Finding sunlight in densely built cities can be surprisingly difficult—especially after work hours when people most need its mental and physical benefits. Tall buildings create permanent or temporary shadows, leaving some areas starved of sunlight. This might seem like a minor inconvenience, but lack of sunlight affects everything from mood and productivity to outdoor activities and even simple tasks like drying laundry.

How It Works: Turning Sunlight into a Utility

A possible solution could involve creating an app that predicts and tracks sunlight availability in cities in real time, focusing on post-work hours when people are free to seek it. This could combine:

• 3D city models to map building shadows accurately
• Sun position algorithms to calculate where light falls at any time
• Weather data to adjust for cloud cover

Users might see a map overlay showing sunny spots or get notifications about ideal sunlight conditions. Photographers could use it to find golden hour lighting, while others might let the app suggest sunny walking routes during their commute.

Why People Would Use It

The immediate beneficiaries could be:

• Professionals wanting sunlight after indoor work
• People managing seasonal affective disorder
• Urban photographers and videographers
• City planners needing sunlight data

Local businesses like cafes with sunny patios might pay to be highlighted, while weather data providers could partner to improve the service. One way to start could be with a simple version using free 3D city data for one location, gradually adding features like user-reported temporary shadows or premium forecasting.

Standing Out From Existing Tools

Unlike photography-focused apps or architectural shadow tools, this would prioritize practical daily use. While similar services exist for niche needs, none appear to combine real-time shadow tracking with straightforward recommendations for urban sunlight seekers.