VectorWorks Site Analysis

Some analysis functions that can be done on a Site Model.

Slope Analysis

Select a 2D display Style of 2D or 3D Triangle (colored slopes) or 2D or 3D Triangulated Contours (colored slopes)

Elevation Analysis

Select a 2D display Style of 2D Contour (colored elevations)

Zone of Visual Influence Analysis

Creates representation of shadowed and lighted areas as seen from a specified point of view

Shadow Analysis

A shadow analysis can help determine the areas of the drawing that will receive less sunlight or remain in a shadow during a particular time of the year.

A shadow analysis is not a single command that can be used, but by inserting several directional light sources, each representing a different time of day (View -> Lighting -> Set Sun Position.), an overlapping range of shadows (by ensuring that Cast Shadows is

selected, and decrease the Brightness so that the combination of lights is not too harsh) is created which indicates the amount of time a particular area is in the shade over the course of the day.

RenderWorks is required to conduct a shadow analysis.

Solar Animations

A sun study is an animated movie of sunlight over a specified day of the year. It illustrates the way shadows are cast over a project as the sun's position changes.

By running Model -> Create Solar Animation and selecting day and Site details a movie can be created containing the sun study.

Site Model Profiles

A Site Profile can be created from existing or proposed Site Model, just select a polyline/polygon then AEC -> Terrain -> Site Model Section, A Site profile will be created on the selected sheet or design layer.

Sections can also be created from Viewports if a true section (and not just a profile) is needed, using View -> Create Section Viewport.

Determining the Elevation of a Point on the Site Model (Staking)

To display a point on the site model is to create an stake object and set its mode to "Set elev to site model", this will create a stake object with the current DMT height at that point.
The Stake is easily created using double clicking (to create the stake with rotation angle 0)