SITE ANALYSIS; CHANGING PARADIGMS

Author, Raymond Thomas Cheenath1., and Guide, Ar.Bimal P 2

1Student, Department of Architecture, NIT Calicut, raymondcheenath@outlook.com

2Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, NIT Calicut, bimalp@nitc.ac.in

ABSTRACT

This Seminar deals with Identification and verification of various modern

tools, softwares and effective traditional methods available for Site Analysis for

Architectural Design Process.

The main argument of the seminar is that, the Site analysis in Architectural Colleges

is done just for the sake of submissions without doing proper analysis. The students

completely forgets about the Site Analysis when they enter to Design Stage. But role

of Site Analysis in developing a Sustainable Design is Inevitable.

The main contribution of this Seminar is to find easy and effective ways to do Site

Analysis without much time consumption and difficulty.

A study is done in Department of Architecture, NIT Calicut among students of

different Years for identifying how far site analysis phase is done in their design

process. Different Modern Softwares and effective traditional methods are identified

for each stage of Site Analysis. The Effectiveness of the methods are checked by

doing live Analysis of Site Examples.

Effective Sequences are proposed for each Stage of Site Analysis.

Keywords

Site Analysis; Modern Softwares; Traditional Methods; Changing Paradigms;

Effective Sequences.

1. INTRODUCTION

Site Analysis is the initial step of any design process in Architecture. Most of

us still do it with lots of Manuel work. But the question is, when you have the idea and

a machine that works for you, why do it manually. In this Seminar I try to put together

all effective softwares and traditional methods useful for Architectural Site Analysis

in its each step. Students of Architecture often fails to do it properly because of lack of

time and difficulty faced.

There are lots of effective traditional methods and easy modern Softwares available

for students to explore and gain knowledge about.

The aim of this Seminar is to propose an easy and effective sequence for site analysis

in architectural design and field study process, integrating modern softwares and

traditional methods.

1.1 Relevance

Students of Architecture lacks in the phase of Site Analysis in their Architectural

Design Process. But there are effective and easy methods available for Site Analysis

in this world of technology. Students are unaware of effective traditional methods and

modern softwares available for Site Analysis in Architectural Design Process.

Time consuming techniques prevents Architects and Students from exploring.

Softwares as techniques to Site analysis is a road less travelled.

The ability of various Softwares available for site analysis are studied properly from

various resources and the workflow is documented.

This Seminar, attempts to reduce the gap between Software techniques and site

analysis

1.2 Methodology

i. A study is done in Architecture Design Studio of various Years to know the

current scenario of site analysis.

ii. Books, Online Resources and People are referred for knowing Traditional and

current methods of Site Analysis.

iii. Softwares are identified through online resources and are studied for the

same.

iv. A site is chosen and analysis is done with the help of software'

2. CURRENT SCENARIO OF SITE ANALYSIS

Site Analysis done by different students of various years are collected and are

analysed.

Location: Department of Architecture, NIT Calicut.

Table 1 Site Analysis Scenario in Dept. of Architecture, NIT Calicut

Attributes 1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year 4th Year 5th Year

Physical Attributes

Soils Topography

Hydrology

Geology

Climate

Biological Attributes

Vegetation

Wild Life

Cultural Aspects

Land use

Legal

Utilities

Circulation

Historic

Sensory

From the Analysis of the Table, We can easily say that, most attributes of Site

Analysis are missing in almost all years of Students. So an efficient and easy

sequence should be created for students for doing Site Analysis.

Sequences are created for each attribute of Site Analysis Procedure integrating

Traditional Methods and Modern Software Techniques.

Based on the Created Sequence two Site examples are chosen and site analysis are

done as per sequence guidelines.

3. SITE ANALYSIS METHOD VERIFICATION

For verifying whether the proposed sequence can be used for Site Analysis of

Sites, certain sites are chosen and proposed site analysis is carried out for different

Academic Years.

3.1 Site I

Site Location; NITC Campus, Kerala, India

Site Area 15.56 Acres (63000sq.m)

Figure 1 Analysed Site at NITC Campus

3.1.1Mapping Roads by My Track Application and importing GPx Data in

ArcGIS

Figure 2 Mytrack Path covered Figure 3 ArcGIS Import of Gpx from MyTrack

Figure 4 Site Map Location Figure 5 Site Contour Map

3.1.2 Soil pH

Soil pH Identified from site soil experiment = 6.8 (Neutral)

3.1.3 Shadow Analysis

Figure 6 Site Topography with Existing Vegetation

Figure 7 Shadow Analysis in Revit Architecture

3.2 Site II

In the 4th Year Course of Urban Design Studio, Students have to choose a larger site

area for Urban Development.

Site Location

Figure 8 Site Location Map

3.2.1 Mapping out Roads

For getting the entire road network, MyTrack Application is used and travelled

through all the roads and the data is imported in ArcGIS

Figure 9 Gpx Data Imported in ArcGIS Figure 10 Road Map Developed in ArcGIS

3.2.2 Hydrology Map

Hydrology Maps are developed in ArcGIS from DEM file of that locality helps us to

identify various channel flow or pattern of rainwater drainage routes.

Figure 11 Hydrology Map from ArcGIS

Site is located in Beypore, India

Site Area: 5.12 Sq.km

3.2.3 Creating different typology Maps

Survey is done and all building footprint is marked in ArcGIS.

All Building Properties are also added in ArcGIS.

Figure 12 Buildings Map

Later Various Maps are Generated Considering Single or Multiple Attributes from

ArcGIS.

Figure 13 Map of buildings with Single Storey, Flat Roof, Medium Class, and High Income

4. ANALYSIS AND RESULTS

The Proposed Sequences Developed for Different Stages of Site Analysis are;

4.1 Soil Analysis Sequence;

Different Tests are conducted

Laboratory Test Acidity Test Porosity Test

4.2 Topography Analysis Sequence;

Marking out boundaries with MyTrack application Creating Contours with SketchUp / Surveying with Total Station Creating Topography in Revit Architecture

4.3 Hydrology Analysis Sequence;

Collecting DEM file of your location from remote sensing agencies Developing Watershed diagram in ArcGIS

4.4 Climate Analysis Sequence;

Creating Site Components in Revit Architecture Shadow Analysis in Revit Architecture or Autodesk Vasari.

4.5 Wind Analysis Sequence;

Adding Topography and Site Location in Autodesk Vasari Shadow Analysis in Autodesk Vasari

5. CONCLUSION

Seminar can be concluded stating that the aim of the Seminar is achieved by studying

the various modern and traditional methods available for Site Analysis and by

proposing a model sequence for each kind of Analysis.

By following the proposed Sequences, the students can do better Site Analysis

without much difficulty and time loss. The modern Softwares had made the Site

Analysis, less time consuming, easy and with more precise results.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The Author expresses his sincere thanks to Ar.Bimal P, for guiding him throughout

the seminar preparation, providing valuable suggestions and driving him forward. The

author would also like to thank his Seminar Coordinator Ar.Chithra K for spending

her valuable time for this.

REFERENCE

1. James A. LaGro Jr., Site Analysis A Contextual Approach to Sustainable Land

Planing and Site Design, Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

2. Dr. Balagopal. T.S. Prabhu, Dr. A. Achuthan., Vastuvidyapraveshika A

textbook on Vastuvidya, Vastuvidyapratisthanam, Saraswatham, Kiliyanad,

Calicut - 673001

3. http://sustainabilityworkshop.autodesk.com

4. http://sustainablesites.org

5. http://www.brighthubengineering.com