Drawing Area Coordinate System Drawing Blocks Drawing Area Coordinate System

Drawing Area The drawing area is that portion of the sheet containing drawings, keynotes, key plans, schedules, and other graphic and text data necessary to illustrate the work. The drawing area is divided into modules. Factors that may influence the number and size of modules include sheet size, margins, title block area, client requirements, and typical drawing block size. The user should establish a standard drawing module size as required to meet these factors.

Drawing Area Modules should remain the same throughout the drawing set. This allows the creation of library files of standard graphic and text information that may be located easily within the drawing area grid or be moved between sheets or projects. Individual drawings may comprise one or more drawing modules. Drawing modules containing graphic or textual information are called drawing blocks. Each drawing block is identified by the drawing area coordinate system.

Drawing Area Coordinate System The drawing modules are arranged in columns and rows. Columns are identified with numerical characters starting with 1 and Increasing to the right. Rows are identified with alphabetical characters beginning at the Bottom starting with A and increasing toward the top of the sheet. Each module is therefore identified by a letter and a number.

Drawing Area Coordinate System A drawing block may be composed of one or more drawing area modules and is identified based on the lower left hand location. Therefore, a drawing located in the lower left hand corner of the drawing area, two modules high by two modules wide, would be identified as A1. Figure 02.2 indicates examples of how several drawings would be identified.

Drawing Area Coordinate System

Drawing Area Coordinate System It is preferred that drawing area coordinates be positioned outside the drawing area itself, although some plotting hardware may require that the coordinates be located within the drawing area. At a minimum these coordinates should be placed on the right hand side as well as the top or bottom of the drawing area. However, it is preferred that they appear on all four sides of the drawing area.

Drawing Area Coordinate System This numbering system allows drawings to be numbered during early stages of the project or as late as construction record drawings while providing for a consistent location throughout the drawing set and project cycle.