Guide • Site analysis
How to make a site analysis sheet
A site analysis sheet is the board that shows what you found about a site before you design: where it is, how people move, the climate, the levels, the views and the constraints, ending in what it means for your design. This guide lists what to include and how to make each part.
Use this overview to plan your research. Verify current requirements and site-specific conditions against the relevant primary sources. Read our data sources, coverage and limits guide.
What to include
| Panel | What it shows | How to make it with Atlasly |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Where the site is in the city or region | Export Map: A3 PDF or SVG at a larger extent |
| Figure-ground | Urban grain and density | Figure-ground diagram in Vision, or buildings-only SVG |
| Access and movement | Roads, paths, rail, entrances | Export with the roads layer; road classes are separate layers |
| Green and blue | Parks, trees, water | Export with water, green space and trees |
| Topography | Levels, slope, contours | Contours in the DXF; elevation profile in the project map |
| Sun | Sun path and seasons | Sun path diagram in Vision (solstices and equinoxes) |
| Wind | Prevailing wind | Not in Atlasly. Use a local weather station's wind rose |
| Constraints (UK) | Flood, heritage, protected trees | Planning layers in Atlas AI for UK sites |
| Site photos and sketches | Character, edges, views | Your own; AI site diagrams in Vision can help present them |
| Opportunities and constraints | Your conclusions | Your own synthesis drawn over the site plan |
Lay out the sheet
- Pick one paper size (A1 or A3 landscape is common) and a grid of 6 to 9 panels.
- Put the location map top left and the opportunities and constraints plan largest, usually bottom right. Readers should end on your conclusions.
- Use the same scale, extent and north for every map of the site so they can be compared.
- Keep a short legend in each panel and a consistent colour for the site boundary.
- Write one line under each panel saying what it means for the design, not just what it shows.
- Compose the sheet in InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop or Canva. Atlasly makes the maps and diagrams; it does not lay out the board for you.
Make the maps with Atlasly
- Create a project for your site in Atlas AI.
- Open Export Map, draw the area once and export the same area several times with different layers: buildings only, roads, green and blue. Free up to 1 km² for 2D files.
- Use SVG for Illustrator (layers stay separate), PDF for a quick print, DXF if you want to draw over it in CAD.
- In the project map, draw a line across the site to see an elevation profile for your section.
- For UK sites, ask Atlas AI about flood risk, conservation areas and listed buildings and add the returned layers to your constraints panel. Check each finding against its source link.
Make the diagrams with Atlasly Vision
- Figure-ground diagram: four styles, radius 150 to 800 m, download SVG, PNG or PDF.
- Sun path diagram: solstices and equinoxes for your site's location, download SVG, PNG or PDF.
- AI site diagrams and renders: describe the diagram or attach your sketch. Free accounts get 3 standard images every 24 hours.
- AI images are illustrations. Keep the drawn maps as the measured base and label AI panels as illustrative.
Common mistakes
- Maps at different scales or extents, so nothing lines up.
- Data with no source: add "© OpenStreetMap contributors" and name other sources.
- Analysis with no conclusion. Every panel should lead to the opportunities and constraints plan.
- Too much text. Use short labels and arrows on the drawings instead.
Questions
What should a site analysis sheet include?
Usually a location map, figure-ground, access and movement, green and blue space, topography, sun and wind, constraints, photos and a final opportunities and constraints plan. Check your brief, as tutors often set specific panels.
Does Atlasly make the whole sheet for me?
No. Atlasly makes the maps, CAD files and diagrams for your site. You compose the sheet in your layout software and add your own analysis and conclusions.
Can Atlasly make a wind rose?
Not at the moment. Use wind data from a local weather station or your national weather service for the wind panel.
What size should a site analysis sheet be?
A1 is common for studio reviews and A3 for portfolios. Set up your grid for the final size first, then export maps at the same extent so they drop into the panels.
Start your site analysis
Create a project for your site, then export the maps and diagrams for each panel.
Open Atlas AIReview current plans and usage and source coverage for your project.