Simulating a Steep Grade Can Be Tricky

by Paul Odett on 10/26/09 at 12:09 pm

When our client asked us to create a 3D simulation of a proposed grade change with a 30 foot retaining wall in front of their already existing building, we knew that would be an interesting and challenging study to produce.

The primary goal for this simulation was to help our client better explain to both city officials and future buyers of the building, how this change would affect the access to the building and safety of the grade change being proposed.  A secondary goal was to show what the heck this gigantic wall would look like in front of our client’s building and would this increase or decrease the value of the property.

The simulation was created with accurate site and grade changes, wall details, landscape and materials, along with utilizing GPS data gathered at the site to ensure the alignment of the 3D digital model into the photo was 100% accurate.

In the end, the study created by focus 360 was used by our client to successfully show what the proposed changes are going to look like and how the existing street and neighboring buildings would be affected, or in this case unaffected.  The access and grade change looks to be on track to function properly in relationship to the existing building and should not cause an unsafe situation for large trucks turning into the loading dock entrance.

Oh and by the way, the belief is that this site enhancement will ultimately add value to the property and thus make our client even happier down the road.

Rendering of proposed entry