Graphic 1

1. Create your project group for this class: Not more than 4 students for group and select the name for your zzgroup.

2. Select one residential and one commercial projects: in your blueprints from your class book that you reviewed and analyzed with your team according to all the concepts that we have been working in this course (face to face and on line) chapter by chapter in class and your lectures and PowerPoint presentations.

3. Organize each project:

a. Open all your project drawings and order by discipline: General (G), Survey/Mapping (V), Geotechnical (B), Civil (C), Landscape (L), Structural (S), Architectural (A), Interiors (I), Equipment (Q), Fire Protection (F), Mechanical (M), Electrical (E), Plumbing (P), etc.

b. Identify the names of each drawings and make inventory of your plans, elevations, sections, details, etc.

c. Create a list inside of your drawings for each disciplines: Site Plan, Survey, Existing Plan and Proposal, floor plans, elevations (Exterior & interior), sections, details, etc.

d. Make a description for your project: Define type of project according with the type of activity "IBC Occupancy Group", numbers of floors, type of structure and foundation, construction area (square feet), etc.

4. Recognize your projects:

a. Read the title blocks: Project Information, city and address, A/E Companies and consultants, permits, revisions, drafter, etc. The title block's first section lists the blueprint's name, number, as well as the location, site, or vendor. If the drawing is part of a series this information will also be listed. This section is largely for filing and organizational purposes. Approval dates and signatures are located inside of the title block.

b. Read the index, notes, abbreviations, specifications and legends. Additionally all about city and county permits.

c. Read the legend to understand the numbers and symbols used in that specific blueprint. Any time changes to a building/system/component are made, the drawing has to be redrafted and print again. Those changes are listed at the revision block.

d. Understand your construction project: location, type of buildings, site plan, north orientation, floors, access, and more about the complete scope of work and phases for each project.

e. Recognize drawings for each discipline: Civil (C), Structural (S), General (G), Architectural (A), Mechanical (M), electrical (E), Plumbing (P), etc.

f. With 2D blueprints, there are three common perspectives: plan, elevation, and section. Understanding which one of these is being employed is an important first step to reading any drawing

6. Plan: A bird's eye view of planned work. Usually this is done on a horizontal plane at 30" above the floor. This perspective allows precise mapping of width and length.

6. Elevation: A view of planned work from the side. These drawings are usually oriented from the north, east, west, or south. Composing an elevation map allows for detailed planning of height dimensions.

6. Section: A view of something as if it were cut through. This perspective is generally imaginary, and is used to show the inner workings of how something will be built.

. After determining the orthographic view (top, front, and side views) and your relationship with Plan, elevation, section, details, roof, elevations, location, etc.

. Blueprints are scaled down representations of things like buildings, underground piping, and power line. To ensure proper construction, always use precise measurements. The scale sets a rule for the entire drawing, saying what measurements on the drawing are equal to in real life. For example 1/8" = 1' (one eighth inch equals one foot).

. Review all scales (graphic and numerical) for each drawing and establish the scale in your mind. In addition to the standard scale, grid, and lines, blueprints are often comprised of other symbols and numbers. In order to fully comprehend the specific blueprint you're working with, be sure to learn those symbols by reading through the legend. The notes will reveal any specifications or information the designer thinks will aid in understanding the drawing.

. Put all your clear notes and comments in pencil and color pencils, highlighters your symbols, pipes, pipelines, hatches, etc. to understand different types of lines and symbols in the same blueprints only. Although it can seem overwhelming when taken in all at once, lines are the language of blueprints. Lines often represent walls, door frames, and appliance exteriors; however they have many other purposes and are the primary characteristic of planned drawings. Depending on their thickness, whether they are straight or curved, dashed or consistent, lines have different schematic significance. The type of basic lines are as follows:

10. Object Line

10. Hidden Line

10. Center Line

10. Extension and Dimension Line

10. Cutting Plane Lines

10. Section Line

10. Break Lines

10. Phantom Line

. Before learning how to read a construction or manufacturing drawing, be sure you know the different parts of a blueprint. Once there is an understanding of the different components of a drawing and where everything is located, the next step is to be able to read the lines on a print. Reading a print means to understand what the graphic of a part is showing. Therefore, you must understand how lines work on a print. For engineers and manufacturers, lines are their communicators or even their alphabet which convey information. Identify all the lines and recognize the meaning for of them in each drawing:

11. Identify all the object lines. Object lines - or visible lines - are drawn the thickest of all on a blueprint. They represent what sides of an object are visible to the eye. Consider a simple drawn cube, the only lines seen are those visible. On a blueprint, these take on an added importance; thicker than all others, they became the reference point to compare the weight and composition of all other lines.

