Property lines via bearings

[amddrafting]

If you know your bearings (N 00d00'00" w, etc) and your distance of each line and curve on your plot then it's actually quite easy to do in CA

1. In the CAD section use the tool "Place Point" and place your first temporary point
2. Next go back to the same tool list and use "Input Point".
3. First click on the bottom button that says "Num Style" and set the Number Style to "Decimal Feet" and then your Angle Style to "Minute + Seconds" and click "Ok"
4. Now working in a clockwise orientation enter in the distance and line angle of your next point. Enter in the distance (example 100.25') and the angle (example N 45d25'15" w) and click "next". It will automatically place the point and staying in the open tab you can enter in the next point.

Something to note at this part:

When entering these points you always want to go around in one direction. So if you have two sides of the lot with bearings N 00d00'00" W you will have to reverse the orientation for the other side, so N 00d00'00" W would be S 00d00'00" E

When you get to curves you will focus on the "Chord Length" and "Chord Bearing" only at this point. That will get you the end points of the curves. These are usually on plot plans as CH = ___'

5. Once you've entered your last point close the "Input Point" box and select and straight CAD Pline and connect the dots; Besure your angle snaps are off and your Point Snaps are turned on.

6. Once you have closed polyline go to the lines where the curves are. Select the segment that you want to make a curve and covert to arc.

7. Orient the arch in the direction you want it to bulge by using the little triangle when selected.

8. Once it's bulging in the right direction open the arc and on the first tab set the Lock to "Chord"

9. Now in the Radius Box in the "Arc" section enter the radius of the curve and click "Ok"

10. Repeat that for every curve you have.

That should get you a complete lot outline

As CA usually works with the front door on the bottom of the open plan I alway like to rotate my plot to be aligned with the house that I'm working on as it will sit on the lot. To do this I draw a straight line from the corner of the lot that I want to be aligned with the house 90 degrees from the plan. Then I use an Angle Dimension to find the angle. I then put a temporary point at the intersection of the line I just drew and plot border. From there I fence select the the plot (this is better than just clicking on the line) and click the transform/ replicate object. Check "Rotate" and enter the angle between the plot and the line. Depending on the direction you want it to rotate you may have to put minus ( - ) in front of the angle. Then at the bottom make sure "About Current Point" is selected and click "Ok"

That's pretty much it in a nutshell. I do all of my plots this way and I do a lot of them . If you have any questions or need help shoot me a PM or email me amddrafting@gmail.com