This module shows how to create the finished landscape design shown below from a mud map created on a site visit.
Part 1
The movie shows us starting gCADPlus, choosing the default template, and drawing the footprint of the buildings on site. The line command with the polar switch turned on (to ensure that lines are constrained to the vertical and horizontal plane) and used to accurately place the building. We emphasize that the computer model is full-size. We add a series of steps and move the steps into position (with the aid of entity snaps) to an accurately defined location using the offset command. The boundary lines are drawn and in doing so, the value and use of the properties box are demonstrated. The offset tool is used to locate a shed 8100 mm x 6000 mm (units) on the site. The line command is used to locate a carport. The use of the trim and extend commands is demonstrated as we place the carport. The rectangle command is used to indicate three raised garden beds. the exact size of a raised bed is demonstrated using the relative coordinate system of data entry. Finally, we begin to introduce some planting symbols by inserting a whole group of symbols suited to this job. Scaling and copying planting symbols makes building up the design a straightforward job.
Part 2
The movie shows how to place rectangles as an aid to hatching. The hatch is effected by loading a hatch pattern file and selecting individual hatch patterns – line and brick. We insert another plant species symbol and show how easy it is to scale a symbol. The multi-line tool is then used to place a detailed note about the rehabilitation strategy. The multi-line text is moved and resized to aid in the layout. The scale and line spacing inside the note is adjusted. We set up a layout sheet ready for printing using an A3 sheet and adjust the view of the design inside a floating viewport. Finally, a title block with the design practice logo is added.
Part 3
Use MTEXT where large blocks of text are needed. The text-align tool can be a very useful tool to help in laying out these entities.
Part 4
We indicate some areas in the design earmarked for future development by hatching rectangles. The linetype of the polyline marking these areas is set to dashed and the linetype scale is adjusted such that the pattern becomes visible.
Part 5
We dress up the design by introducing some more elaborate planting symbols from the named section of the symbol library. We scale and rotate some symbols to introduce a more artistic look and feel. The edit symbol and match properties tools are used to change the character of a symbol to more closely match the intended species.
Part 6
We complete the design by adding a scale bar and north point indicator in model space, using the polyline command and hatch the area to indicate a grassed zone.