WF 01
Site Plan and Section in AutoCAD
Image Reference → Drafting → Layout → Plot
Weeks2 – 3
Scale1"=20' (1:240)
Sheet11"×17" Tabloid
Coverage~180' × 300'
AssignmentSelect one precedent project from the list below and re-present it in AutoCAD at 1"=20': a site plan, at least one section, and a trace-paper analysis overlay — 3 PDFs at 11"×17". Confirm your choice with the instructor before Week 2.
Precedent JPEG
→
Image Attach
→
Draft Plan + Section
→
CTB Lineweights
→
Layout Mode
→
PDF
00
Drawing Setup
AutoCAD
Before anything else, set up the drawing environment. Everything you draw should be at true real-world scale in feet.
- UNITS — set to Architectural. AutoCAD displays feet and inches natively (e.g. 1'-6"). 1 unit = 1 inch in model space.
- Draw everything at true scale — a 30ft path = 360 units (type 30' or 360")
Set up your CTB files before drafting. Maintain two: one for site plans, one for sections and details.
- STYLESMANAGER — create site-plan.ctb (max 0.50mm) and section.ctb (max 1.00mm). Or type "Plot" and create a new one in the top-right dropdown menu.
- Scale affects how lineweights read on paper — a 1mm line at 1"=30' reads very differently from 1"=5'
- Switch CTB files in the Plot dialog depending on what you are printing
01
Set Up Layers
AutoCAD
Open the Layer Manager LA and define your layer structure. Assign each layer a name, ACI color, and linetype. All objects draw on their designated layer — never on layer 0.
- Suggested layers: REF-IMAGE, PLAN-CUT, PLAN-BEYOND, SECTION-CUT, SECTION-BEYOND, ANNO, TITLEBLOCK
- Color drives lineweight via CTB — see Step 05
- Lock the REF-IMAGE layer immediately after attaching
02
Attach the Reference Image
AutoCAD
Find a published design drawing of a precedent landscape project. Attach it as an image underlay and scale it to real-world dimensions.
- IMAGEATTACH to bring in the JPEG. Place at 0,0.
- Scale using a known dimension — find a scale bar or labeled dimension and use SCALE with reference length to match real units
- Place on the REF-IMAGE layer, lock it, and fade via Properties to reduce visual noise while tracing
- This is an act of interpretation — your CAD drawing is your reading of the design, not a copy
03
Draft the Site Plan
AutoCAD
Trace over the reference image on your own layers. Make decisions as you draw — what is cut, what is beyond, where is the elevation change. The drawing reflects your interpretation.
- Use F3 OSnap and F8 Ortho to keep lines precise and clean
- Switch layers constantly — cut lines, beyond lines, and annotations each on their own layer
- Use H Hatch for paving patterns, planting beds, and ground texture
04
Cut the Section
AutoCAD
Draw a section cut line on the plan. If the cut is not orthogonal, rotate the UCS to align with it before projecting geometry. This keeps the section upright and avoids diagonal drawing.
- Mark the cut line with a DASHDOT or PHANTOM linetype on its own layer
- To rotate: UCS → OB (Object) or 3P (3 Points) to align to the cut line. Your crosshair rotates with it. Click the "Top" button in the top-right corner to rotate the canvas.
