PVX.Cad

Terrain-aware solar design,
inside AutoCAD

Site assessment, grading, layout optimization, electrical design, and construction-ready exports. Without ever leaving your AutoCAD environment.

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Built for solar engineers and designers who work in AutoCAD every day.
AutoCAD Runs inside
PVSyst Exports to

Stage 1 of 5

Site Assessment

Import terrain data and analyze site conditions before committing to a layout. Understand slope distributions, cut/fill volumes, and buildability constraints in minutes.

  • Import LiDAR, contour, or survey data directly into AutoCAD
  • Automated slope analysis across the full site envelope
  • Early-stage earthwork volume estimation
  • Identify no-build zones and terrain constraints upfront
Site assessment terrain analysis screenshot

Stage 2 of 5

Grading & Civil

Design grading plans that reflect real construction costs. Compare multiple earthwork strategies side by side and lock in the buildable solution before layout begins.

  • Cut/fill balance optimization with volume reporting
  • Multi-scenario grading comparison (up to 3 approaches)
  • Bench and slope grading support for complex terrain
  • Export civil drawings in DWG and LandXML formats
Grading and civil design screenshot

Stage 3 of 5

Layout Optimization

Generate optimized panel layouts that respect terrain, setbacks, and civil constraints. Maximize energy yield without creating unbuildable conditions downstream.

  • Terrain-aware row placement respecting slope limits
  • Automatic setback and exclusion zone enforcement
  • GCR and pitch optimization across the site
  • Real-time capacity and energy yield estimates
Layout optimization screenshot

Stage 4 of 5

Electrical Design

Route cable infrastructure using terrain-optimized topologies. Compare Line, U-shape, and Leapfrog configurations to find the lowest-cost solution for each block.

  • Automated cable routing with terrain-aware pathfinding
  • Multi-topology comparison: Line, U-shape, Leapfrog
  • String, combiner, and MV cable sizing and scheduling
  • BoM generation with cable lengths and quantities
Electrical design and cable routing screenshot

Stage 5 of 5

Export

Deliver complete design packages in every format your team needs. From AutoCAD drawings to PVSyst simulation inputs, everything generated from a single source of truth.

  • DWG/DXF for AutoCAD and civil engineering handoff
  • LandXML for grading and earthwork contractors
  • PVSyst-compatible export for energy yield simulation
  • CSV schedules for procurement and construction teams
Export formats and deliverables screenshot

What PVX.Cad delivers

DWG/DXF
Design drawings
Full AutoCAD drawings with layers, blocks, and metadata
LandXML
Grading surfaces
Cut/fill surfaces for civil contractors
PVSyst
Energy model inputs
Module layout, stringing, and site parameters
CSV
Pile coordinates
Construction-ready pile positions with terrain elevations
CSV
Cable schedules
Bill of materials with lengths, sizes, and quantities
PVC
3D site model
Terrain + racks for PVX.View visualization

Design done? Publish to PVX.View in one click.

Share interactive 3D models with developers, investors, and construction teams. Run yield simulations, financial analysis, and generate PDF reports, all from the same terrain data you just designed on.

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Publish from AutoCAD to PVX.View

Frequently asked questions

What terrain data formats does PVX.Cad support?

PVX.Cad imports LiDAR point clouds, contour lines, survey data, Z-points, DEM files, KML boundaries, and drone photogrammetry models. All imports happen directly inside AutoCAD with no external conversion tools needed.

Does PVX.Cad work with single-axis trackers?

Yes. PVX.Cad supports both fixed-tilt racks and single-axis terrain-following trackers. Tracker rows adapt to actual terrain slope, and grading optimization accounts for tracker-specific civil requirements.

How does PVX.Cad compare grading approaches?

PVX.Cad supports up to three simultaneous grading scenarios: full terrain smoothing, pile-adaptive local grading, and table splitting. Each scenario shows cut/fill volumes, earthwork cost estimates, and pile length requirements side by side.

What is terrain-first design?

Terrain-first design means analyzing slope, soil hardness, and earthwork volumes before placing any panels. Traditional tools optimize layout on flat assumptions, then discover terrain problems at construction. PVX reverses this so terrain analysis constrains the layout from the first iteration.

What export formats does PVX.Cad produce?

PVX.Cad exports DWG/DXF for AutoCAD drawings, LandXML for civil grading surfaces, PVSyst-compatible files for energy simulation, CSV for pile coordinates and cable schedules, and KML for Google Earth review.

Does PVX.Cad replace PVsyst?

No. PVsyst is the bankability standard for energy yield simulation. PVX.Cad handles design and terrain engineering, then exports clean PVsyst-compatible files with correct module orientation, solving the import bugs and 3D scene crashes that other tools cause.

How does cable topology comparison work?

PVX.Cad routes DC cables using three topologies: Line String, U String, and Leapfrog. Each is evaluated for total cable length, voltage drop per string, and bill of materials. On one 130 MWp project, Leapfrog saved $430K in cable costs.

See PVX.Cad on your terrain file

Book a 30-minute live demo with grading analysis, layout optimization, and cable routing.