London is actually having one of its rare weeks in the sun so I have been using Sunseekr to help me find cafes and pubs which are in the sun.
SunSeekr is an interactive map with a sunny twist. The map helps users locate cafés and pubs currently bathed in sunlight, so you can sip your espresso or enjoy your pint while enjoying some rays. What makes Sunseekr shine (pun intended) is the clever integration of real-time sun and shadow simulation with a database of local venues, that allows you to instantly see which cafés and pubs are currently bathed in sunlight and which are in the shade.SunSeekr uses terrain and building data to calculate where light actually falls at any given moment — not just based on general weather or time of day, but down to the angles and obstructions that might block the sun. The map even comes with a time control so you can plan which cafés and pubs to visit later.
From a technical perspective, Sunseekr is impressive under the hood. It leverages Mapbox for interactive, global-scale mapping, and layers on tools like Turf.js and a shadow simulation plugin to bring the sun's position into focus in a hyperlocal, real-time way.
Sunseekr is not an entirely original concept. JveuxDuSoleil is an amazing French interactive map (that has been around for a number of years) which also simulates the location of shadows. If you are looking for the perfect spot to catch a little sun (or escape from the sun) then you can open up JveauDuSoleil and quickly discover which areas will be shaded at any time of the day. In a number of French cities JveuxDuSoleil also shows the locations of restaurants with outdoor terraces — just what you need to find the perfect al fresco dining spot.
Shade Map is an interactive map which allows you to view the location of shadows from the sun throughout the day. Search for any location in the world on Shade Map and the application will show you which local areas are currently in shade.
At the bottom of the map is a timeline control which allows you to view shadow locations for any time of the day. Drag this time slider back and forth and the map will automatically update to show how the shadows move during the course of the day. If you click on the date then the time control will switch to show months instead of hours of the day. Now you can use the time control to show where shade will fall during the different months of the year. Just click on the time to switch back to showing the hours of the day.
Shadowmap is another interactive 3D map which allows you to view the location of building shadows around the world for any time of day and on any day of the year.
Shadowmap not only shows you the shadows that will be cast by nearby buildings at any precise moment it also includes an interactive sun ray overlay. This overlay shows you the exact direction of the sun's rays — so you can see for yourself where the sun will be in the sky at any moment of the day.
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