Create a Site Analysis Map using OS MasterMap®
Hello. Today, I am going to show you how to create a quick site analysis map using data from the OS National Geographic Database, or else OS NGD. You can quickly get a MasterMap® file that includes site usage information directly from our website www.mapserve.co.uk in CAD format, such as DWG or DXF for any site in Great Britain.
After downloading your file you need to open it using AutoCAD. First, we’re going to set the radius around the building of our choice that we can focus on. To do that, we’re going to create a new layer to draw our circle on. To do that click on this button here, change the name, in this case we’re going to use the name ‘radius’ and the colour and press ‘Enter’. Next under ‘Drafting’ click on this circle tool and draw it around the property you’re working on like so.
Next, we’re going to use hatching to create our site analysis map. I have chosen to show health, religious and sports buildings as well as private residences on my site analysis map. Let’s start with the health institutes. We locate the layers we would like to display, so let’s see what we have here under this category. We have hospitals and medical care units here. First I’ve chosen the hospital layer. I’ve unchecked all other layers except my ‘radius’ one and the ‘hospital’ one.
To start hatching in AutoCAD, navigate to the Drafting tab which is located here, then locate the Hatch panel, and click on Hatch. Now, on the Hatch visor, you'll see the Hatch Type list under ‘fill type’. Here, select the type of hatch you want to use. You have a variety of options to choose from. In this case we’re going to hatch using a solid colour.
After selecting the hatch pattern or fill and your colour, you need to specify how the pattern boundary is selected. You have two options, it’s either Pick Points which inserts the hatch or fill within a closed area that is bounded by one or more objects. With this method, you click within the boundaries to specify the area. Select Boundary Objects: This inserts the hatch or boundary within a closed object, such as a circle. Remember, the last-used selection method is retained until you change it. Next, click on the area or object you want to hatch. AutoCAD will apply the hatch pattern or fill to the selected area. If needed, you can make adjustments to the hatch on the Hatch visor. Once you're satisfied with the adjustments, simply press Enter to apply the hatch and exit the command. After hatching all buildings within your radious press the ‘escape’ button to exit the command.
Next we’re going to do the ‘medical care’ unit building. You select the hatch tool and colour and click on the building you would like to colour. Next, it’s private residences. Do not forget to exit the command each time otherwise you’ll continue colouring using the same colour. Continue until you’re happy with your selection.
Now, AutoCAD will save your PNG as a raster image. I do not want my background to be black like on this workspace so to change that you type in the command ‘options’, press ‘Enter’ to open the options dialog box and navigate to the Look and Feel tab. Then under the ‘Interface theme’ select ‘white’ or any other colour if you prefer for your Modelspace. Click OK.
You can choose if you wish for the rest of the MasterMap layers to be visible on your map by turning them on again like so.
After you have hatched all buildings you would like to display in your site analysis map it’s time to export your image. You can use PDF or PNG formats to create your image, which you can then use in a Design and Access Statement for example. Let’s say you would like to export it in PNG format. To do this you need to click here, in the command space and type in PNGOUT. You type in the name of your choice for your file, you select where you would like to save it and press ‘Enter’. In the command area again, click once – unless you would like a smaller portion of your map to be displayed- and press Enter. AutoCAD will take a moment to render your image and then when it’s ready you can open it to make sure it’s correct. Your PNG image is now saved on your computer and it’s ready to be used.