Help Database

By default, Chief Architect will automatically create a flattened building pad below a structure, and will choose a height for the building pad based on the terrain elevation at the structure's center point. In some situations, however, this automatic behavior can't be used - for example, in the case of a walkout basement.

Before entering your terrain data, change the terrain settings to avoid having the house float too low or too high in the terrain.

To set the terrain at a specific elevation

1. If you have not done so already, select Terrain> Terrain Perimeter  from the menu to create a terrain perimeter in the plan.  In most cases, the Terrain Perimeter should be located on Floor 1.
   
   
   
2. Select Terrain> Terrain Specification  from the menu to open the Terrain Specification dialog. On the General tab:
   
   
   
    
   • Uncheck Auto Calculate Elevation.
     
     
   • Specify 100 feet as the level of the Building Pad.  In Imperial plans, be sure to include the ' sign, or the program will use inches. 
     
     
     
3. Next, create two elevation lines in the plan at 100':
   
   
   • Select Terrain> Elevation Data> Elevation Line  from the menu, then click and drag to draw an elevation line.
     
     
   • Click on the line to select it, then click the Open Object  edit button. On the Elevation tab of the Elevation Line Specification dialog, set the Elevation at 100' and click OK.
     
     
     
     
   • With the elevation line still selected, click the Copy/Paste  edit button, then click and drag the line's Move edit handle away from the line's location. Release the mouse button to create an identical copy of the elevation line.
     
     
   • Creating two elevation lines at the same elevation will create flat terrain at that height.
     
     
     
4. At this point, you can delete the two elevation lines and then either draw or import the actual elevation data that you intend to use to generate your terrain.  There are several options for importing data:
   
   
   • Elevation points saved as comma- or tab-delimited text can be imported by selecting File> Import> Terrain Data  from the menu.
     
     
   • GPS data in .gpx file format can be imported by selecting File> Import> GPS Data .
     
     
   • Elevation data can also be imported in .dxf/.dwg format by selecting File> Import> Drawing .  For more information, see article 719: How to import terrain data from a dxf/dwg file.