The Land F/X Site Builder component provides a variety of graphical needs at one location to help you build your site and express your site design. These graphical components aid in general site graphics, design, conceptual graphics, and even site dimensioning.

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In This Section

• The Site Builder is a floating toolbar with a variety of tools used for building a site.

• Zoning is a convenient tool for applying zoning classification for land use, along with related densities.

• Site Development graphics is used to apply land usage classifications to a site, along with related costs.

• Plan Graphics and Elevation Graphics are used for quick graphical input for cars, people, athletic, and furniture symbols.

• Diagrammatic design graphics, including Concept Nodes, Lines, and Site Elements.

• The Site Builder also includes a convenient system quick site dimensioning.

Site Builder is a floating toolbar with functions that can be used to build and design a site. These functions include zoning and land use, conceptual graphics, discipline graphics, plan and elevation graphics, and dimensioning on a site plan.

To access the Site Builder click the Site Builder function.

Site Builder function location

Site Builder floating toolbar

Zoning Graphics are used to create a land use zoning plan, where you can graphically visualize zoning and apply data to the different zones for analysis.

Clicking on the Zoning function will give you the Zoning dialog box.

Zoning dialog box

Theory

Zoning allows you to define areas and assign them a color, a description, and a density (if applicable). It will then keep track of the areas (in acres) and display the number of units based on the density. This is helpful in master planning large areas and determining if the number of units meets the project requirements.

Notes on Color

When selecting a color option to be printed by AutoCAD as a specific color, you should not select an AutoCAD Index Color, but rather a True Color or a Color Book. You can view these options by going to the AutoCAD Layer Properties Manager and click on the Color button for any layer.

You will be taken to AutoCAD's Select Color dialog box, where there are three tabs at the top. The first tab (the default) is Index Color, or the 255 colors that AutoCAD uses to assign a line weight and density to a line drawn with that color using a plot ctb file (color dependent plotting), this is discussed in Unit 2.2of this guide.

The next tab is True Color, or the Windows based colors as RGB combinations. Depending on your monitor and video card, there are technically over 16 million different color options with True Color, however these may not plot as what it looks like on the screen, so test it out.

Lastly there are Color Books, which offer a variety of industry standard colors, such as Pantone color books. Pantone Colors are largely a standardized color reproduction system that standardizes colors in the CMYK process. Pantone Colors are represented in a printed Pantone Color Book where the specific colors are physically represented on how they are to look when reproduced. If you can, use these and have a Pantone color book handy so the students can pick the actual color from the book first, and then set up the plotter to plot with Pantone colors.

When you are selecting a color for an AutoCAD layer, you are usually doing so to let that color represent a line or a black or gray tone solid. The layers to draw lines, text, etc, should have the normal AutoCAD Index Colors, and will plot black at the thickness determined by the Plot Style CTB file.

When you are selecting a layer to plot an actual color, use either the True Color or Color Books color options. The good news is that you can plot to a PDF file very easily just using a CTB file, such as LFX.ctb (see Plotter Issues). The AutoCAD Index Colors will print as black lines, and the True Colors or Color Book colors will print in color.

Selecting “New” will allow you to assign a color, title, and data to your new zoning classification.

“New” zoning classification dialog box where you assign a color to represent your new zoning classification

The zoning color selection dialog box will list some generalized zoning classification color assignments. These are based on the American Planning Association colors for land use. Either select one of these colors to represent the zoning classification you wish to create, or click on New to add a color to the list of color options.

In this example, pick the color defined by the color name Medium Density Residential. This dialog box will appear:

• Title: The “Title:” is filled in with the name of the color, so let's change that to the name of the desired zoning classification, which we will call “RESIDENTIAL MEDIUM DENSITY (R-2)”.

• Notes: If you wish to give it “Notes:”, these will appear below the title in the schedule, and are intended if you wish to further define this zoning classification, such as with the note “R-2 zone is intended for compact residences close to commercial and public services.”

• Density: You can then fill in the density per acre, and the program will display the total units in the schedule.

• Cost: You can also apply a cost factor if applicable.

• Symbol: A sample of the color assigned to this zone. Remember, this is a Pantone® color, and your screen may not display this color accurately. Pantone® colors are a standard for colors, so get the Pantone® Formula Color Guide for the most accurate representation of the selected color.

• Linetype: This effects whatever bounding polyline you used to define this color. Making it a “Non-Plot” will automatically convert the bounding line to a non plotting line on a non-plot layer.

New Color

You can create a new color option for your classifications by selecting the “New” button here. When you do you will assign a color to be listed as a color option.

