Terrain

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• Converting a Polyline into a Terrain Perimeter

  Converting a CAD drawing into a plan’s terrain perimeter allows you to create a perimeter that bounds the 3D terrain and defines the property.

• Creating a Plot Plan

  Create a plot plan polyline by imputing distance and angles into the New CAD Line dialog, then convert the polyline into a terrain perimeter.

• Creating a Stepped Retaining Wall

  Stepped retaining walls are a nice feature to add to your landscape. Chief Architect makes it easy.

• Creating a Walk-out Basement

  Walkout basements are a type of daylight basement typically located on sloped terrain. They feature walls that are above ground at the lower end of the slope so that a door can be positioned above the terrain at that end. You will need to create sloped terrain and adjust the Building Pad Elevation and/or terrain data so that the terrain is at the appropriate height relative to the structure at both the high and low ends of the slope.

• Creating an In-ground Swimming Pool

  Using the Terrain Feature Tools, Polyline Solids and 3D Molding Polylines, you can create a custom ground level swimming pool.

• Creating Expansion Joints in a Sidewalk

  To model expansion joints in a sidewalk, create a single section of sidewalk and then replicate it with small gaps in between each section.

• Creating Stairs in Sloping Terrain

  You can create stairs that follow your terrain by drawing the stairs in an area defined by Retaining Walls and snapping the stairs to landings at each end.

• Displaying a Structure's Shadow in Floor Plan View

  Displaying any shadow for a building in plan view is easy when you design with Chief Architect.

• Generating Contour Lines on the Terrain

  If you have added Hills and Valleys to your terrain at the same location as a Flat Region, the flat region will have priority over the hills and valleys.

• How Chief Architect Interprets Terrain Lines

  Placing similar elevation lines close to each other allows the terrain to be built with fewer unwanted elevation changes.

• How the Height of Floors Relate to the Height of the Terrain

  Chief Architect will automatically raise the floor platform off the terrain for you. The amount that the floor is raised depends on the type of ¬foundation.

• Importing Terrain Elevation Data from a DXF or DWG File

  Many surveyors save their surveys into a DWG, or DXF, file that contains the elevation information about a lot. Chief Architect can import and use this data.

• Matching Building and Terrain Heights

  Floor height varies depending on the type of foundation that you choose to build, and the Subfloor Height Above Terrain value that you enter in the Terrain Specification dialog.

• Modeling a Subdivision or Lot with Multiple Structures

  Saving your houses or other structures as 3D symbols allows you to place multiple buildings in a single plan to create 3D views of an entire neighborhood, subdivision, or lot with multiple structures.

• Placing a Retaining Wall in the Terrain

  Retaining walls are automatically drawn with footings and a terrain break, which creates a sharp drop in the terrain along the wall.

• Using Real World Elevation Data to Create a Terrain

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