11. Identify the hidden lines. Hidden lines - or invisible lines - reveal surfaces that otherwise would not be visible to the eye. They are drawn at half the weight of object lines, with short, consistently spaced dashes. Consider the same drawing of a cube and how sometimes the otherwise invisible lines are represented in this same way. One rule of hidden lines is that they must always begin in contact with the line that is their starting point. The exception to this is anytime that first dash would appear to be a continuation of a solid line.

11. Read the dimension lines. Dimension lines show you the distance between any two locations in a drawing. Whether that be walls in a house, or the space between wiring in an electrical outlet. They are drawn as short, solid lines, with arrowheads on each end. The line's center point is broken, and here you will see the dimension (i.e. 3.5, 1.8, etc.) Dimension lines will help to envision a more 3D space and maintain correct spacing within a room or object.  Dimension lines are drawn with the same weight as invisible lines.

11. Find all center lines. Center lines establish the central axis of an object or part. You will most often see these with plans for circular or curved objects. On blueprints, they are drawn with alternating long and short dashes. Long dashes are on each end, and short dashes at points of intersection. Center lines are drawn with the same weight as invisible lines.

11. Find the phantom lines. Phantom lines are used to illustrate different positions of an object. For example think of a switch in the off position. Phantom lines could be used to represent its possible appearance in the on position. On blueprints you will see them drawn with one long and two short dashes, with another long dash on the end - all evenly spaced. Phantom lines also show any detail that needs to be repeated, or even the location of absent parts.

11. Identify extension lines. Extension lines are used to precisely define the physical limit of any dimension. They are drawn as short, solid lines, and can be placed inside or outside of the dimension being defined. Extending from the object outline, they do not actually touch the object lines. Since dimension lines often have to hover above an object simply because there is no room on the paper, or they would overlap, extension lines allow for more definite end and beginning points.

11. Locate the leaders. Leaders lines are solid lines ending typically in an arrowhead; these indicate any part or area of a drawing that is associated with a number, letter, note, or other reference. Desks, bookcases, and other furniture that don't come pre-assembled are a common reference to remember leader lines. In the general, lead lines are frequently used to define parts (i.e. "Place slot A into hole B").

11. Read the break lines. Break lines are used any time a part is removed in order to reveal what lies immediately beneath. In architectural drawings they are often used when a long section of drawing have the same structure; this reduces the drawing size and saves paper. Short break lines are done freehand and resemble a solid, thick sin wave. Long break lines are long, thin ruler-produced lines interspersed with freehand zig-zags.

· Identify diverse types of symbols: to connect symbols (section, detail, elevation, etc.) from one drawing with other and other in different sheets. For example, this "Detail 3" in the sheet "A-4" is in the "Floor plan 3" in the sheet "A-1".

· Development of the project:

. Study all structural drawings, schedules and details for foundation, basement and structure, including roof structure and slope/pitch. Preliminary analysis about existing contours, excavation, and utilities.

1. Inspect the grid system and column nomenclature and dimensions.

1. Structural schedule

. Find relationship between floor plans with wall types, sections, building elevations and construction details.

. Recognize all different hatches for all materials in floor plans, elevations and details.

. In each detail and section, write in what plan has a connection or relationship.

. Study all plans and details about ceiling and lighting, furniture, equipment, plumbing fixtures and HVAC system. Identify any notes for appliances, equipment, fixture and MEP system.

. Review Electrical and Mechanical rooms.

. Classify various categories of symbols (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, etc.) and use them for your inventory.

. Read the revision blocks, general notes, key notes, safety requirements and changes.

. Locate any openings, doors and windows, diagrams, isometric and schedules

. Find all connections between symbols, abbreviations, notes, and legends creating relationship between different views, details and wall sections.

· Create two MS Power Point presentations, one for each of these residential and commercial projects. Insert your full size color pictures (take picture 90° with your camera) or scan files (reading and good resolution) from your book blueprints, one by one sheet to each slide for these two projects. The first slide is with your members of your group and index of your drawings. Insert slide number and one picture for each page.

· One member of each group needs to submit these 2 PPT files by Blackboard and must include all the names of group members in your project. NO more than 4 students per group. After your submitting, re-open and review that your submitting files are there in Blackboard.

· Group Presentation: Demostation in Class with each PowerPoint (PPT) presentation, each member of project group needs to participate in your exhibition to explain all about your projects (Residential and Commercial). The objective for this exercises is discuss in more details for all our blueprint’s projects.