Select a new color to be listed as a selection option

The colors Land F/X assigns to its zoning classifications are based on Pantone® colors, for the most accurate definition regardless of computer monitor or plotter. You could also define the color by “True Color”.

After selecting a color you give that color a name that suits you.

This name and color will then be a color option to select from for any new classification

View Color

Selecting “View” from the color options box will bring up that color as a Pantone® color. You can accept the given color, or change it if you wish.

In Model Space, on any layer, draw a polyline border around where you want the zone to go. Select the Zoning function, and pick the zone you wish to place.

Example of zoning category options to pick from

Select a category then with the pick box, select some bounding polyline. The area will be fill with that color, and the bounding polyline will be changed to layer LG-NPLT and be non-plotting.

Selecting the Zone Schedule function

With the drawing open with zoning classifications, select the Zoning Schedule function and select the upper left corner of where you want the schedule, either in Paper Space or Model Space. You can always scale the schedule after placing it for precise fit to your drawing.

Example of a Zoning plan with the schedule

Site Development Graphics are used to create a site utilization study or a site master plan, where you can graphically visualize site usage and apply cost data to the different site usage categories for analysis.

Clicking on the Site Development function will give you the Zoning dialog box

Site Development dialog box

Theory

The Site Development function allows you to define site usage to various area of the site, and assign them a color, a description, and a cost (if applicable). It will then keep track of the areas (in square feet) and display the total cost for each use base on the cost per square foot. This is helpful in master planning a site, and determining if the cost meets the project requirements.

Selecting “New” will allow you to assign a color, title, and data to your new Site Development classification.

“New” Site Development classification dialog box where you assign a color to represent your new Site Development classification

The Site Development color selection dialog box will list some generalized Site Development classification color assignments. Either select one of these colors to represent the Site Development classification you wish to create, or click on New to add a color to the list of color options.

In this example, pick the color defined by the color name Planting-High Level. This dialog box will appear:

• Title: The Title is filled in with the name of the color, so change or edit that name to fit the title of the classification you wish…or you might just leave it as it is.

• Notes: If you wish to give the classification Notes, these will appear below the title in the schedule, and are intended to further define this Site Development classification, such as with the note “Planting with a denser closer spacing with larger size plants. These areas are intended for building entries, site entries, or more highly visible areas.”

• Cost: You can apply a cost factor to the classification to get a total cost estimate for the site.

• Symbol: A sample of the color assigned to this category. Remember, this is a Pantone® color, and your screen may not display this color accurately. Pantone® colors are a standard for colors, so get the Pantone® Formula Color Guide to view the most accurate representation of the selected color.

• Linetype: This effects whatever bounding polyline you used to define this color. Making it a “Non-Plot” will automatically convert the bounding line to a non plotting line on a non-plot layer.

New Color

You can create a new color option for your classifications by selecting the “New” button here. When you do you will assign a color to be listed as a color option.

Select a new color to be listed as a category selection option

The colors Land F/X assigns to its Site Development classifications are based on Pantone® colors, for the most accurate definition regardless of computer monitor or plotter. You could also define the color by “True Color”.

After selecting a color you give that color a name that suits you.

This name and color will then be a color option to select from for any new classification

View Color

Selecting “View” from the color options box will bring up that color as a Pantone® color. You can accept the given color, or change it if you wish.

In Model Space, on any layer, draw a polyline border around where you want the Site Development classification to go. Select the Site Development function, and pick the Site Development category you wish to place.

Example of Site Development category options to pick from.

Select a category then with the pick box, select some bounding polyline. The area will be fill with that color, and the bounding polyline will be changed to layer LG-NPLT and be non-plotting.

Selecting the Site Development Schedule function

With the drawing open with your Site Development classifications, select the Site Development Schedule function and click on the upper left corner of where you want the schedule, either in Paper Space or Model Space. You can always scale the schedule after placing it for precise fit to your drawing.

Example of a Site Development Plan and schedule

Elevation and Plan Graphics are for placing objects such as people, cars, benches, etc. into a plan. These help to enliven a plan or add detail to it.

Elevation Graphics button

Selecting Elevation Graphics will give you a dialog box of the library of Elevation Graphics classifications.

Example of Elevation Graphic libraries

These classifications are nothing more than folders with AutoCAD files in them at the LandFX/Blocks/Elevation_Graphics location.

Elevation Graphics folder structure

Note the numbering prefix, allowing easy re-organization of the order of the symbol categories. You will not see the first three digits of the folder name when they are displayed as libraries, for alphabetical control of the layout.

Land F/X provides several quick methods to add blocks to this location.

• The Land F/X Save Block function will automatically save an individual block on-the-fly as you are drawing it. The function will select the block, create a slide of the block, update the appropriate slide library, and make the block instantly available to all of the Land F/X office wide users.

