ShadowMap
Tilting global map of 3D buildings and the shadows they cast at a specific time of the day, but date fixed at "today" in free version. Paid versions allow date change, satellite view & 3D models.
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Description
ShadowMap calculates shadow locations in real time and displays them on a 3D tilting map (now no longer restricted to the previous maximum angle of 45 degrees), showing arcs of azimuth and elevation angles along the sun's path. A satellite imagery map view is available only in paid versions.
For definitions of azimuth and elevation angles click here...
The trajectory of the sun is its path through space. This is defined by the variation in two angles applied to the sun seen in the sky from earth: azimuth angle and elevation angle... 
AZIMUTH ANGLE OF THE SUN (HORIZONTAL COMPASS BEARING)
ELEVATION ANGLE OF THE SUN (VERTICAL SEXTANT BEARING)
Free and Paid Shadowmap Versions
A range of more advanced functions are spread across 3 paid versions with increasing numbers of features - see the table below [click the tab for each version to show functionality].
The Main Differences between all available versions are:
The Free version is restricted to today's date, but the user can define the time of day.
The Explorer version allows any input date and time, past or future.
The Home version includes 3D buildings in 3 cities, plus satellite background maps.
The Studio version allows 3D user model upload and Google hi-res satellite imagery.
Disambiguation: ShadowMap is not the same tool as ShadeMap from Ted Piotrowski. The name is very similar, and so is the basic functionality. ShadowMap cannot generally be used for Open Source research without payment, whereas ShadeMap is open source and charges only for higher quality data, not access to past and future sun positions like ShadowMap. ShadowMap's most expensive version, Studio, includes an interface for user-defined objects which is very easy to use. Researchers need first to understand and categorize their shadow-related problem before selecting a tool, e.g. ShadeMap, Shadow Map, PeakVisor, Shade Finder, ...
Location (co-ordinates/name/map pin)
Date
Time
User Object Description (vertices & height)
User's own 3D model files
Shadow pattern for buildings and landscape at a given location and time.
24 hour animation of the sun and shadow paths at a given location and time.
Yearly average solar energy value for a given location in kWh/square metre.
Matching an image containing shadows to determine the relationship between location co-ordinates, date, time and shadow pattern. This is useful to Open Source researchers for
chronolocation, i.e. to work out the time an image was taken if you know location and date
geolocation i.e. to work out potential location(s) if you know the date, time and shadow pattern.
Projecting potential shadow patterns at user-defined location, date and time.
Finding the annual average solar energy value for a given location. Examples where this would be useful are: to determine likely type of vegetation, to determine likelihood of snowfall, to determine suitability for solar power generation,...
The Interface
ShadowMap has 5 main interface menus:
URL: Note that the Shadowmap URL which is displayed in the browser address bar is constructed to reflect the properties of the location being displayed in great detail: latitude, longitude, zoom, azimuth, etc. The user can edit all these parameters directly in the URL, hit refresh and Shadowmap will redraw accordingly. This can be a very useful shortcut but it is powerful and should be used with care.
The Project and Share menus allow:
a model containing user data to be saved as a project, and to share or embed that project with default time, date, camera angle, focal length, etc. Shared models are not editable by the audience, but interaction is allowed.
links & embeds to be updated simultaneously via the "Update" button.
the user to create a shape in Shadowmap.
the user to upload a model into Shadowmap.
the user to edit buildings in the map for visibility and height.
The Settings menus allow:
Setting of location co-ordinates (lat, long)
Selection from 3 map styles
Selection from 3 levels of image quality (high quality needs fast PC hardware)
User definition of camera movement and focal length
Hide/show sun path, sun vector, compass, UI, anti-aliasing, ambient occlusion (depth)
Setting of floor height, building height, floor visibility for buildings
FOR STUDIO VERSION: Switch to global high resolution satellite imagery & 3D buildings, toggle Ambient Occlusion enhancement demonstrated here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd6ITD0iI_I
The Search Box sets location by text input or co-ordinates input.
The Time & Date Menu sets time and date with a slider and allows numerical date input.
The 24H button generates an animation of sun position with shadows over 24 hours.
The Analyze tab switches to a view coloured according to degree of yearly sun radiation where numeric energy values appear for a point upon left mouse click.
The 'Hide & Height' menu appears in Visualization mode whenever the user Left Mouse clicks on a building (duly highlighted), allowing the user to reset the height & change the building visibility.
The Point North compass button resets the view orientation to the north.
The Share button allows the user to share or embed a project with default time, date, camera angle, focal length, etc. Shared models are not editable by the audience, but interaction is allowed and links & embeds can be updated simultaneously via the "Update" button.
The Settings button invokes the Settings menu.
The Zoom buttons adjust the scope of the view.
PARTICULARLY USEFUL FEATURES FOR OSINV ARE:
The ability to change the focal length of the virtual camera in the model allows for more accurate image matching in OSINV research.
The ability to add/remove buildings and model the consequent changes in shadowfall allows the user to consider past and future shadow patterns as building topology changes over time.
The Data
Custom models (within a quota dependent upon subscription plan) up to 200MB can be uploaded in formats:
Cost
Current pricing can be found at the ShadowMap website pricing page.
At the time of writing in August 2026, paid versions varied from Explorer at £30/year, through Home at £8.33/month to Studio at £50/month.
Level of difficulty
Shadowmap has a complex set of menus and requires a good understanding of the motion of the sun over time to gain accurate results.
Requirements
Free version does not require login.
Paid versions require an account and payment.
High quality imagery requires good graphics hardware.
Limitations
Fixed date (as the date of the system clock) in the free version is a major limitation of ShadowMap for Open Source investigation, because source imagery is rarely created and analysed on the same day.
Shadow data overlaid on a satellite map is only available in paid versions of ShadowMap. For free satellite map backgrounds for shadow modelling, consider using ShadeMap.
Similar Tools
ShadeMap - a free, open source application which provides shadow information at a given location, with a choice of backgrounds including satellite imagery.
PeakVisor - a platform aimed at geolocation using skylines which incorporates shadow modelling as one of many features.
ShadowFinder - a free, open source application which provides all possible locations on the surface of the earth for a given date, time and shadow angle.
Ethical Considerations
The inclusion of detailed building data in Shadowmap could lead to invasions of personal privacy.
Guide
Useful FAQs and resources can be found at https://shadowmap.org/support
Detailed video presentations are on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@shadowmap_org
Tool provider
ShadowMap Technologies GMBH, a small company based in Austria.
Founder (2021) and CEO Georg Molzer.
Advertising Trackers
Sophie Tedling.
August 2026
Last updated
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