The dsh Terrain Building Test

[dshall]

This is a three part test. You are to recreate the model pictured below

Part 1: Build a 20X30 house.... easy peasy
Part 2: Determine the ELEVATION OF THE TERRAIN PERIMETER
you can use Doug Park average ht. method (this comes from this thread http://www.chieftalk.com/showthread....799#post423799)

The average is the average height of the terrain. A terrain may not be flat so in general this gets the terrain in the ball park. I would recommend setting the height manually for precise control.

Part 3: Build the terrain as pictured below. Note the terrain contour callouts are automatic, that is part of the test.

I am curious as to what everybody set there TERRAIN ELEVATION at.

[dshall]

Doug, do me a favor and see how you folks at CA build this model. I am sure the model is an easy 5 minute build, but what may be interesting is to find out at what elevation everybody sets their terrain perimeter at. Your recommendation is the average...... well, so what is the average, and do they get the correct contour elevations that I have specified in the previous post.

[lbuttery]

Scott:

I will try the challenge soonest

but I think you missed the point that it is the average of the terrain
beneath the FOOTPRINT of the house

Chief determines that average then adds the floor1 platform height then adds 6" when using auto-calc

this height is where the house sits and is "house 0"

Lew

[dshall]

Scott:

I will try the challenge soonest

but I think you missed the point that it is the average of the terrain
beneath the FOOTPRINT of the house

Chief determines that average then adds the floor1 platform height then adds 6" when using auto-calc

this height is where the house sits and is "house 0"

Lew

Okay, then do it, I would bet your definition of average is different from Doug's definition, talk is cheap, just do it. Let's see how Doug does it, that is the whole point of this thread, what do you think the average height of the terrain is? And now that you have determined what YOU think the average ht. is, how do you get the plan to look like mine with the contours called out as I have done.

[lbuttery]

Scott:

look at the manual .....

I'll do it when I have time - sometime today

Lew

[dshall]

Scott:
look at the manual .....
I'll do it when I have time - sometime today
Lew

Lew, this is really a very easy exercise, I am waiting on you answer, what do you think the average ht. is and can you do it?

[perryh]

Chief determines that average then adds the floor1 platform height then adds 6"
when using auto-calc

We all know that 8" is the required distance now.

[gteacher]

Scott:

Chief determines that average then adds the floor1 platform height then adds 6" when using auto-calc

this height is where the house sits and is "house 0"
Lew

AVERAGE, AVERAGE, don't talk about AVERAGE!!!

Here are Chief's rules from the help.
--------------------------------------------------------------
The program automatically positions Floor 1 a set distance above the terrain. To do this, it first finds the center point of the building footprint. Then, it determines the elevation of the terrain at that point. Finally, it adds 6” (150 mm) plus the thickness of the floor platform and treated sill plate to this value. The resulting value, referred to as the Building Pad Elevation, is how far the default height of Floor 1 is above sea level in the current plan. See Foundations and the Terrain.

In a plan with a foundation present, the Elevation distance will equal the exact terrain elevation at the building footprint center point, plus 6” (150 mm), plus the thickness of the floor platform.

• In a plan with no elevation data, the ter*rain is assumed to be at sea level and this Elevation distance is 6” (150 mm) plus the thickness of the floor platform when a foundation is present.

• In a plan with flat terrain at 100’ (30 m) and a foundation present, the Elevation distance is 100’ 6” (30.468 m) plus the thickness of the floor platform.

Once terrain has been built, the Elevation distance is stated in the Terrain Specification dialog. You can specify a custom Elevation value to produce a daylight or walkout basement. See General Tab.
------------------------------------------


I just checked and Chief follows these rules

[lbuttery]

AVERAGE, AVERAGE, don't talk about AVERAGE!!!




Gerry:

hmmm, I took center point to mean average

thus, if the terrain varies beneath the footprint of the house
the house will be "nestled" within the terrain
some portions exposed - some portions buried

I haven't tested it yet but I doubt if chief looks for the actual center point and "hoists" the house on top of that point ???

I'll try a test soonest where there is a spike of terrain under the footprint
to see what happens

Scott:

I have attached two plans, one for your challenge where auto-calc is off and one where it is on

when auto-calc is off - chief doesn't use the center-point (average ?)
it goes by the absolute value entered in the pad elevation and the absolute date entered in the elevation data (region) dbx's

when auto-calc is on - chief uses the center-point (average ?)
plus floor1 platform height + 6"

Perry:

with a 12" platform this places the house 18" above the terrain


EDIT:

I posted the wrong auto calc plan

see post below with correct plan

Lew

[lbuttery]

In the above post I attached the wrong auto calc plan

here is the correct plan

Lew

[gteacher]

average means average (But -- average of what?)-- center point means center point.

Chief takes the center point of the house layout and "hoists " the house above that. Just as the help says it does.

[lbuttery]

Gerry:

can you post a sample plan with the house "hoisted"

we may be dancing around the same concepts ???

I have attached a pic and plan showing that chief using "flatten pad" while using auto-calc

thus I haven't figured out how to have varying terrain under the footprint so that chief uses
the "center point' instead of an "average"

Since Doug used the word "average" in his recent post I suspect they are the "same" concept ???

see post #4
http://www.chieftalk.com/showthread.php?t=57629

Lew

[perryh]

Perry:

with a 12" platform this places the house 18" above the
terrain

Lew,
Now it should be 20", stem wall should be 8" above grade.

[lbuttery]

Perry:

got it....

I guess chief needs to change the auto-calc formula

this may vary per jurisdiction ???

not all jurisdictions are using the latest codes

Lew

[lbuttery]

follow-up to post #12

that plan and pic are with "flatten pad" on while using auto-calc

I have attached another pic and plan showing the same plan with "flatten pad" off

this illustrates that chief keeps the footprint of the house "flat"
even while the terrain is allowed to "slope"

thus, by default chief keeps the house "flat" at all times
using the "center point" (average ?) of the terrain under the house footprint

Lew