Why is it important to accurately model the land features of your project site with a toposurface?
It is important to accurately model the land features of a project site because topography plays a big role in estimating the costs of a project. The type of soil, elevation of the soil, and amount of soil that needs to be moved are key elements that a architect must accurately reflect in drawings. Topography can have impacts on building structural requirements and optimal building layout for maximizing energy efficiency to name a few.
When designing a project...
I think this question varies, based on the objectives of the client. If the building adapts to the terrain then the client will likely save money that would otherwise be spent to adapt the terrain. On the other hand sometimes it is necessary to adapt the terrain to the building for safety reasons.
Why do stairs follow specific proportions with a set relationship between the tread length and riser height?
Stairs follow specific proportions with tread length and riser height due to safety regulations. Certain parameters have to be met for a stair case to be considered safe for the public. By using building modeling, designers can ensure that stairs will be compliant to the regulations.