`2aaaaRIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

CITIES OF MANDALUYONG AND PASIG

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

CADO2: Module – Lesson 3

SECTION 3 Site Planning

• Site Orientation
Figure 3 shows how terrain can influence housing types.
• Site Plan Layout Subterranean construction has gained popularity, and provides
some economic advantages in energy consumption. The terrain
of the site is an important factor to consider in the
INTRODUCTION implementation of subterranean designs (see Figure 4).

Site orientation is the placement of a structure on the property

with certain environmental and physical factors taken into
consideration. Site orientation is one of the preliminary factors
that an architect or designer takes into consideration when
beginning the design process. The specific needs of the
occupants, such as individual habits, perceptions, and aesthetic
values, are important and need to be considered.

The property line setback requirements do not allow much

flexibility. Setback is the minimum distance required between the
structure and the property line. In such a case, site planning has
a minimal influence on the design. This chapter presents factors
that can influence site orientation, such as terrain, view, sunlight,
wind, and sound.

TERRAIN ORIENTATION

The terrain is the characteristic of the land on which the proposed

structure shall be placed. Terrain affects the type of structure to
be built. A level construction site is a natural location for a single- Figure 1. Level site.
level or two-story home. Some landscape techniques on a level
site can allow for alternatives.

For example, the excavation material plus extra topsoil could be
used to construct an earth berm, which is a mound or built-up
area. The advantage of the berm is to help reduce the apparent
height of a second story or to add earth insulation to part of the
structure (see Figure 1). Construction on any site requires that a
slope be graded away from the house. This is to help ensure that
normal rainwater drains away.
Sloped sites are a natural location for multilevel or daylight
basement homes. A single-level home is a poor choice on a
sloped site because of the extra construction cost for excavation
or building up the foundation (see Figure 2). Some builders have
taken advantage of very steep construction sites by designing
homes on stilts. This requires careful geological and structural
engineering to ensure safe construction.
VIEW ORIENTATION
In many situations, future home owners purchase a building site
before they begin the home design. In a large number of these
cases, the people are buying a view. The view may be of
mountains, city lights, a lake, a river, the ocean, or even a golf
course. These view sites are usually more expensive than
comparable sites without a view. The architect’s obligation to the
client in this situation is to provide a home design that optimizes
the view. Actually, it is best to provide an environment that
allows the occupants to feel as though they are part of the view.
Figure 5 shows a dramatic example of a view as part of the total
environment.
Figure 2. Slope sites.

Figure 2. Slope sites.


FIGURE 4. Subterranean construction site.
FIGURE 5. View orientation. Courtesy Pella Windows and Doors.
View orientation can conflict with the advantages of other
orientation factors such as solar or wind orientation. When a
client pays a substantial amount to purchase a view site, such a
trade-off may be necessary. When the view dictates that a large
glass surface face a wind-exposed non-solar orientation, some
energy saving alternatives should be considered, such as
providing as much solar-related glass as possible.
Use small window surfaces in other areas to help minimize heat
loss. Use triple-glazed windows in the exposed view surface as
well as in the rest of the structure if economically possible.
SOLAR ORIENTATION
The sun is an important factor in home orientation. Sites with a
solar orientation allow for excellent exposure to the sun. There
should not be obstacles such as tall buildings, evergreen trees, or
hills that have the potential to block the sun. See Figure 6.
FIGURE 6. Southern exposure.
When a site has southern exposure that allows solar orientation,
a little basic astronomy can contribute to proper placement of
the structure. Figure 6 shows how a southern orientation relative
to the sun’s path provides the maximum solar exposure.
East–west street orientation.
Establishing South
A perfect solar site allows the structure to have unobstructed
southern exposure. When a site has this potential, true south
should be determined. This determination should be established
in the preliminary planning stages. Other factors that contribute
to orientation, such as view, can also be taken into consideration
at this time. If view orientation requires a structure be turned
slightly away from the south, it is possible that the solar potential
will not be significantly reduced.
True south is determined by a line from the North Pole to the
South Pole. When a compass is used to establish north–south, the
compass points to magnetic north. Magnetic north is not the
same as true north. True north is the same as geographic north,
which is the North Pole. The difference between true north and
magnetic north is known as the magnetic declination.
FIGURE 7. Magnetic declination.

