Architecture Site Analysis Symbols

In architectural site analysis, various symbols and notations are used to clearly communicate important features and characteristics of a site. Here’s a list of common symbols and their meanings often used in site analysis: ### Common Symbols in Site Analysis 1. **North Arrow**: Indicates the cardinal directions to orient the site plan. 2. **Topography Lines (Contours)**: Represents elevation changes on the site. Contour lines that are close together indicate steep slopes, while lines that are spaced far apart indicate flat areas. 3. **Vegetation**: - **Deciduous Trees**: Often represented by a distinct leafy symbol. - **Coniferous Trees**: Typically shown with a triangular shape. - **Shrubs**: Often depicted with cloud-like formations. - **Grass**: Sometimes indicated by a textured pattern or small dots. 4. **Water Bodies**: - **Rivers and Streams**: Shown with wavy lines. - **Lakes and Ponds**: Often drawn as irregular shapes filled in with blue. - **Wetlands**: Sometimes represented with dashed lines or specific hatching. 5. **Access and Circulation**: - **Roads and Paths**: Solid lines for paved roads, dashed lines for unpaved paths. - **Entrances/Exits**: Marked by arrows indicating movement direction. 6. **Buildings**: Represented as solid blocks or outlined shapes with labels denoting their use (e.g., residential, commercial). 7. **Utilities**: - **Water Lines**: Blue lines. - **Sewage Lines**: Solid or dashed lines with specific labeling. - **Electricity**: Sometimes indicated with zig-zag lines or symbols for poles and transformers. 8. **Boundaries**: - **Property Lines**: Solid lines. - **Setback Lines**: Usually dashed lines indicating the minimum distance from the property line where structures can be placed. 9. **Points of Interest**: - **Schools, Parks, etc.**: Typically labeled with their names and represented with specific icons. 10. **Soil Types & Geotechnical Features**: - Different patterns or colors to denote various soil types. - Symbols for rock formations or other geotechnical data. 11. **Zoning**: - Different colors or hatching patterns to represent various zoning classifications (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.). 12. **Views and Vistas**: - Arrows indicating key sight lines or views to significant landmarks. 13. **Wind Direction**: Sometimes shown with arrows indicating prevailing winds. ### Color Codes Some architects and planners use specific color codes to denote different features: - **Green**: Parks, vegetation, and natural areas. - **Blue**: Water features. - **Yellow**: Residential areas. - **Red**: Commercial zones. ### Legend A legend/key is typically included in site analysis drawings to explain the symbols and colors used, ensuring clarity and ease of interpretation. ### Tools and Software Tools like AutoCAD, SketchUp, and GIS software often provide libraries of standard symbols and allow for customized icons to cater to specific project requirements. Using consistent symbols and clear notation in site analysis helps convey important information effectively to clients, planners, and other stakeholders in the architectural design process.