Back to examples

Solution example

Site Screening & Constraint Analysis

College Township & State College, Centre County, PA

Geo-bAI screened approximately 35 square miles of central Pennsylvania for utility-scale solar and identified 32 candidate sites, ranked by size.

Map of the five largest candidate solar sites, numbered 1 to 5, with state roads in orange. Opens a larger view.
The five largest candidate sites, ranked by area. State roads are shown in orange.

The challenge

A team exploring utility-scale solar development needed to determine which locations merited closer study before committing resources to detailed site investigations. Steep slopes, floodplains, wetlands, and sinkhole-prone limestone terrain create constraints that can make otherwise promising sites unsuitable. Reviewing these factors across approximately 35 square miles by hand is time-consuming and can overlook critical issues.

The question

Screen the College Township and State College area for utility-scale solar sites. Keep nearly flat or gently sloped (10° or less), roughly south-facing land; exclude flood zones, wetlands, and land within 100 m of karst features. Rank remaining connected sites of at least 10 ha by area and distance to state roads, and summarize the top five, including zoning.

Approach

  1. Mapped terrain

    Slope and aspect from USGS elevation data.

  2. Kept suitable land

    Flat or gently sloped, roughly south-facing areas.

  3. Removed constraints

    Flood zones, wetlands, and land within 100 m of karst features.

  4. Defined sites

    Connected areas of 10 ha (25 acres) or more.

  5. Ranked and reported

    Area, road access, and zoning for the leading candidates.

Results

  • 35 sq mi

    Area screened

    90.1 km²

  • 32

    Candidate sites

    Each at least 25 acres, totaling approximately 6,900 acres

  • 1,267 acres

    Largest candidate site

    512.85 ha, nearly flat and approximately 40 ft from a state road

Business value

  • Prioritize investment

    Focus detailed engineering and feasibility studies on a smaller shortlist.

  • Reduce early-stage uncertainty

    Identify environmental and geological constraints earlier.

  • Support planning efficiency

    Combine public datasets into one preliminary assessment.

This screening does not establish final buildability, permitting eligibility, or site approval.

How we verified the results

  • Checked

    Total suitable area

    Total suitable area was measured two ways; differences reflected small fragments excluded by the 25-acre threshold.

  • Checked

    Largest site

    The largest site area was independently recalculated and road distance remeasured at about 12 m (40 ft).

  • Recorded

    Human confirmations

    Three human confirmations were logged; further expert review is recommended.