Introducing the Program Import feature: a faster and more convenient way to translate your spatial program data from a .csv file into built masses. Snaptrude automatically generates spaces for conceptual design based on the data in the .csv file, enabling designers to create more design options quickly. These spaces can be integrated into both new and existing projects, streamlining the design process and enhancing efficiency.
Editing & Importing the template CSV file
Step 1: Open the Import tab.
Step 2: Click on 'CSV' option in the Import tab
Step 3: Once CSV Import window opens, click on the template.csv to download it.
Step 4: Open the downloaded CSV file in MS Excel or Google Sheets.
The CSV file already has all the guidelines required to input data in the following fields:
The Area unit is the unit of the area you wish to define your spaces in. (This will be default corresponding to the units set in the project. You can change it here if required.)
The Space is the name/label of the room you want for the project
Count is the number of these spaces required.
Area per unit is the area of each space.
Width is one proportion of the space that will be drawn on the canvas once the template is imported. (Unit depends on Area if area=sqm width is in meters if area=sqft width is in feet.)
Category color is the HEX color code. This colour will be assigned to the respective space.
Fill out these entries as per your project requirements.
(Please note that if any field is left blank in the CSV, Snaptrude ensures a smooth import applying the following default values:
Space- The spaces created will be labelled as Default.
Count- If no count value is given, then default count is taken to be 1.
Width- If left undefined, the default proportion is square.
Category colour- If no color code is given, then the mass is imported in default Grey colour.)
Step 6: Save the CSV file and proceed to your Snaptrude dashboard.
To upload the filled CSV file, either click on 'Browse CSV' or simply drag and drop the recently saved CSV file.
Step 8: Finally, initiate the import process by clicking on 'Import'.
Managing the Spaces created from the CSV
All the areas are imported as 3D spaces. Moreover, they are automatically arranged according to their labels provided in the CSV file. Moreover, all the areas are imported at Storey 1, irrespective of the storey you are presently at.
All the spaces of the same Label are clone copies of each other. In other words, editing one of them will reflect the changes in the others. You can change that by making them unique.
Following the import of CSV file, arranging the spaces for creating the concept design using "select to move".
To move a space in selection, simply hover over the snapping point on the space. Click and hold the left mouse button and drag it to the desired location, then release the button.
This feature lets you snap to other spaces present in the project. It facilitates the organization of spaces to meet specific design requirements effectively in both 2D and 3D views.
Pro -tip:
1. While moving these spaces, you can also enter a precise distance for accuracy.
2. Lock the movement axis using the keyboard arrow keys.
Continue to create your concept design by editing these spaces as required using the tools available in the 'Design tab'.
Area chart visualization
You can use the Areas tab to view the area distribution of spaces in your project. The Area Dashboard captures both the target areas set in the CSV file and the achieved areas after editing the spaces post-import. This feature streamlines the design process by allowing users to effortlessly track and compare designed areas with target areas imported from program requirements. With options to view Carpet Area (Net Area), Built-up Area (Gross Area), and FAR, the Area Dashboard automates calculations, enabling designers to focus on creativity while maintaining accuracy and saving time. Access the Areas tab by clicking the icon in the upper right corner of the project.
The area dashboard is divided into the following sections:
Dashboard Setting
Within this dashboard, you can select specific area type to 'View' in Dashboard along with the 'Sort by' Type.
Net Area (Carpet Area): by Label and Storey
Gross Area (Built-up Area): by Storey
F.A.R.: by Storey
Count: by Label and Storey
This sorting capability helps to organize all labels of the same category into a single line, facilitating a clearer view of your data.
Sort By Storey: In Sort by Storeys, spaces linked to a specific storey are grouped under the respective storey. This sorting method helps gather area distribution data in each of the storeys. All view types can be sorted by storey.
Sort By Label: In Sort by Labels, all the spaces having same Labels will be grouped together. This is particularly useful when you want to view a consolidated data on the area of the same space label. Note that only Carpet area (Net area) & Count can be sorted by Label.
CSV Targets
The dashboard setting includes a 'Show Targets' toggle feature that can be activated or deactivated at any time.
This function is activated only when the sorting is by labels. In other words, 'Targets' are visible only for Carpet area (Net area) and Count when sorted by label.
The "Show Targets" represent CSV targets calculated by multiplying the count by the area of the unit of imported CSV.
Hovering over each label reveals the percentage of the target area that has been achieved.
The darker number indicates the achieved area, while the other value below it shows the target area.
Removing an area not only changes the percentage of the achieved target for that label but also impacts the total area shown in the summary section.
This alteration is also reflected in the count for the specific label and is apparent in the count summary.
Please note that targets can only be set during the CSV import process; they cannot be adjusted through space edits in the Snaptrude project.
Deviation
As you begin editing the spaces in your project, the area of these spaces may sometimes exceed or fall short of the target areas. The Deviation feature helps monitor these variations, empowering designers to make informed decisions during the concept design phase. Deviation refers to the maximum acceptable variation from the target area, which users can customize by setting a specified percentage via the configure button. This adjustment feature is especially useful for managing categories like Carpet Area (Net Area) and Count, particularly when working with CSV targets.
Deviation can adjusted from the "Configure" button. The default setting for deviation is five percent, but it can be adjusted at any moment by manually entering a new percentage value and clicking on "Apply".
Deviation Indicators:
After setting the deviation, if the achieved areas are less than or more than the target the following indication will be visible in the area dashboard as shown below:
a. When the achieved area is less than the target area, it is visually indicated by an orange highlight to signal this discrepancy.
b. On the other hand, if the achieved area is more than the target, it is highlighted in red.
Pro Tip : This feature is very useful with 'Count' as well. You can identify how much target count was proposed in the csv and compare it with the achieved count.
F.A.R. (Floor Area Ratio)
For FAR calculations, the emphasis is strictly on masses, which encompass spaces and slabs.
Users can opt to exclude any of these spaces by deselecting them. When a space is deselected, it is excluded from the area calculation, which leads to a reduction in the overall area.
Setting up the FAR
The FAR value by default is shown as zero. To display the FAR, follow these steps:
Step 1: Click on the Set Target FAR button or 'Configure' button.
Step 2: Enter desired Site Area (or draw a space on the design canvas & label it as "Site". Area of that drawn site will be captured directly here) and define Target F.A.R. values.
Step 3: Following this, click on the 'Apply' button.
Once applied, it provides a clear comparison of the achieved FAR against the set target FAR.
Graph Options
The area dashboard includes various chart options.
A. Ring chart: By default the ring chart is active in the area tab. Hovering over a specific part of the chart, offers a quick overview of the relevant data.
B. Bar graph: Clicking the graph icon changes it to a Bar graph, providing an alternative visual representation of areas (which can be sorted by storeys as well).
Exporting Areas
To export area data from the projects, navigate to the project's dropdown menu on the left side of the screen. Select either "Export Areas by Storey" or "Export Areas by Label."
A. "Export Areas By Storey" will download a CSV file with Label areas organized by storey with the FAR details as well.
B. "Export Areas by Label" will similarly download a CSV file with data sorted by label.
Export by Label has data related to Target Area (and Count), Achieved Area (and Count) and difference between them.
This helps simplify the process of working with conceptual masses, allowing for easy management and analysis of the project without manual counting or area calculations.