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Project Setup

Initial setup when starting a project

Kayla Treese avatar
Written by Kayla Treese
Updated over a week ago

In this section we will learn how to set up a project in PVFARM, once the DXF or KML file has been created in Civil 3D, CAD, or Google Earth/GIS (as it applies). Picking up after you've created a new project, you can begin the process of setting up the project by following these steps:

1. Import Boundaries

  • Navigate to the Import menu and browse to find your DXF/KML/KMZ file. (there is a sample boundary file at the bottom of this article if needed for practice.)

2. Import and Verification of Boundaries

  • To verify that the boundaries were imported correctly, first ensure there were no error messages during import.

  • Next, do a visual comparison by doing a side-by-side comparison with the originating platform or even a screenshot to ensure all boundaries you expected to import are present in PVFARM.

    • You can zoom using "2" and "F" to get all the boundaries in view

  • Check the scale of the boundaries is in line with expectations. Open the model explorer to quickly view the boundaries you imported and their associated acreages.

3. Classify your boundaries

  • You can define boundaries as being included or excluded from the layout that will be generated. By default, all boundaries are classified as “inclusion.”

  • To identify a boundary, select it then open the Object Details panel there you will find places to assign a name to the boundary and under “boundary type” you can indicate if it should be included or excluded from having arrays put on it.

  • It is best practice to identify the boundaries with a more meaningful name for your own reference to help find them later (e.g. “Site Boundary”, “wetlands”, etc). You can also change the color to help distinguish between the two types visually (red for exclude, for example).

4. Setbacks

  • You will clone the boundary with an offset as a positive or negative number depending on the direction of the offset.

  • For learn more see this article:

5. Confirm Equipment in the Catalog

  • The Catalog is a database of objects and equipment. All future calculations and generations will be based on it.

  • Check that you have the equipment desired for your layouts and analysis. In this exercise you will use the generic equipment provided by PVFARM and import additional equipment later.

​6. Place Substation

  • Open the Layout menu

    • Press "Create Substation"

  • Move a substation to the appropriate place

    • Select a substation

    • Press ‘T’ on your keyboard to activate the Gizmo

    • Use the Gizmo's controls to place the substation on your site

7. Save

8. Continue to the next article:

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