Usage types are pre-determined by Giraffe to create standardized calculated properties for use in Analytics and Urban Calculations.
Building Section
Building Sections usages are intended to represent the massing built form of buildings.
They contribute to calculations like FAR, gross floor area, building coverage, and more. Building usages also allow for solar exposure calculation.
You can draw a building section type directly from the drawing toolbar. Anything in the Building tool is a building section usage.
The symbol for building types is a skyscraper in the color of the usage fill.
Land Use
Land Use type usages are meant to model allowable built form across multiple lots.
Land Use usages represent the large-scale implications of zoning and other planning overlays. (Think a land use map).
Land use usages do not automatically contribute to calculations in Urban, but can be used in Analytics to create custom reports.
You can draw a land use type directly from the drawing toolbar. Anything in the Land Use tool is a land use usage.
The symbol for land use types is a square in the color of the usage fill.
Landscape
Landscape type usages represent greenspace or water.
Landscape usages contribute to open space, landscape areas, and roof landscape calculations (and more). Landscape also allows for solar exposure calculation.
You can draw a landscape type directly from the drawing toolbar. Landscape is in the Landscape and Parking tool.
The symbol for landscape types is a tree in the color of the usage fill.
Road
Road usages are line based an represent roads and footpaths.
Roads and footpaths contribute to paved area and are counted as impervious area.
You can draw a road type directly from the drawing toolbar. Roads are in the Landscape and Parking tool.
The symbol for road type usages is a road going into the distance.
Paved Area
Paving type usages represent impervious areas like plazas or parking.
Paving usages contribute to paved area and site coverage calculations.
You can draw a paving type directly from the drawing toolbar. Paving is in the Landscape and Parking tool.
The symbol for paved area types is a square in the color of the usage fill.
Basement
Basement type usages represent underground areas.
Basements contribute to gross building area, but do not contribute to site coverage.
Basements are not included in the drawing toolbar.
The symbol for basement is a square in the color of the usage fill.
Generic
Generic types are for polygons without special built-form properties.
There are 4 generic usage types:
3D - icon is a cube
Polygon - icon is a square
Line - icon is a squiggle
Point - icon is a square
Generic types are not included in the drawing toolbar.
No Type
The carpark usage is a special no-type. This is because the different types of parking are actually different types of built form.
On-grade parking is calculated as a Paving type.
Multi-deck parking is calculated as a Building type.
Underground parking is calculated as a Basement type.