- Project key points along the new X axis using XLINE construction lines, then draw the section vertically
- Reset when done: UCS → W to return to World coordinates
- Cut elements on SECTION-CUT, elements beyond on SECTION-BEYOND
05
CTB Lineweight Tables
AutoCAD
site-plan.ctb — moderate weights for small-scale site work
| Color | ACI | Weight | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 1 | 0.50mm | Heavy plan cut |
| Yellow | 2 | 0.35mm | Medium-heavy edges |
| Green | 3 | 0.25mm | Walls beyond |
| Cyan | 4 | 0.18mm | Paving, paths |
| Blue | 5 | 0.13mm | Light lines, vegetation |
| Magenta | 6 | 0.09mm | Hatch, texture |
| White/Black | 7 | 0.05mm | Hairline, dimensions, notes |
section.ctb — heavier weights for sections and large-scale details
| Color | ACI | Weight | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 1 | 1.00mm | Section cut, earth/structure |
| Yellow | 2 | 0.70mm | Heavy cut, major walls |
| Green | 3 | 0.50mm | Medium-heavy, walls beyond |
| Cyan | 4 | 0.35mm | Medium, paving |
| Blue | 5 | 0.25mm | Light lines, vegetation |
| Magenta | 6 | 0.13mm | Hatch, texture |
| White/Black | 7 | 0.05mm | Hairline, dimensions, notes |
06
Set Up Layout Mode
AutoCAD
Switch to a Layout tab (paper space). Create a viewport, set the scale precisely, and lock it. Add title block, scale notation, and north arrow in paper space.
- Double-click inside the viewport to enter model space. Set scale from the viewport scale dropdown in the status bar.
- You need to setup custom scales. Go to the viewport scale dropdown → Custom… to add your scales. 1" = 20' means 1 inch on paper = 240 inches in model (20' = 240").
- Double-click outside to return to paper space, then lock the viewport via Properties
- Draw title block and annotations in paper space — they stay fixed regardless of viewport zoom
- Use a second viewport for the section at its own scale
-
Pro tip: verify your scale after setting it — draw a 20' line in model space and measure it in the Layout viewport. It should read exactly 1" on paper.
07
Plot to PDF
AutoCAD
Plot from the Layout tab. Assign your CTB file in the plot dialog. Always preview before committing.
- Ctrl P → select site-plan.ctb or section.ctb depending on content
- Printer: DWG to PDF or any installed PDF printer
- Check Plot with Plot Styles and Plot Object Lineweights
- Always preview — lineweights and scale read differently on paper than on screen
WF 01
Precedent Project List
CAD Trace & Analytical Overlay
01
Piazza CortevecchiaPlaza
Circular porphyry paving with cone-shaped tree atolls. Plan, sections, and infrastructure diagrams published.
View on Landezine →
02
Mossé Square and the Banks of the LoirePlaza · Riverbank
Square cut and sloped toward the river as a single grading move. 1:500 plan and volume diagrams published.
Define your own boundary — focus on the terraces.
View on Landezine →
03
Central Garden Block B4Residential Courtyard
1 ha enclosed courtyard: undulating green topography against a flat concrete plateau. Plan published.
View on Landezine →
04
Core City ParkPocket Park · Brownfield
Former parking lot; exposed sandstone and slag ground plane, honey locust canopy. Plan is a process drawing — cross-reference with satellite imagery.
View on D.I.R.T. studio →
05
Plaza Enric Grandos (Jardí Illa)Plaza · Green Infrastructure
One intersection square in the Superilles program: botanical, Mediterranean, and rain garden zones in a compact space. Plan published.
View on Landezine →
06
Blücherplatz, SpengePlaza
Three-part composition: water stage, planted backdrop, stone tribune. Schematic plan published — read alongside photographs.
View on Landezine →
07
WinkelriedplatzPark · Plaza
Fifty linden trees forming a canopy room over two concrete inlays. LILA 2025 Special Mention. Plan published.
View on Landezine →
08
Mail du MarchéPublic Garden · Square
Linear square bounded by four façades; redesigned mid-construction from asphalt to permeable seeded surface with 26 trees. Plan published.
View on Landezine →
09
Gilly — Destrée NeighborhoodUrban Regeneration
Neighborhood regeneration with urban forest, civic plaza, and sports zones. Plan, axonometry, and sections published.
Focus on the tree grove area. Define your boundary within that zone.
View on Landezine →
10
The Passage and The SmithyUrban Passage · Courtyard
Four connected courtyards linking three town squares; local limestone and reclaimed stone. LILA 2024 Jury Award. Plan published.
Focus on one node — The Smithy courtyard is the most spatially defined.
View on Landezine →