identifying obstacles, vegetation coverage, and potential infrastructure constraints.
Speed & Cost Efficiency – Traditional surveying methods can take weeks or months and require significant financial investment.

The alternative would have been to use low-resolution, outdated satellite imagery or hire an expensive land surveyor for a manual topographic study. Neither of these options provided the speed, accuracy, or cost-efficiency that 2cofly’s drone-based LiDAR solution delivered.

Approach & Methodology

Drone-Based LiDAR Survey

✔ High-Resolution LiDAR Scanning – Captured detailed elevation and terrain data across the 34-acre site.

✔ Rapid Deployment & Processing – Completed full data collection in just a few days, an unprecedented turnaround time compared to traditional surveys.

Flexible Data Requirements

✔ No Need for Survey-Grade Accuracy – Since the developers did not require the data for official records, we eliminated the need for ground control points (GCPs), significantly reducing costs and complexity.

✔ Cost Savings Without Compromising Insight – By bypassing the need for licensed surveyors, we delivered critical decision-making data without the high costs typically associated with feasibility studies.

Deliverables Provided

✔ Digital Elevation Model (DEM) – Provided an accurate representation of the terrain, helping developers plan solar panel placement.

✔ High-Resolution 3D Point Cloud – A valuable dataset for engineering teams to assess site conditions.

✔ Orthomosaic Map – A high-resolution, georeferenced aerial image for easy site visualization.

Results & Project Impact

Unmatched Speed & Efficiency

By completing the entire feasibility study in days, 2cofly delivered critical insights weeks ahead of traditional survey timelines, enabling Pacific Energy Corp. to accelerate their planning and decision-making process.

Significant Cost Savings

By eliminating the need for a licensed surveyor and ground control points, the developers saved thousands of dollars while still receiving highly valuable and actionable site data.

Better Decision-Making for Solar Farm Planning

With precise terrain analysis, Pacific Energy Corp. gained key insights into land suitability, allowing them to optimize panel placement, minimize grading costs, and assess accessibility before committing to full-scale development.

Conclusion

This solar site feasibility study highlights the power of drone-based LiDAR in renewable energy development. By providing fast, accurate, and cost-effective data, 2cofly enabled Pacific Energy Corp. to assess site feasibility with greater confidence, lower costs, and minimal time investment.

For developers and organizations exploring solar energy projects, 2cofly offers high-efficiency drone mapping solutions that deliver critical site data faster and more affordably than traditional methods.

2cofly (pronounced Ecofly) is Micronesia's leading drone service and education provider. Our core competency lies in remote sensing via various sensing technologies such as photogrammetry, LiDAR, thermal and more.

Few key deliverables we can output with our drones & sensors: