Avoidance Zones help operators identify and avoid hazardous or restricted areas while working in Siteworks. When an avoidance zone is approached or entered, the software provides both visual and audible warnings to help improve site safety.

Creating Avoidance Zones in Trimble Business Center

The recommended method for creating avoidance zones is in Trimble Business Center (TBC).

1. Create closed polygon boundaries around the areas to be avoided in your CAD design.

2. During the site creation process, select these closed polygons as Avoidance Zones.

3. TBC automatically creates an avoidance zone file named:*.avoid.dxf

4. The file is saved in the Siteworks project folder and is available when the project is loaded into Siteworks.

Supported File Formats

Siteworks supports the following avoidance zone file formats:

• *.avoid.dxf
• *.avoid.dwg
• *.avoid.vcl

Any closed polygon contained within these files is automatically treated as an avoidance zone.

Tip: Any CAD software can be used to create avoidance zone files. Simply ensure the polygons are closed and save the file using the.avoid.dxf or.avoid.dwg naming convention before placing it in the project folder.

Avoidance Zone Warnings

As you move closer to an avoidance zone, Siteworks provides visual and audible alerts:

Adjusting the Tolerance Distance

To change the warning distance around avoidance zones:

1. Select Home.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Select Avoidance Zone.
4. Adjust the required tolerance value.

Logging Avoidance Zone Incursions

Any entry into an avoidance zone is recorded automatically in the project's TaskLog.txt file.

This provides an audit trail of avoidance zone breaches for review and reporting.

Creating Avoidance Zones in the Field (Siteworks v1.75 and later)

Starting with Siteworks v1.75, avoidance zones can be created directly in the field without returning to the office.

Create an Avoidance Zone from a Measured Line or Design Polygon

You can create an avoidance zone from:

• A closed measured line in the active work order.
• A closed polygon contained in a loaded DXF, DWG, or VCL design.

To create an avoidance zone:

1. Locate the closed line or polygon.
2. Tap and hold the object.
3. Select Create Avoidance Zone.

Note: The Create Avoidance Zone option only appears for closed polygons or closed measured lines. It is not available for open or incomplete lines.

Measuring an Avoidance Zone

Siteworks v1.75 also includes an Avoidance Zone line type within the Measure Type screen.

When measured using this line type:

• The polygon is treated similarly to an Area line type.
• It is not considered a breakline.
• It is not included in the measured surface of the active work order.

Creating Avoidance Zones Using COGO

Several COGO tools can be used to create avoidance zones, including:

• COGO Create Line tools
• Point at Bearing & Distance

However, avoidance zones cannot be created using:

• COGO Create Offset Line

Field.Avoid.dxf File

When an avoidance zone is created in Siteworks, the software automatically generates:

Field.Avoid.dxf

This file is stored in the project folder and contains all avoidance zone polygons created in the field.

Multiple Avoidance Zone Files

From Siteworks v1.75 and later, multiple avoidance zone files are supported in the same project folder.

Supported combinations include:

• Multiple.avoid.dxf files
• Multiple.avoid.dwg files
• Multiple.avoid.vcl files
• Any combination of the above

Earlier versions: Prior to v1.75, only a single avoidance zone file could be used. If multiple files were present, Siteworks would load only the first file detected by the operating system.

Editing Field-Created Avoidance Zones

Siteworks supports editing avoidance zones created using the Measure and COGO workflows.

Supported Editing Actions

If you continue measuring an existing avoidance zone line:

• The original avoidance zone is removed.
• A new avoidance zone is created when the line is closed again.

If points are deleted from the measured line:

• The avoidance zone is automatically updated.

If the original avoidance zone line is deleted:

• Siteworks prompts you to optionally delete the associated avoidance zone.

Important: These editing capabilities apply only to avoidance zones created through the Measure Line and COGO workflows. Avoidance zones created using the tap-and-hold Create Avoidance Zone option cannot be edited in this way.

Requirements

The field-based avoidance zone functionality introduced in Siteworks v1.75 requires:

• Advanced Measurement Module

This feature is not available in:

• Siteworks SE Starter Edition

Best Practice

For critical site hazards such as underground services, exclusion zones, environmental protection areas, or high-risk operating zones, create avoidance zones during project preparation in Trimble Business Center and verify them before work begins. Field-created avoidance zones can then be used to manage unexpected hazards encountered during construction.