• A user can move any number of existing files in bulk into folders in the Elevation Graphics tree, and then use the Sync button in the Data Manager to add them all at once.

Selecting a group of Elevation Graphics will display a dialog box of symbols to choose from. Selecting a symbol will then prompt for its insertion, and if desired, its rotation. If a symbol seems to have the incorrect setting for scale or rotation, select the symbol and click the View button to edit its settings.

Selecting “Site Furnishings”, then “Tables” for miscellaneous table elevations.

Theory

The libraries of symbols in Land F/X are not intended to be complete. They are only a skeleton to be added to. Land F/X includes a unique tool for adding new symbols, or blocks, to these libraries with the Save Block function. As students create new symbols, they can have a method to save the symbols into a library of their choice.

Plan Graphics are generic graphics (those with no particular manufacturer), for use in illustrating a site or building plan.

Site Builder function location.

Plan Graphics button

Selecting Plan Graphics will give you a dialog box of the library of Plan Graphics classifications.

Example of Plan Graphic libraries

These classifications are nothing more than folders with AutoCAD files in them at the LandFX/Blocks/Plan_Graphics location.

Plan Graphics folder structure

Note the numbering prefix, allowing easy re-organization of the order of the symbol categories. You will not see the first three digits of the folder name when they are displayed as libraries, for alphabetical control of the layout.

Land F/X provides several quick methods to add blocks to this location.

• The Land F/X Save Block function will automatically save an individual block on-the-fly as you are drawing it. The function will select the block, create a slide of the block, update the appropriate slide library, and make the block instantly available to all of the Land F/X office wide users.

• A user can move any number of existing files in bulk into folders in the Plan Graphics tree, and then use the Sync button in the Data Manager to add them all at once.

Selecting a group of Plan Graphics will display a dialog box of symbols to choose from. Selecting a symbol will then prompt for its insertion, and if desired, its rotation. If a symbol seems to have the incorrect setting for scale or rotation, select the symbol and click the View button to edit its settings.

Selecting “Site Furnishings”, then “Chairs” for miscellaneous table elevations

Some of the Plan Graphics libraries are interesting in their content. A few of those include:

Site Amenities: The Site Amenities library has a miscellaneous grouping of site related items.

“Bar-b-ques” has some convenient barbeques

“Boulders” have rocks or boulders based on sizes from 8 inches to 6 feet in size.

Athletic: Athletic has a wide variety of sports fields and equipment at various sizes or uses.

Pools-Spas: This library has a variety and lap pools and saunas and spas.

People: Plan view of people walking, standing, sitting, etc.

Vehicles: Vehicles has a variety of vehicles to chose from, and Vehicle-Access has some convenient turning radius for various vehicles.

Concept Graphics are those that relate to very diagrammatic conceptual level of site planning. These are used for creating schematic designs, and are representative of objects or ideas. These symbols include nodes, lines, arrows, and site elements.

Site Builder function location.

Concept Graphics button on the Site Builder floating toolbar.

Concept Graphics will expand for the various components.

Theory

The Concept Graphics function is intended to express the design intent in a very diagrammatic fashion, much like an initial site analysis.

It is obviously quicker to plot out a site base and apply hand graphics to express the design intent, and this may very well be more appropriate for academic work. The problem in the professional world is that anytime a drawing receives hand input, that drawing becomes sacred, and must be stored and protected for the life of the project or beyond. An electronic file can instantly be sent to anyone as a pdf, and is quick to reproduce, change, and store.

The Concept Nodes slide library will appear.

Concept Nodes dialog box.

Select one of the Concept Nodes and the command line will prompt:

Position:

Select the center of the node, and the command line will prompt:

Scale:

Select the outer size of the node.

Examples of Concept Nodes.

The Concept Lines slide library will appear.

Concept Lines dialog box.

Select the Concept Line of choice, the command line will prompt:

Specify line width [Specify/<10.00>]:

Either type an “S” for Specify, or right click to accept the default size. The default size is 10.00 when you first activate the Concept Lines, and this size will then revert to the previous size of the line you last drew. For this example, type “S” and the command line will prompt:

Specify first line width point:

Click on a point to represent the first point in specifying the Concept Line width. The command line will prompt:

Specify the second line width point:

Click on a point to represent the width of the Concept Line. Now that the width of the line is determined, the command line will prompt for first point for the drawing of the Concept Line.

Start point:

Click where you want the Concept Line to begin. The command line will prompt:

Next point [<Select Arrow>, <A>rc]:

This will allow you to select the Next point, type A to place an arc, or right click to end the function with Select Arrow.

