How do I make a report by planting area

[TessF]

We are required to make a report for each project that shows soil volumes for trees, and whether that volume satisfies the needs of the trees within a given area for them to grow and thrive. This report is included in the drawing,

 

So in my landscape plan, I might have a soil area bounded by hardscapes, or simply by a designated area. This area could be any shape. Generally it is offset from hardscape or boundary by 300mm to 500mm to allow for slope into the soil pit. We specify the depth to which the soil has to be prepared to get the best soil volume for the trees proposed for the area.

 

Soil volume recommended for a tree is set by:

type/size (Large deciduous, medium deciduous etc, conifer, columnar....)

whether the tree is solitary in the area (more soil vol required per tree than if multiples are in the area. If two trees of different types/sizes are in the same soil pit, the multiple trees in are volume is used, not the singles even if there is only one per size),

surrounding soil type (if this is in clay soils, the pit has to be larger than for regular soils).

 

So in an area, which is say 82m2, I might propose one large tree requiring 18m3 of soil, and two small trees, requiring 12m3 of soil each, and 3 coniferous trees, requiring 15m3 of soil each. The target soil volume for this pit is 18m3 + (2x12m3) + (3x15m3) = 87m3 of soil

If I make my soil 0.9m deep, my resulting design volume is 73.8m3. This is 85% of 87m3, and is still considered optimal volume. Anything below 60%  is defined as "minimal", 60% to 79% is defined as "adequate", and 80% and up is defined as "optimal". We always want it to be in the optimal range. We can make the pit deeper to get more soil, though obviously one doesn't want a 20m deep pit with a minuscule surface area - we tend to regard 1m as maximum desirable depth. If this still proves suboptimal, we can reduce the number of trees in the area to ensure what is actually planted there will still thrive.

So here's my question - can I define a space (Space planning style, but not a room as such - no walls, just an area) where if I move a tree within that area, it is to be considered in the volume calculation for that area. The tree characteristics (type of tree, volume required) I can attach as a record (in addition to the plant record) - or I can coopt a few unused fields in the plant record. 

 

I need a report to show: (see attached image)

a list of trees, by number of trees of each size classification, for a given area

the total number of trees in each area,

the soil volume area and depth for the area

the target soil volume ( 100% of sum of all volumes recommended for the all the trees in the area, including existing trees)

the design soil volume (what the area at selected depth actually provides)

the percentage of design soil volume over target soil volume

 

If possible I would like an automatic link to the soil volume required depending on the tree type/size allocated (I have 20 or so tree types/sizes, single or multiples with the altered soil volumes (if a tree is being planted in a space with existing trees, then the multiple tree volume is used) and then the changed volume if the soil is heavy on clay)

 

In the attached spreadsheet (layout is malleable)-

The actual report to be shown on the drawing (which I can set up once I have all the associated info attached) is the white area, the rest is not needed and I show here for clarity. Most of the white area - except for the area id and the list of trees by type and number, which are manually typed in - is populated by formulae drawing on the orange area.

I have a lookup table which inserts the required volume once tree type is selected.

 

is this setup possible in VW 2024 Landmark? If so  - how?

Soil volume chart.pdf

[Jeff Prince]

1 hour ago, TessF said:

So here's my question - can I define a space (Space planning style, but not a room as such - no walls, just an area) where if I move a tree within that area, it is to be considered in the volume calculation for that area. The tree characteristics (type of tree, volume required) I can attach as a record (in addition to the plant record) - or I can coopt a few unused fields in the plant record. 

You can use a poly on a specific class to  create the area, no need to use the space tool.  There are several threads here on the forum on how to write the worksheet code for that and similar.  

There should be sufficient plant records to address your classification needs.  You can add records to plant objects, but you have to be sure to attach that record to all of your plants, easier to use the predefined ones already attached to the plants imho.  Hopefully @Pat Stanford will give you a hand.

 

I feel bad for you having to do these pointless calculations, code enforcement people don’t seem to understand how plants actually work.

[Pat Stanford]

The Worksheet Database criteria you are looking for is LOC for Location.

 

You might be able to automate this more, but let's start with a worksheet where you have to manually add each planting area. Draw a polygon to represent the desired are and give it a name at the bottom of the Object Info Palette (OIP).

 

For each of these areas you will create a separate database row in the worksheet. The criteria will be something like:

 

Location is within MyFirstLocation
Type is Tree

 

where MyFirstLocation is replaced by the name you gat the polygon and Type is Tree is whatever criteria is needed to identify the trees you are interested in. The Location part will take care of limiting to just the trees in that location.

 

So you will now have a database with the number of rows for the trees in that location. Add your other fields and formulas in the the Database Header Row as necessary.

 

Once you are happy with what you have, select the database header row and Copy it.

 

Paste it down lower in the worksheet and Edit Criteria and change the Loc name for the next location. Repeat as necessary.

 

HTH

 

If you need more information please ask again.