Populating the Flatwork Base

Now that the Flatwork Base is completed, your last step is to arrange the site element components on the base. Choose File > Import and select the AutoCAD file Objects.dwg from the CAD/Insert folder. Make sure that the units and Preserve drawing origin are correct in the Option window, and then select Open.

SketchUp will import all the AutoCAD blocks and their associated layers into the drawing file. In some cases, the imported blocks and edges will not appear in the right location and will need to be aligned with the Flatwork Base.

Frequently, the imported Objects.dwg blocks will appear under or in the Flatwork Base. This will probably be the case if a volume (such as a 6˝ curb or thickness) was added to the flatwork (Fig. 19-1).

Before you explode the Objects information, move it upward (vertically) to sit on top of the Flatwork Base’s lowest volume, typically the walks and lawns (Fig. 19-2).

Fig. 19-1: The Objects file is imported and placed underneath the Flatwork Base.

Fig. 19-2: Make sure the Objects component sits on the top of the lowest flatwork surface.

Occasionally, the inserted Objects file will not insert correctly and will be misaligned with the Flatwork Base. If that is the case, realign the inserted blocks manually; select all the inserted blocks and move them to the correct locations with the Move/Copy tool. Do this before you explode the Objects information. This will make moving the information easier because it will be a single component (Fig. 19-3).