For Next point, click on one or more points to define where you want the Concept Line to appear. Each time you click, the above command line will continue to prompt you

At any time you are drawing lines, type A for arc, and you will be prompted for the mid-point of the arc, and then a rubber band line will guide you to placing the end point. After placing an arc, the command line will default back to drawing lines.

To end the line, right click to bring up the Concept Arrows slide library. Either select an arrow type or click on Cancel to end the line with no arrow.

Concept Arrows library

When you select an arrow type for the Concept Line, the Concept Arrow will automatically be placed at the end of the line, with the correct orientation and size.

An example of the process for Concept Lines is as follows:

Select a line type from the Concept Line library. The command line will ask for a set distance, with the default at 10.0, or type S for select, then select two points. Click the point to start the line, and a point to end each line segment. At any time, instead of clicking to end a line segment, type A for arc, and draw an arc. Right click for an ending arrow, or select Cancel at the arrow options to end the function.

Points 1 and 2 indicate the Concept Line width. Point 3 starts the line segment and Point 4 ends the first line segment, and that line segment is drawn.
While the function is still active, type “A” for arc, then select the mid-point, indicated by Point 5. A rubber band arc line will appear to help decide were the arc is to end, in this case Point 6, and that arc segment is drawn.	The function is still active, and defaults back to drawing lines. Click on Point 7 for the end point of the line.
After clicking on Point 7, right click to end the function and the Concept Arrow library will appear. Select and arrow (or indicate “Cancel” is you don’t want an arrow), and that arrow type will automatically be inserted at the proper scale and orientation. This ends the drawing as shown to the left.	If you want to add an arrow to the other end, select the Concept Arrows function, select the same arrow type, and you will be prompted for the position. Click Point 8, and the command line will ask for the scale, with a default of the last arrow. Accept the default and orient the arrow as desired, as indicated to the right above.

The entire Concept Line drawn, along with the Concept Arrow attached to it, will be one block entity and can be easily selected to delete or move it. If you don’t want an arrow at the end of a Concept Line, right click to go to the Concept Arrows library and click on Cancel. This will allow the Concept Line to be one entity for ease of editing.

The Concept Arrows slide library will appear.

Concept Arrows slide library.

Select the arrow of choice, click on the location, then select the size desired.

The scale of the arrow will default to the last arrow or Concept Line you just drew

Site elements are often best represented on a Concept Plan in a schematic form. The Concept Site Elements are drawn in a rough, basic manner for quick and diagrammatic site presentations.

The Concept Site Elements library will appear.

Concept Site dialog box

The Concept Site Elements are intended to be entered into Model Space at full scale, and will graphically represent the various objects at a completed size.

Site Dimensioning allows you to quickly start dimensioning a site plan without having to worry about dimension styles. Set the dimension style once, then save it in Land F/X preferences, then dimension on demand whenever you wish.

You will need to have the dimension style active that conforms to how you like to dimension site plans. You can do this in a variety of ways.

• Open an AutoCAD drawing that already has a dimension style set to your preference.
• You can use the AutoCAD Dimension Style (Dimension/Dimension Style…) dialog box to alter or create a new style.
• You can use the AutoCAD Design Center (Tools/Palettes/DesignCenter) to find an AutoCAD drawing that has a style you like and select that style and make it active.

Once you make a style active, test the dimension style by performing a sample of each of the dimensioning that Land F/X has on the Site Builder toolbar: Linear; Aligned; Baseline; Continue; Angular; Radius; and Center Mark.

When you have tested the dimension style you are ready to save into the Land F/X system. Go to AutoCAD’s Dimension Style (Dimension/Dimension Style…), and make your style the one called Standard. This is usually done by renaming “Standard” to another name, renaming your style “Standard”, and make sure your style, now named “Standard”, is the active style.

Now go to Land F/X Preferences and click on the Save DimStyle button on the General preference layout

Preferences from the Toolbar fly out	Preferences from the pull down menu

Save Dimstyle button on the Land F/X Preferences dialog box

Theory

Using dimension styles in AutoCAD can often be confusing. We decided to add this feature to Land F/X after repeated requests from our clients to help in automating dimensioning. Land F/X also offers a dimensioning function for details in the Detail Builder.

After saving your dimension style in Preferences, anytime you are in any AutoCAD drawing, ensure the Land F/X Scale is set, click on the Site Builder button, the dimensioning buttons are at the end of the Site Builder floating toolbar.

Site Dimensioning on the Site Builder toolbar

Just start dimensioning by selecting the button for the dimension type you want to do: Linear; Aligned; Baseline; Continue; Angular; Radius; and Center Mark. Land F/X will automatically correct the scale for whatever is set in Land F/X.