Overview

• Introduction
• Property Lines
• Contour Lines
• Topographical Features
• Location of the Structure on the Site
• Drawing a Plot Plan Manually
• Landscape Plans
• Using tools to Draw a Plot Plan
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 Learning Objectives
• Identify the various features shown on a
typical plot plan.
• Visualize land elevations from contour
lines.
• Recognize typical topographical
symbols and apply them to site
considerations.
(continued)
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 Learning Objectives
• Properly locate a building on a site.
• Draw a plot plan using correct symbols
and conventions.
• Draw a plot plan using your tools.

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 Introduction to Plot Plans
• A plot plan is a drawing that shows the
site, location, and orientation of the
buildings on the property.
– Uses information provided by a surveyor
and recorded on a site plan.
– Shows several specific features related to
the site and buildings on the property.

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 Typical Site Plan

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 Plot Plan Features
• Plot plans contain:
– Length and bearing (direction) of each
property line.
– Location, outline, and size of buildings on
the site.
– Contour of the land.
– Elevation of property corners and contour
lines.
– Meridian arrow (north symbol).
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 Plot Plan Features
• Plot plans also show:
– Trees, shrubs, streams, and gardens.
– Streets, driveways, sidewalks, and patios.
– Location of utilities.
– Easements for utilities and drainage.
– Well, septic tank, and leach field.
– Fences and retaining walls.
– Lot number or address of the site.
– Scale of the drawing.
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 Property Lines
• Property lines define the site
boundaries.
• Length and bearing are identified.
• Measured to 1/100 foot.
• A benchmark is shown with a symbol
and represents a point of reference.
• The order of drawing property lines is
clockwise.
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 Property Line Designation

• This property line is 175.25' long and has

a bearing of N 89° E.
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 Bearings

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 Benchmarks

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 Drawing Property
Lines

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 Contour Lines
• Contour lines connect points that have
the same elevation.
– Help describe the topography of the site by
defining shape and elevation.
– Reference is mean sea level or a selected
point.
• Contour lines are the result of a survey.
• They are plotted from a grid of
elevations.

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 Contour Terms and Features
• Contour interval is the vertical distance
between two adjacent contour lines.
• Closely spaced contour lines indicate a
steep slope.
• Contours that are smooth and parallel
show that the ground surface is even.
• Closed contour lines represent summits
and depressions.
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 Contour Terms and Features
• Contour lines of different elevations do
not cross.
• Contour lines cross watersheds and
ridge lines at right angles.

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 Contour Lines

• This illustration shows a five foot

contour interval. 16
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 Contour Lines

• The relative space of contour lines

represents the slope angle.
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 Contour Lines

• Contour lines show relative roughness

of the land as well as the elevation.
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 Contour Lines

• Summits and depressions are

represented by closed contour lines.
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 Contour Lines

• Ridges and valleys should be identified

using the proper symbols.
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 Contour Lines

• Show estimated contours with a dashed

line. Surveyed contours are represented
by solid or long dashed lines.
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 Contour Lines

• Contour lines plotted from an elevation

grid using data supplied by a surveyor.
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 Topographical Features
• Topographical features include:
– Trees, shrubs, streams, roads, utilities,
fences, and similar features.
• These features are represented by
symbols; most are standardized.
• Nonstandard symbols should appear
with an explanation in a legend on the
drawing.

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 Topographical Symbols

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 Topographical Symbols
• When color is used with topographical
symbols, follow these guidelines.
– Black is used for lettering and human-built
works, such as roads, houses, etc.
– Brown represents all land forms such as
contour lines.
– Blue is used for water features.
– Green is for vegetation.
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 Locating the Structure on Site
• Analyze the site to determine the ideal
location for the structure.
• Analysis should include:
– Natural contour, trees, view.
– Surrounding houses, code restrictions.
– Style of house to be built.
– Solar orientation, winds.
– Placement of well and septic system.
– Size and shape of the site.
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 Locating the Structure on Site
• Once the location is decided on, the
structure can be drawn on the plot plan.
• There are three commonly accepted
methods of representing a house on the
plot plan:
– Lay out exterior walls and shade area.
– Draw a typical roof plan.
– Draw exterior walls thickened.
• Dimension the location of house on site.
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 Locating the Structure on Site

