SITE ANALYSIS; CHANGING PARADIGMS

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

1

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

2

Assistant 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

Soils
Topography
Hydrology
Geology
Climate

Vegetation
Wild Life

Land use
Legal
Utilities
Circulation
Historic
Sensory

2nd Year
3rd Year
Physical Attributes

Biological Attributes

Cultural Aspects

4th Year

5th Year

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

Site is located in Beypore, India

Site Area: 5.12 Sq.km

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

3.2.2 Hydrology Map

Figure 10 Road Map Developed in ArcGIS

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

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