Solar Site–Planning Tools
Instruments are available that calculate solar access and
demonstrate shading patterns for any given site throughout the
year. Solar access refers to the availability of direct sunlight to a
structure or construction site. Some instruments provide
accurate readings for the entire year at any time of day, in clear
or cloudy weather.
Solar orientation with trees.
Solar Site Location
A solar site in a rural or suburban location where there may be
plenty of space to take advantage of a southern solar exposure
allows the designer a great deal of flexibility.
WIND ORIENTATION
The term prevailing winds refers to the direction from which the
wind most frequently blows in a given area of the country.
Locations protected from wind.
Wind conditions should be taken into consideration in the
orientation of a home or business. In many cases, different
aspects of site orientation may present a conflict. For example,
the best solar orientation may be in conflict with the best wind
orientation. The best view may be out over the ocean, but the
winter winds may also come from that direction.
Subterranean wind protection.
One of the factors used to evaluate orientation can outweigh
another. Personal judgment may be the final ruling factor. A good
combination can be achieved if careful planning is used to take all
of the environmental factors into consideration.
Wind protection using earth.
Site Location
Wind conditions that influence site location can be found in
almanacs, in the local library, and on the Internet. Look for
subjects such as climate, microclimate, prevailing winds, and
wind conditions.
PHILIPPINES DECLINATION MAP IS AVAILABLE ONLINE
https://www.magnetic-declination.com/locations.php?cc=PH
SOUND ORIENTATION

If your construction site is located in the country near the great

outdoors, sound orientation may not be a concern. The sounds
that you have are singing birds, croaking frogs, chirping crickets,
and possibly only a few road noises. It is very difficult to eliminate
road sounds from many other locations. A site within a mile of a
major freeway can be plagued by excessive droning road noise. A
building site that is level with or slightly below a road can have
less noise than a site that is above and overlooking the sound
source.

A few landscaping designs can contribute to a quieter living

environment. Berms, trees, hedges, and fences can all be helpful.
Some landscape materials deflect sounds, while others absorb
sounds. The density of the sound barrier has an influence on
sound reduction, although even a single hedge can help reduce a
sound problem. A mixture of materials can most effectively
reduce sound. Keep in mind that deciduous trees and plants help
reduce noise problems during the summer, but they are poor
sound insulation in the winter (see Figure below).

Landscaping for sound insulation.

Sound reduction: home and landscape plan.

Trees can provide sound insulation. The greater the width of the
plantings for sound insulation, the better the control. Trees
planted in staggered rows provide the best design. The above
Figure shows the plan view of a site with sound barrier plants.
SITE PLAN REQUIREMENTS
A site plan, also known as a plot or lot plan, is a map of a piece of
land that can be used for any number of purposes. Site plans can
show a proposed construction site for a specific property. Sites
can show topography with contour lines, or the numerical value
of land elevations can be given at certain locations. Site plans are
also used to show how a construction site will be excavated and
are then known as grading plans. Site plans can be drawn to serve
any number of required functions, and all have similar
characteristics, which include showing the following:
● A legal description of the property based on a survey.
● Property line bearings and directions.
● North arrow.
● Roads and easements.
● Utilities.
● Elevations.
● Map scale.
TOPOGRAPHY
Topography is a physical description of land surface showing its
variation in elevation, known as relief, and locating other
features. Surface relief can be shown with graphic symbols that
use shading methods to accent the character of land, or the
differences in elevations can be shown with contour lines.
Sample divisions of a section.
Part of a lot and block subdivision.
DRAWING SITE PLANS
Site plan requirements vary by jurisdiction, such as city, county,
or state. Some site plan elements are similar throughout the
country. Guidelines for site plans can be found at a local building
office or building permit department. Some agencies, for
example, require that the site plan be drawn on paper of a
specific size, such as 8 1/2 × 14". Typical site plan items include
the following:
● Site plan scale.
● Legal description of the property.
● Property line bearings and dimensions.
● North arrow.
● Existing and proposed roads.
● Driveways, patios, walks, and parking areas.
● Existing and proposed structures.
● Public or private water supply.
● Public or private sewage disposal.
● Location of utilities.
● Rain and footing drains, and storm sewers or
drainage.
● Topography, including contour lines or land elevations at lot
corners, street center line, driveways, and floor elevations.
● Setbacks—the minimum distance from the property lines to
the front, rear, and sides of the structure.
● Specific items on adjacent properties (may be required).
● Existing and proposed trees (may be required).
Site plan with contour lines.
Recommended typical site plan layout.
 SITE ANALYSIS PLAN

In areas or conditions where zoning and building permit

applications require a design review, a site analysis plan may be
required. The site analysis provides the basis for the proper
design relationship of the proposed development to the site and
to adjacent properties. The degree of detail of the site analysis is
generally appropriate to the scale of the proposed project.

