116 Chapter 6
The calculations that are required for submission on a plot plan are not complex. What is needed is
a basic understanding of what you are calculating and why. Moreover, as mentioned earlier in the chap-
ter, most drawings and calculations today are easily generated with the use of computers. Figure 6.3 is
an example of a simple computer-generated site plan using AutoCAD software.
There are four basic calculations required for the plot plan: site area (lot size), lot coverage (bird’s-
eye view expressed as a percentage of the lot), gross floor area (combined size of parts of the struc-
ture), and floor-area ratio (FAR), a ratio of floor area to property size.
Site Plan.
A site or plot plan is a scale drawing of a property that shows its size and configuration including the size
and location of man-made features such as buildings, driveways, and walkways on the property. Plot
plans show both what currently exists and what improvements are proposed (Figure 6.4). The main func-
tion of a basic site or plot plan is to determine the placement of the structure as it sits in reference to the
boundaries of the construction site. Site plans clearly establish the building’s dimensions, usually by the
Figure 6.2 An example of a cover sheet used for a small- to medium-sized project.