• First method of locating a house on a

plot plan.
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 Locating the Structure on Site

• Second method of locating a house on a

plot plan.
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 Locating the Structure on Site

• Third method of locating a house on a plot

plan.
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 Locating the Structure on Site

• Dimensioning a house that is not

parallel to a lot line.
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 Plot Plan Manual Drawing
Procedure
• Select a scale to provide the largest
drawing on the paper size.
• Lay out property lines. Add length and
bearing of each property line.
• Add scale and meridian arrow.
• Select a contour interval and plot the
contour lines lightly.
• Letter the elevation of each contour line
and property corner. 32 (continued)
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 Plot Plan Manual Drawing
Procedure

• Property lines located and identified;

meridian arrow, scale, contour lines, and
corner elevations shown. (continued)
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 Plot Plan Manual Drawing
Procedure
• Locate the house on the site and
dimension the overall length and width
of the house.
• Dimension the distance from the house
to the two adjacent property lines.
• Identify the elevation of a reference
corner of the house.

34 (continued)
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 Plot Plan Manual Drawing
Procedure
• Draw surrounding features such as the
driveway, sidewalks, and patios.
• Determine the centerline of the street
and location of utilities using proper
symbols.
• Add the well and septic system, if
required.

35 (continued)
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 Plot Plan Manual Drawing
Procedure

• The house, drive, and patio are

positioned on the site and dimensioned.
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 Plot Plan Manual Drawing
Procedure
• Draw other topographical features such
as trees and shrubs.
• Darken in contour lines.
• Check your drawing to be sure that it is
complete.

37 (continued)
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 Plot Plan Manual Drawing
Procedure

• The completed plot plan.

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 Typical Plot Plan

• A plot plan of a large site and house

with its own septic system and well.
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 Landscape Plans
• The landscape plan is designed to show
the type and placement of trees, shrubs,
flowers, and pools on the site.
– Provides an excellent way to plan the total
setting for the home.
– Uses symbols to represent plants and key
them to a chart.
– Repeats much of the information on the
plot plan.
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 Landscape Plan
• Typical landscape plan.

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 Landscape Plan

• Result of good planning.

(Elk Corporation) 42
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 CADD Plot Plans
• Site plans, plot plans, and landscape
plans can be drawn using CADD.
– General-purpose CADD can be used.
– Application specific software facilitates
drawing plot plans.
– Compatibility is a concern when using two
or more packages together.

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 CADD Plot Plans

• This computer-generated rendering

depicts the relationship between the
structure and the site.
(Helmuth A. Geiser, Member AIBD) 44
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 CADD Plot Plans
• Select the plotting scale for the plot plan
that will provide the largest drawing on
the size of paper selected.
• Lay out the property lines using proper
linetypes and symbols.
– Show elevations.
– Use a separate layer for the property lines.
• Locate the buildings on the site.
45 (continued)
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 CADD Plot Plans

• The property lines have been drawn and

the structure located.
46 (continued)
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 CADD Plot Plans
• Draw the contour lines on their own
layer and add elevations.
• Add the house reference corner location
and dimension the location.
• Add other house features such as roof
lines.
• Show the overall dimensions of the
house and location on site.
47 (continued)
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 CADD Plot Plans

• The house location has been dimensioned.

48 (continued)
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 CADD Plot Plans
• Add other topographical features such
as trees, streams, and right-of-ways.
– Choose appropriate layers for these
features.
• Include property line data and meridian
arrow.
• Add the scale, title, utilities, and features
unique to the situation.
49 (continued)
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 CADD Plot Plans

• The completed plot plan.

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