Jump to content

Rootball Excavation Size and depth Indication


Recommended Posts

We do a lot of proecjts where we need to communicate the rootball depth and excavation to the contractors on site.  On 2D plans we would like to be able to indicate the rootball depth.  In the past we have created an additional text call out ie/300H or similar and shown the diameter of the excavation as a circle.

 

I would like to do it without having to do it on the schedule as this will reduce the need on site to flip through multiple pages.

 

1.  The first issue is as a standard we nominate the excavation for plants to be 3 x the width of the rootball - however, there are only the preset 1x and 2X options, with the manual option do add a specific value.  I thought 3x was a pretty usual standard or is everyone else only nominating 1x or 2x?  is there a way to add this option to the list, so we do not run the risk of manual calculation mistakes?

image.png.d5b832b799733e7c97d3de33cf3283c1.png

 

2.  Is there are way to get text to appear which states the width which is stated under the value fields on the 2D plan?  ie/the contractor isn't going to want to use a scale ruler to measure on site.

image.png.02b7d6d1cd6b546dccfadf03894a921c.png

 

3.  In the 3D views the excavation appears as a straight sided hole - however, we want it to show a bowl shape 3x rootball height at top and 2x rootball height at the bottom - is there anyway to do this.  As all Hoticulturists know straight sided holes are the opposite of what we nominate as best practice.

 

4.  Is there a way to apply just a colour to the pot in 3D so it can be seen easily in section (not a texture as I assume this makes files large)?

 

Thanks for any assistance 🙂

 

Link to comment

1. What is your intended use for this information?  If it is for calculation purposes, you could just use a worksheet with a formula to calculate the desired factor.

3x might be the ideal, but it is certainly not the norm in the field.  When planting over structure or inside structure, size of rootball is most critical with excavation being irrelevant since the entire work is backfilled.  Imagine the scenario where your structural system changes mid design and you lose 50% of your soil depth as a result... Happened to me on an airport project.  In the field, the 3X is an ideal, but field conditions dictate how big and what shape that hole actually is, pricing is done by unit cost, detail, and specification... not the BIM model depiction.  So, if you are doing collision detection, the root ball is your potential collider, excavation zone for planning.  Vectorworks should just have a field where you enter your desired X factor by plant definition and do the math for you since the X factor varies by species in some cases.

 

2. Use a data tag or customize your plant legend to report this information.

 

3. This is a good job for a construction detail.  Use the simple depiction of 3x for the model and rely on the detail to get the desired result.  Remember, the folks digging the hole aren't going to bother with your detail to learn how to dig said hole.  Don't over think it 🙂

 

4. Activate 'attributes by class' as your last image indicates you have.  Go to the class "Plants-Root Ball" and change the fill to whatever you desire.  Textures work too, though I can't think of a compelling reason to texture a rootball 🙂

 

Hope it helps.

Edited by jeff prince
Link to comment

There are a numeber of different rolls this information is required for when we use it in our design work:

Rootball Size (physcial Dimensions)

1.  The situation where you are doing above grade work or putting plants into planters - you only need to ensure you are not doing something stupid like nominating a plant that will not fit.

2.  Making sure when nominating larger plants that your rootball is going to fit in the garden bed, or where you are required to locate the trunk away from the fences, that you can fit the rootball in the remaining area of garden bed, before you hit a path for example. 

 

Rootball physical location

1.  The 3D aspect when you are working with other consultants - ie/to avoid others services etc

 

Sections

1.  Graphically have the planted areas (ie/ the 3 x rootball)  shown correctley in section ie/for example where a bulk earthwork gets done, way before the actual landscaper gets on site and soil is removed/stockpiled etc for their future use.  A lot of the work we design has a builder as the head contractor, they usually do the bulk of the earthowkrs before a landscaper gets on site.  once the landscaper is on site, they often can not get int he machines.  if we could show the areas of excavation for the trees it would make the landscapers job easier and also give a better outcome. 

 

Our standard detail does show 3 x the rootball width as the planting hole and if we are engaged during the construction phase or at PC if the contractor does not do this then it is picked up as a defect.  For the best outcome we want what is shown in our standard details to also be shown in any sections we generate.  We are trying to ensure our documents are cross referenced as much as possible - we can cut sectiosn through the model and show whatw e have in our details, it seems like the Tree toold could allow us to do the same.

 

Link to comment

A slightly annoying thing also seems to happen where one person can add in a whole lot of custom pot sizes, but when saved and committed the information does not transfer across, so other staff members do not ahve access to it and multiple people are entering the same info.  This seems like a bug, unless there is an option to check somewhere. 

Link to comment

That’s interesting, I’ve never met a landscape architect that shows a planting pit or rootball in a general site section.  That’s what details are for.  Don’t let BIM capabilities dictate how standard drawings are developed, otherwise you will be disappointed and doing a lot of unnecessary work.

Link to comment

I think its best practice to ensure your drawings are fully coordinated, why show one thing on your detail and a different thing in your section - its only going to cause you headaches.  Also the tool is there, seems like it should be a 5 second additional task to use it how we need. 

Link to comment

Here is an example we have with the custom pot sizes:

Same file open on different computers:

Computer 1 -

image.thumb.png.a9d5823a03859cfde1ad14b8dd9c93ee.pngimage.thumb.png.aef2a6a5b71ff2f4a036a5e8e0277324.png

 

Computer 2 -

image.png.2f421459fcba012311bd877812a1ce2b.png

 

Its hard to see int he screen shot, but computer 1 has a list of many more pot sizes.  How can i get these to appear in everyones drop down list, regardless of computer or user?

Link to comment

To simplify my question:

1.   Is there a way to get the custom list for pot sizes onto all user profiles?  
2.  How would we use the datatag option to get the call out to display the pot/rootball depth?
3.  Is there a way to add the 3 x rootball excavation size to the drop down list.

Link to comment

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...