# Solar Orientation Analyzer MCP

> Solar Orientation Analyzer calculates precise solar incidence angles, estimates annual direct sunlight hours, and generates architectural recommendations for mitigating heat gain based on any building's latitude and facade orientation.

## Overview
- **Category:** architecture
- **Price:** Free
- **Tags:** solar, architecture, sunlight, building-design, climate-analysis

## Description

This MCP helps architects and engineers calculate exactly how the sun hits a structure. You can determine the angle of the sun relative to a specific wall during summer, winter, or equinox periods. It also estimates total direct sunlight hours for each side of the building throughout the entire year. If you're worried about heat gain, it provides architectural recommendations—like specifying brise-soleil placements or reflective glazing—to keep your designs cool and efficient. Because this service is managed by Vinkius, you connect once from any compatible client, giving you instant access to specialized tools like this one.

## Tools

### generate_protection_strategy
Provides specific architectural advice for shading or heat mitigation based on calculated solar exposure.

### calculate_solar_incidence
Determines the estimated angle of the sun relative to a specified building facade during different seasonal periods.

### estimate_sunlight_duration
Estimates how many hours of direct, unshaded sunlight a specific facade receives during different seasons.

## Prompt Examples

**Prompt:** 
```
What is the solar incidence for a North facing facade in Brasilia?
```

**Response:** 
```
The `calculate_solar_incidence` tool would provide the specific angles for summer, winter, and equinox based on Brasilia's latitude.
```

**Prompt:** 
```
How many hours of sun does an East facing facade get in Sao Paulo?
```

**Response:** 
```
Using `estimate_sunlight_duration`, you can find the estimated hours of direct sunlight for that orientation during different seasons.
```

**Prompt:** 
```
Suggest a protection strategy for a West facing facade in Fortaleza.
```

**Response:** 
```
The `generate_protection_strategy` tool will evaluate the high solar exposure and recommend appropriate architectural interventions.
```

## Capabilities

### Determine sun angles
Calculates the specific angle of the sun relative to a building facade for summer, winter, and equinox periods.

### Estimate annual sunlight hours
Measures how many direct, unshaded hours of sunlight a facade receives throughout the year.

### Recommend heat mitigation strategies
Provides specific architectural advice—such as shading or glazing types—to reduce calculated heat gain risks.

## Use Cases

### Client complains about high operating costs
The client demands proof that the building will be energy efficient. You run `estimate_sunlight_duration` to prove which facades are receiving peak solar load, then use `generate_protection_strategy` to propose solutions that cut cooling bills.

### Need to pass local zoning codes
The city requires proof of minimal sun glare. You use the MCP to calculate the solar incidence angles for every major facade, ensuring your design meets strict seasonal exposure limits and gets approved fast.

### Comparing two competing designs
You run the full analysis on both blueprints. By comparing the sunlight duration reports from `estimate_sunlight_duration`, you can definitively show which building option is more thermally stable year-round.

## Benefits

- Reduce cooling costs by proving efficiency. By running the `estimate_sunlight_duration` tool, you pinpoint facades that get excessive sun, allowing you to design around those weak points.
- Improve material selection accuracy. The MCP gives you specific recommendations via `generate_protection_strategy`, telling you whether reflective glazing or brise-soleil is actually necessary.
- Design for all seasons. You don't just care about summer; using the `calculate_solar_incidence` tool lets you map sun angles during winter and equinox periods, too.
- Minimize thermal stress on materials. Knowing exactly how much direct, unshaded sunlight a wall receives helps prevent premature material degradation over time.
- Build smarter from day one. This data moves your design from 'looks good' to 'runs efficiently,' which is what clients really pay for.

## How It Works

The bottom line is that you move from guessing how much sun hits your building to having precise, engineering-grade data.

1. Input the building's location (latitude) and the facade orientation you need to analyze.
2. The MCP processes this geometry against seasonal solar data, running calculations for sun angles and total sunlight accumulation.
3. You get back a set of actionable reports, including specific shading recommendations based on the calculated heat gain.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**What inputs are required for the tools?**
You need to provide the facade orientation (in degrees or cardinal points like 'North') and a Brazilian capital city name to retrieve the necessary latitude.

**How does it calculate solar incidence?**
The `calculate_solar_incidence` tool uses the latitude of the provided city to estimate the sun's angle relative to your facade during summer, winter, and equinox seasons.

**Can I get architectural recommendations?**
Yes, the `generate_protection_strategy` tool analyzes exposure levels to suggest mitigation techniques like louvers or shading devices.

**What geographic data does `calculate_solar_incidence` require?**
It requires precise latitude and longitude coordinates. The tool uses these specific points to accurately model the sun's angle relative to your building facade.

**If I give bad inputs, how should I handle errors with `generate_protection_strategy`?**
The tool will return a clear error code and message detailing the required fix. Always verify that all coordinates are within valid global ranges before running any analysis.

**Does `estimate_sunlight_duration` account for time zones or local adjustments?**
Yes, the duration estimates adjust for your specified location's time zone. It calculates hours of direct sunlight based on local solar time, not UTC.

**What are the rate limits when running multiple analyses using `calculate_solar_incidence`?**
Rate limits depend entirely on your Vinkius subscription level. For high-volume architectural projects, check your service dashboard for current quota details and usage allowances.

**Is the data I input secure when I run `estimate_sunlight_duration`?**
Your project inputs are kept private. Vinkius processes all calculations in a secured environment and does not retain personal building or site data after providing the results.