Guides
Short, direct answers about getting site data from free public sources: what to download, how to use it, and how far to trust it.
How to
- How to make a site base plan from an address
- How to get contour lines for a property
- How to get a parcel boundary into AutoCAD or Civil 3D
- How to get real topography into SketchUp
- How to check if a property is in a FEMA flood zone
- How to check a property for wetlands
- How to find soil data for a site
- What is a base sheet?
Know the limits
- Public-data base plan vs a boundary survey
- LiDAR contours vs a topographic survey
- Assessor parcel lines vs legal boundaries