Subdivision Layout Software

Carlson makes a good product. Either the Civil or the Survey package may have what you need. Check out the features on their website.

I use Carlson and have used the lot layout function but was looking for something possibly more feature rich.

Did you use Area Layout -- Create Lots -- Design Lot function or the Area Layout -- Lot Network collection of routines? If the latter, what kinds of features do you feel are needed to make these subdivision layout tools more feature rich?

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Ladd Nelson

> Can anyone recommend a good subdivision layout software? I have a very large and strangely shaped property that is going to be divided and need a software that may help produce several different layouts quickly and efficiently.
>
>

Unless you do a ton of large subvdivisions, I would recommend keeping it simple.

I know Texas is not New Hampshire, but around here there is simple too many factors in subdivision for a computer to figure it all out. They can be used for preliminary design, maybe.

Here are just some of the constraints we are up against:

min frontage, min lot size, prohibitions against irregular lots, wetlands, house sites, utilities, well locations, ledge, septic locations, woodland buffers, building setbacks, view easements, subdivision road layout constraints, length over depth ratio constraints, steep slope limitations, nitrate setbacks, etc, etc.

google "coving"

and start reading...

google "coving"

Coving is soooo 90's 😉

The main proponent of coving has moved on to Prefurbia

Prefurbia Part 1

Prefurbia Part 2

Prefurbia Part 3

Prefurbia Part 4

google "coving"

haha!! yes, that was the name that popped into my head..same guy, fancy new word!!

What exactly do you mean by "feature rich"? We have AutoCAD Civil 3D, and it is so "feature rich" that it is essentially unusable... Be careful what you wish for!

google "coving"

> haha!! yes, that was the name that popped into my head..same guy, fancy new word!!

Entertaining seminar, too! I need to adapt those techniques to doublewide layouts 😛

Rick

Pencil and onion skin paper is what I use at the beginning stages...preferably yellow onion skin paper...

but vidalia onion skin paper makes some sweet designs!

> produce several different layouts quickly and efficiently.

Old method, but it has been quite successful for many large prelim layouts.

Flimsy paper and drafting table.

I'm trying to get a mental handle on a subd design program that would do better, especially if topo is a concern, as it always seems to be...

Ben

Really? What software do you normally use? I use Carlson, but would have no problem using PacSoft for the same thing.

Is this a trick question?

Ben

> Really? What software do you normally use? I use Carlson, but would have no problem using PacSoft for the same thing.
>
> Is this a trick question?

Not really. Ben feels he should occasionally post a survey-related thread to show us he occasionally actually does do some work.

I just start drawing closed polylines and do some quick area calcs on them and tweak them around using the Autocad Grips to get the necessary setbacks and acreage. Of course, subdivisions around here always need to checked out in the field to see if suitable building locations are available and the sites are accessable before anything can happen.

Ben

I agree. Typically, if I don't have a topo of the area, I'll load the contours from the quad sheet and look at that (better than nothing). Then calc the boundary, lay in some lots and a few roads, evaluate whether I could tweak something, then pass it off to the client as a proposed S/D with a price. Should take, depending on the size, about two hours.

Perry

One time, I was asked by an attorney, to design the most elaborate s/d I could conceive on the proposed take line of a proposed lake (WTF?) and show where the proposed pipeline (you see where this is going) would bisect the tract. The attorney and his client came in and said, that's what I was thinking of doing (yeah right) and they used that as an exhibit to run damages up on the pipeline.

It took a little longer than two hours, but I was done in under a day with some really elegant and elaborate BS. I don't think there were 5 tangents in 5 roads out there. I tried to write my name with it, but that didn't work. 🙂

Ben

IMHO, If you don't have a topo of the area you shouldn't be laying out a subdivision! Maybe you're in a flat state, but where I am the vertical issues often drive the entire layout...

Ben

Flat as a pancake, one small creek crossing property and waterfront on the back.

I've decided to just sketch up two quick but substantially different layouts and let the design go from there. I just don't have time to give them a half dozen layouts and the budget I've been given doesn't allow.

In the end I'm going to sketch up what I would do with it, or at least substantially what I would do, and let them make a decision.