Housing design and analysis - Adding parking to residential designs

Step-by-step guide

In Forma, the TestFit parking extension is used to add parking areas to a site.

In this example, Proposal1 is already set up, the site limits have been defined, and housing units and roads have been added. To view current parking areas in the site:

In the right panel, under Area metrics, expand the drop-down and select Parking.

Currently, there are no parking spaces in this example.

The top of the right panel in Forma, showing the Area metrics with Parking active in the drop-down, and below that, the Number of spots is zero and highlighted in red.

To add a parking area, you must first add the TestFit parking extension to Forma:

In the Sidebar, click the Extensions tab.

The top-left corner of the Forma interface, where the Extensions tab, indicated with a red circle, has been clicked and the Add extension button is showing, about to be clicked.

Click Add extension.
In the Autodesk App Store window, scroll to locate the TestFit parking utilization calculator and select it.

The Forma interface dimmed in the background in gray, with the Autodesk App Store open in front, the list of extensions scrolled to the bottom, and the TestFit parking extension shown highlighted in red as it is being selected.

In the app description window, click Add.
Agree to the terms.

The Autodesk App Store window open to the TestFit extension information, open to the Overview tab on the left and an image of a parking lot on the right. Overlapping the image, the Add button has been clicked and the terms drop-down is open, and the Agree button is active in blue as it is being clicked.

Click Close.
In the Extensions tab, click TestFit.

A message informs you that the tools now appear in the right panel.

In the Design menu, click Extensions > TestFit Parking to activate the extension, which also activates the freeform drawing tool.

A small portion of the Forma canvas showing the Design toolbar active, with the Extensions button clicked and the TestFit parking extension being selected from the pop-out and indicated with a red arrow.

Zoom and pan to the desired location of the parking lot.
Switch to the 2D view.
To draw the surface parking area, click to place each of the corners.
Press ENTER to finish.
With the added parking area selected, in the right panel, click TestFit Parking to open a dialog box of adjustable settings.

The right half of the Forma interface showing the new parking area having been drawn and still selected in the canvas. In the right panel, the TestFit parking app is selected, and the adjustable settings for the parking area are open in a panel to the left.

Adjust the Stall width.
Adjust the Stall height.
Adjust the Drive aisle width.
Adjust the Turn radius.

Note: As you adjust the options, the parking lot configuration changes in the canvas.

When you are finished, close the dialog box.

To make changes to the parking area object directly in the canvas:

Select the parking area; the entrance becomes active.
Click and drag the dot to place the entrance along the edge.

A portion of the Forma canvas showing a selected parking area object, with the entrance highlighted in blue and a red arrow indicating the white dot handle for the entrance.

Open the TestFit Parking options dialog box again.
Adjust the Primary axis for orientation to 2.
Select Max run and increase the Max run stall count to 14.
Click Close.

Note: In the right panel, the Parking area metrics are updated live and show the total number of spots for the area. These metrics can be used to track whether there is adequate parking for the residents in this area.

The right half of the Forma interface showing the new parking area in the canvas. In the right panel, the TestFit parking app is active, and the area metrics are highlighted with a red oval. In the panel of adjustable settings for the parking area, the Primary axis for orientation and Max run options are highlighted in red.

Adding parking to residential designs

Step-by-step guide

Related learning

Browse content with related tags