● A vicinity map showing the location of the property in

relationship to adjacent properties, roads, and utilities.
● Site features, such as existing structures and plants on the
property and adjacent property.
● Scale.
● North arrow.
● Property boundaries.
● Slope shown by contour lines or cross sections, or
both.
● Plan legend.
Sample site plan showing existing home and proposed addition.
● Traffic patterns.
● Solar site information if solar application is
intended.
● Pedestrian patterns.

Plot plan showing a public sewer connection.

Plot plan showing a private septic sewage system.

Site Plan Layout
This information can often be found in the legal documents for
the property, the surveyor’s map, the local assessor’s office, or
the local zoning department.
STEP 3 Lay out the proposed structure using construction lines.
The house can be drawn on the site plan with or without showing
the roof. A common practice is to draw only the outline of the
floor plan. In some cases, the roof overhang is considered in the
setback.
Lay out all roads, driveways, walks, and utilities. Be sure the
structure is inside or on the minimum setback requirements.
Setbacks are imaginary boundaries beyond which the structure
may not be placed. Think of setbacks as property line offsets
established by local regulations. Minimum setbacks can be
confirmed with local zoning regulations. The minimum setbacks
for this property are 25' front, 10' sides, and 35' back from the
property lines to the house.

FIGURE 1. Plat from a surveyor’s map.

The factors that influence site plan scale include the following:
● Sheet size.
● Plot size.
● Amount of information required. Step 3: Lay out the structures, roads, driveways, walks, and
● Amount of detail required. utilities. Be sure the structure is on or within the minimum
required setbacks.
Additional information that should be determined before the site
plan can be completed usually includes the following:
● Legal description. STEP 4 Complete all property lines, structures, roads, driveways,
● North direction. walks, and utilities, as shown in Figure in Step 4. Some drafters
● All existing roads, utilities, water, sewage disposal, use a thick line or shading for the structure. Draw each feature
drainage, and slope of land. on the appropriate CADD layer.
● Zoning information, including front, rear, and side
yard setbacks.
● Size of proposed structures.
● Elevations at property corners, driveway at street, or
contour elevations.

STEPS IN SITE PLAN LAYOUT

Follow these steps to draw a site plan.

STEP 1 Select the paper size. Evaluate the plot to be drawn.

Determine the scale to use by considering how the longest
dimension fits on the sheet. Always try to leave at least a 1/2"
margin around the sheet. CADD scale applications should be
Step 4: Darken boundary lines, structures, roads, driveways,
used.
walks, and utilities.
STEP 2 Lay out the entire site plan using construction lines. If
errors are made, the construction lines are very easy to erase, or
STEP 5 Add dimensions and contour lines (if any) or elevations.
use CADD layers so construction lines can be frozen when
The property line dimensions are generally placed on the inside
finished with the drawing (see Figure 2).
of the line in decimal feet, and the bearing is placed on the
outside of the line. The dimensions locating and giving the size of
Lay out the plot plan property lines.
the structure are commonly in feet and inches or in decimal feet.
Try to keep the amount of extension and dimension lines to a
minimum on the site plan. One way to do this is to dimension
directly to the house and place size dimensions inside the house
outline. Add all labels, including the road name, property
dimensions and bearings (if used), utility names, walks, and
driveways, as shown in the next Figure.

Step 5: Add dimensions and elevations; then label all roads,
driveways, walks, and utilities.
STEP 6 Complete the site plan by adding the north arrow, the
legal description, title, scale, client’s name, and other title block
information. Figure in Step 6 shows the complete site plan.
Step 6: Complete the plot plan. Add title, scale, north arrow, legal
description, and other necessary information, such as the
owner’s name if required.
SITE PLAN DRAWING CHECKLIST
Check off the items in the following list as you work on the basic
site plan, to be sure that you have included all of the necessary
details. Site plans for special applications may require additional
information.
Special plans such as a grading plan, subdivision plan, site analysis
plan, planned unit development, and commercial plan.
❑ Site plan title and scale.
❑ Property legal description.
❑ Property line dimensions and bearings.
❑ North arrow.
❑ Existing and proposed roads with the elevation at the center
of roads.
❑ Driveways, patios, decks, walks, and parking areas.
❑ Existing and proposed structures with floor-level elevations.
❑ Public or private water supplies.
❑ Public or private sewage disposal.
There are CADD software programs specifically designed for
drawing site plans. One of the benefits of CADD over manual
drafting is accuracy.

A CADD-drawn site plan.

Examples of common CAD site plan line formats.

Recommended line weights and CAD Layer guidelines.