Type

Click to select the type for the area or enter a name for a new type. This is used to:

• Group and subtotal areas (see Display Group Totals)

• Define the site perimeter(s)

• Allow stripping and replacing topsoil in the site perimeter. You don't need to create a second area for topsoil replacement.

• Allow the balancing of the site perimeter(s), even if it was created in the existing layer.

The stored properties for the Type are selected by default for any new area. You can override each property by choosing the appropriate value. You can also easily set new defaults. After any property other than Type is changed, you will be unable to update the properties simply by setting the Type; instead, you will have to click Restore default settings.

Name

Enter a default name for the area type. This name is used for displaying totals within the Summary tab.

Restore Default Settings

Click this button to retrieve the default settings for the current type. This will overwrite all properties.

The Restore Default Settings button is disabled if the Type is blank, or if the current properties match the default properties.

Color

To change the color of the area, click Change, select the color you want to use, then click OK.

Transparent

Select the checkbox to make the area transparent. Note that the area will be outlined in the color you selected.

Exclude area from balance

Select the checkbox to exclude the area from being balanced in the final totals. For more information, see Exclude Areas from a Job or Balancing.

Exclude area from totals

Select the checkbox to exclude an area from the calculations of a job. This allows you to exclude an area such as an existing building or grass areas that will not be touched during the job. For more information, see Exclude Areas from a Job or Balancing.

Daylight

Select the checkbox to daylight the site perimeter. Daylighting forces existing and proposed contours to meet. This field is disabled for any area type other than Site Perimeter.

Include enclosed areas

Select the checkbox to total the following items in the Summary tab:

• Cut and fill

• Topsoil stripped and replaced

• sub grade materials (asphalt, base, and so on)

For example, if a building pad is surrounded by a parking lot, selecting the Include enclosed areas checkbox for the parking lot will result in totals for both the parking lot and the enclosed building pad. When this checkbox is not selected, totals displayed for the parking lot will refer to the parking lot area only, and not areas included within it.

This operation applies to areas located partially or completely inside the current area.

Use surrounding area’s grade properties

Select the checkbox to:

• Use the grade properties and subgrade materials from the surrounding/overlapping area(s) for all calculations.

• Include the enclosed portion of this area in surrounding area(s), even if the Include enclosed areas checkbox is deselected.

This option disables grade properties and sub grade materials. It is useful for areas like phase perimeters, or in any situation where you want to find totals for a given area without affecting those of other areas.

By default, this checkbox is selected for all phase perimeters. All other areas have this checkbox unchecked by default.

This area’s elevation(s) are relative to

Select the appropriate option:

• Surrounding Area’s Subgrade - Select this option to lower the area’s elevation(s) from the subgrade of the surrounding area. For example, if your plans call for a building pad with a basement smaller in area than the entire building pad, you can lower the building pad 24" and separately lower the basement 36". This will result in the basement being lowered by a total of 60" from the proposed takeoff elevation(s). Topsoil depth cannot be specified for the interior area.

  Note: If there is no surrounding area, or if the surrounding area does not strip topsoil, replace topsoil, lower grade, or have any subgrade materials, this option will produce the same results as using Takeoff Elevations.

• Takeoff Elevations - Select this option to start with the elevation(s) specified in the Takeoff tab.

• Specified Finished Elevation - Select this option to specify the area’s elevation when the area is created. This option has the same effect as copying the area to the Takeoff tab and setting the elevation there. The only difference is that the line cannot be selected from the Takeoff tab. This is listed as "finished elevation" in order to prevent confusion. You should not enter the finished elevation in the Takeoff tab and the subgrade elevation in the Area Properties popup window. If you don't have a change in grade for the area, the finished elevation and the subgrade elevation are the same. There is no need to enter the elevation in both a Takeoff line and an Area.

• Ignore interior elevations - Select this checkbox to apply the specified finished elevation to the entire area even if there are spot elevations, elevation lines, or areas with elevations inside the area. The elevation will not, however, apply to any areas inside the area.

Strip Topsoil

Enter the depth of topsoil stripped from the area. Topsoil strip removes a uniform depth of material from the area(s) for which it is specified.

You can only strip topsoil from areas in the Active layer or from site perimeter areas. For more information, see Strip Topsoil from an Area.

Replace Topsoil

Enter the depth of the topsoil to be replaced in the area. Replacing topsoil adds a uniform depth of topsoil to the selected area(s).

You can only replace topsoil from areas in the Proposed layer or from site perimeter areas. For more information, see Replace Topsoil in an Area.

Raise/Lower Grade

If you want to raise the elevation of the area, click the up arrow to the right of the field. Then enter the change in elevation or click to raise or lower the current value.

If you want to lower the elevation of the area, click the down arrow to the right of the field. Then enter the change in elevation or click to raise or lower the current value.

Total Change in Grade

Displays the total change in elevation. This is the sum of Strip Topsoil, Replace Topsoil, and Lower/Raise Grade.

Description

Click to select the material or materials you are going to use for subgrade in the area. If the material you need does not appear in the list, you can enter it directly in this field.