How are existing elevations of a building lot indicated in plans?

In architectural and engineering plans, existing elevations of a building lot are typically indicated using a lowercase "e." This notation clearly communicates the existing grade or elevation of the site to the construction team or planners. By utilizing "e," it ensures that there is no confusion with other elevation indicators or markings that might denote proposed elevations or other design-related notes.

Using numerical codes can sometimes be employed for specific elevations, but this is less common for existing grades as it doesn't universally indicate "existing."

A colored marker could indicate various features or conditions on a plan, but it lacks the precision and consistency required to denote existing elevations specifically.

Therefore, indicating existing elevations with a lowercase "e" serves the purpose of standardization and clarity on the plans, making it the most effective method for conveying this information.