Download Why are site plans necessary

Why are site plans necessary?
Communicate the physical nature of the building site to everyone concerned with the project.
Traditional site plans
Show bearings and dimensions, streets, easements and other existing features, such as
contours and elevations. These features need to identified to properly locate and site the
building.
A good site plan will show all of the following features.
Existing contours and new contours
Set backs and easements
Existing structures
Driveways and sidewalks (size and location)
Parking areas
Physical characteristics such as rock outcroppings, streams, rivers, lakes,etc.
Compass bearings for the site
Utility locations
Streets and curbs
Bench marks
Slope and runoff directional indicators
Symbols legend, title and scale
Many of these items can provide a great deal more information and value to the construction
project due to technology advancements in this area.
Contours and cut/fill
Runoff models
Aging of plant life
Heat load calculations
Traffic patterns
Ability to view the building from any angle
General visualization tool
Site plans have many uses
Planning for construction and for operations
Code requirements
Analysis of access and parkingConstruction and operations
(deliveries, emergencies, staff and public access)
Watershed
Marketing-colorized views of trees etc. Photo imaging software .
Estimating, integation to estimating software is very common and useful on a unit
cost basis
Calculate and display square footage for each use as plans change, for analysis.
Specialized Site Plans
Master Plans
Many large land and building owners, both public and private are beginning to or have
developed master plans for their building and land use. These plans are researched and
implemented 20-30 years in advance of full implementation.
All issues and concerns with the land and the physical plant are to be considered when
developing the plan for the specified period of time.
Landscape software can be used to model many aspects of the entire site. The ability to
edit and develop multiple versions of the plan graphically provides an incredible tool for analysis
of the plans viability.
Development Site Plans
Used to model and plan proposed (and underway) developments. These models are very
useful in the planning and financing phase of development projects.
These tools easily can meet many needs thru the ability to draw and re draw.
Roads, entrances and other traffic related items.
Preserves, wetlands and other set aside property.
Automatically size lots
Continuous display of site statistics
Instant visualization of any changes.
Site development issues include the following
Watershed, runoff, retention, conversation and containment
Code requirements, easements, right of ways, specification of land use
Irrigation design-pipe sizing, head layout, pipe layout, loop diagrams.
Surface modeling
3D terrain, runoff, contours, terrain grids,
Site design
Volume, stacking , site design
Site analysis
Each of these items may be modeled graphically thru the use of landscape software.
Single Building Site Plans
All the features and needs mentioned above apply to the construction or renovation of a
single building. The site plan in this case will be more detailed than a master plan or
development plan. It could be part of that plan drawn in a deeper level of detail. As an example
Plantings
Fence material and specifications
Parking equipment specifications
Concrete and other surface material specifications
Other exterior architectural features
Furniture
Lighting
Other areas
Lawn and planting plans
These plans are often prepared by a licensed landscape architect.
These plans can provide great value to the project.
Foundation plantings for sound and weather control
Wind and light barriers
Aesthetics
Soil erosion
Common plant names as well as botanical names to eliminate confusion in
the bidding process
Complex planting schedules
Sections and details of plantings, protection, temporary supports,
landscape details and other items.
Civil planning documents
Traffic analysis
Road design
Intersection design form and function