📋 Overview
The Building Area Setting TabPage allows users to configure the structural dimensions and geometry of the distribution center building—including aspect ratio (W:D), floor levels (1 to 5 storeys), canopy overhangs, and annex buildings—and computes total floor and ground projection area.
🎯 Core Capabilities
- Configures building aspect ratios (e.g., Width 3 : Depth 2).
- Selects main building storey count (1-storey to 5-storey designs).
- Specifies dock canopy overhangs and separate administrative annexes.
- Simulates and compares 40 automated building structural variations.
- Calculates total gross floor area and site land projection area.
- Exports full scenario comparison tables directly to Excel.
🎯 Purpose & Applications
Primary Objectives
🏢 Building Geometry Optimization
Determines optimal building proportions matching plot shapes and workflow logistics. Compares wide, deep, or square layouts.
📐 Projected Area Calculation
Calculates exact ground projection area to verify compliance with local Building Coverage Ratio (BCR) zoning laws.
📊 Multi-Storey Modeling
Supports 1-to-5-storey building configurations suited for high-density urban logistics centers.
🔄 Multi-Scenario Benchmarking
Automates calculation across 40 structural permutations to locate optimal engineering solutions.
Practical Use Cases
- Greenfield DC Planning: Selecting building proportions that fit plot dimensions.
- Property Selection: Evaluating land plots based on calculated projection footprints.
- Single- vs. Multi-Storey Tradeoffs: Comparing single-storey vs multi-storey capex and efficiency.
- Zoning Compliance: Verifying adherence to BCR and Floor Area Ratio (FAR) regulations.
- Dock Bay Layout Planning: Balancing perimeter wall length against required truck bay count.
🖥️ Interface Architecture
Main Area Layout
| Area Name | Function Summary | Main Controls |
|---|---|---|
| Condition Setup Group | Configures basic building geometry | Aspect ratio, storey dropdowns, canopy/annex toggles |
| Calculation Conditions Tab | Displays detailed calculation logic | Floor area and projection area displays |
| 40-Pattern Calculation Tab | Batch simulation across 40 patterns | Pattern grid, Excel export button |
| Layout Visualization | Visual aspect ratio diagram | Building shape schematic graphic |
📝 Input Parameter Settings
1. Aspect Ratio Settings
Width Ratio (Main Building WCb)
Options: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | Default: 3
Sets relative width ratio. Larger values yield wider building fronts.
Depth Ratio (Main Building DCb)
Options: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | Default: 2
Sets relative depth ratio. Larger values yield deeper building footprints.
2. Storey Count Settings
| Parameter | Options | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Building Storeys (Cb) | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 storeys | Specifies the storey count for the main building structure. |
⚠️ Multi-Storey Engineering Constraints
- For 2+ storeys, high-density ASRS and heavy floor loading require structural engineering review.
- Inter-floor conveyor and freight elevator core space must be accommodated.
- Clear ceiling heights generally require ≥4.0 meters per level.
3. Annex & Canopy Overhang Settings
✅ No Annex (Standard)
Consolidates all offices and operations inside the main building.
🏢 External Annex
Separates administrative offices into a standalone annex building. Adds annex footprint to total site projection area.
🔢 Calculation Logic
Mathematical Derivation Steps
Depth = Side × √(Depth Ratio ÷ Width Ratio)
📐 Calculation Example (3:2 Aspect Ratio, 1-Storey)
Baseline: Main Floor Area = 1,200 m², Storeys = 1
- Virtual Side = √(1,200 ÷ 1) = 34.64 m
- Width = 34.64 × √(3 ÷ 2) = 34.64 × 1.225 = 42.43 m
- Depth = 34.64 × √(2 ÷ 3) = 34.64 × 0.816 = 28.28 m
- Verification: 42.43 × 28.28 = 1,200 m² ✅
Total Projection Area Formula
✅ Used directly for site land sizing
Required Site Land Area = Total Land Projection Area ÷ Zoning BCR Limit.
🏗️ 40-Pattern Automated Simulation
This automated feature calculates 40 distinct building dimension permutations to help planners identify the ideal building geometry.
📄 40-Pattern Excel Export
Exports all 40 simulation results to Excel for executive review and sorting.
📤 Outputs & Results
| Output Item | Unit | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Main Total Floor Area | m² | Total gross building area across all storeys. |
| Main Projection Area | m² | Ground footprint of the main structure. |
| Building Width | m | Calculated front building dimension. |
| Building Depth | m | Calculated side building dimension. |
| Canopy Area | m² | Overhanging dock canopy area. |
| Total Projected Footprint | m² | Combined projection (Main + Canopy + Annex). |
| Required Site Land Area | m² | Required land area derived from zoning BCR. |
⚠️ Important Notes & Constraints
1. Practical Aspect Ratios
Avoid extreme aspect ratios (e.g., 5:1). Ratios between 1:1 and 3:2 maintain optimal internal picking travel distances.
2. Multi-Storey Construction Cost Variations
Multi-storey designs reduce ground projection area but increase per-sq-meter construction costs due to heavy floor slab engineering.
3. Re-calculation Trigger
If floor area changes in the Master Consolidation tab, click (Re-calculate Building) to refresh geometry.