7 replies to this topic

[Edward Shannon]

Is there a way to model retaining walls in soft Plan? I tried to creat some walls usinfg solids. However they do not act like retaining walls! Also, want to know if I ccan "cut" my building into the terrain model?

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[Philip Frank]

​Hi Edward,

 

 I assume your wanted a retaining wall that has the topo of the wall sloped down towards grade. To do this just draw a concrete wall and then edit the wall and click on the "Rake Top". Then click on the "Multi Height button near the top and adjust the heights to get the slope that you want.

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[Keith Almond]

"Building Outline" should cut the terrain. Alternately most (if not all) of the site polygons have a "Cuts Ground" option.

[Keith Almond]

.. However they do not act like retaining walls! ...

 

Can you clarify this ... What do you expect the walls to do? ... Both walls and solids should perform the same function. However, what they do depends on how you design the site.

 

You have to use shot points to define your proposed grades either side of the wall. Softplan cannot assume what you want, it has to be told how the grade runs.

 

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Personally I find it easier to drop the shot points close to where they are needed so that they pick up the correct site polygon, and then adjust them as necessary.

[Edward Shannon]

Thanks i will try to model with walls instead of solids.

[Bruce Roorda]

It would offer with the popularity of retaining walls, it would be prudent if Softplan to add the functionality of drawing actual block retaining walls on site plans. The work arounds are not a great solution and fail to accurately produce a materials takeoff with associated materials.

[Philip Frank]

If you draw your retaining wall with a SoftPlan "Wall", how is it that you can't get an accurate material take off from that wall? The "Wall" has a length, width, height and area associated with it. What more do you need to create a formula to track the materials?

[Bruce Roorda]

If you draw your retaining wall with a SoftPlan "Wall", how is it that you can't get an accurate material take off from that wall? The "Wall" has a length, width, height and area associated with it. What more do you need to create a formula to track the materials?

Drawing a "wall" as a block wall is a work around. To the best of my knowledge, one cannot draw a "wall" in the site plan mode, to show dirt retaining walls on the site plan. As for accuracy of materials, a block wall is not constructed the same as a retaining wall and associated materials are different. Generally speaking, I do not see retaining walls tapered on top and are usually stair step. Block walls do not curve and batter back like retaining walls and do not provide accurate 3D exterior rendering views.