Does anyone know how to make this terrain?

[Frosty]

6 clicks in FormZ - basically click once on each topo line. It took longer to import the file.

[bjornkn]

How about a TIN from FormZ?

[Frosty]

How about a TIN from FormZ?

 

I'm sorry Bjorn, I don't understand.

[Claudio Branch]

TIN = Triangulated Irregular Network

 

Fancy acronym for mesh....

 

A TIN or mesh is just a bunch of triangles created between corresponding survey points, GIS output, or LIDAR data points, or even points that you create yourself within the app.

[Frosty]

Thanks. FormZ can make triangulated meshes and irregular triangulated meshes with the terrain tool. I think its one of the app's strongest tools.

 

http://formz.com/products/formz/terrain_models.html

[Stephen Thomas]

Okay, well I'll be the first to admit that after a quick go I'm a bit stumped. Obviously terrain object was my first thought which didn't work well. Second try was to create a loft and apply the various shapes along a path, but this resulted in a twisted mess. I'll be interested to see what the answer is, must be overlooking something simple I think.

[slanier]

one thing to note as well, is that the terrain feature is one of max's more intense features. This will crash max more often then not if you are not mindful of setting it up.

 

Pay attention to the contours and how many steps, or points they have...

It is worth it to spend some time in this step to eliminate excess points that you wont need to complete a curve or line. It will translate into lower poly counts when creating the terrain.

 

Also as stated there are multiple avenues to achieve your goal... if you have access to GIS you can simplify the contours there to help reduce and control poly counts... also moving into Sketch Up works as well..

[andreg]

Here's my go at it. First version made with splines+surface tool. The second made with splines+surface tool converted to poly with NURMS subdivisions.

 

Does this look correct Brian?

[Stephen Thomas]

Okay, had another go at it. Probably not the quickest way possible, but I got there!

[Brian Smith]

Here's my go at it. First version made with splines+surface tool. The second made with splines+surface tool converted to poly with NURMS subdivisions.

 

Does this look correct Brian?

 

it's hard to say because of the material and lighting but that left image looks like it's showing facets of some kind. maybe if you showed the viewport with facets on.

[bjornkn]

Thanks. FormZ can make triangulated meshes and irregular triangulated meshes with the terrain tool. I think its one of the app's strongest tools.

Sorry for causing confusion. I thought TIN was a commonly used acronym. Apparently FormZ calls it something else. The big advantages, IMO, of TINs are that you get crisper models where you can easily see where the contour lines are running, even when looking straight down. With the other modes it looks more like an even grid. Besides, TIN makes more efficient models which needs less polys to describe a shape.

Some years ago I almost bought FormZ because of its strong terrain functions. But then I spoke with an architect friend who was using it, and he said it wasn't that useful (?!?), and about that same time SketchUp appeared on the arena and I was sold... It still oooks useful to me though

[Claudio Branch]

 

and about that same time SketchUp appeared on the arena and I was sold...

 

 

I thought your solution using SU was great. It definately achieved results in regards to the terrain challenge in question. However, I do not have any experience using it.

 

How well would it handle an undeveloped piece of terrain that needs roadways, parking lots and intersections modeled through it?

 

I don't see any real challenge in modeling bare terrain, because several have demonstrated a variety of techniques and apps that do it. The REAL challenge lies in how to handle that terrain through design iterations, texturing, incorporation of entourage, and finally animation.

[vizwhiz]

I don't see any real challenge in modeling bare terrain, because several have demonstrated a variety of techniques and apps that do it. The REAL challenge lies in how to handle that terrain through design iterations, texturing, incorporation of entourage, and finally animation.

 

how about Taking This To The next Level and make a monthly contest of

 

..Stump The Experts (can your software do THIS??)

 

site modeling is definately a good point of departure for This

There hasnt been a monthly challenge here at CGA is many months

 

sorry if OT

[Brian Smith]

I for one think something like this can and should be done...but it would take a concerted effort from several people.

[Antisthenes]

try this...

 

http://www.rhinoterrain.com/

[SgWRX]

is the vertex shown here on top supposed be like this?

 

are there supposed to be overlapping lines like this?

 

thanks.

 

 

 

[Brian Smith]

no it's not supposed to be like that....you must have used the dreaded AutoCAD (DWG,DXF) file type. That file type inexplicably turns some vertices from a bezier to a bezier corner. I highly recommend not using that file type for any imports where curves need to be retain..ie, like almost always. You should use the Legacy file type instead.

[SgWRX]

thanks

[jackb602]

6 clicks in FormZ - basically click once on each topo line. It took longer to import the file.

 

Steve, for some reason FormZ kept giving me an error message when I tried to generate the mesh. (I don't know if this might be because I'm using FormZ 4.1.) When I split the terrain footprint into two objects, I was able to create two models and then union them together, but I wasn't able to do it one pass. How did you approach it?

 

Thanks,

Jack

[bjornkn]

I thought your solution using SU was great. It definately achieved results in regards to the terrain challenge in question. However, I do not have any experience using it.

 

How well would it handle an undeveloped piece of terrain that needs roadways, parking lots and intersections modeled through it?

I think it works great for such tasks, but I'm sure others may think otherwise. It took a while before I found the right way to do it for me. It does have some nice tools (Pro version) to stamp or drape roads etc onto the terrain, and to make polys from contour lines etc. But most of all I find it so useful because of its powerful drawing/snapping/inferencing/instancing/grouping/layer system for such terrain developements.

I don't see any real challenge in modeling bare terrain, because several have demonstrated a variety of techniques and apps that do it. The REAL challenge lies in how to handle that terrain through design iterations, texturing, incorporation of entourage, and finally animation.

I agree. SketchUp isn't the best tool for animation though...

[Claudio Branch]

 

I think it works great for such tasks, but I'm sure others may think otherwise.

 

 

Everyone has a tendency to believe that their techniques and tools are the best solution! Consideration of modeling time is definately important, but it can be one-dimensional thinking outside the context of an actual project.

 

Terrain modeling is a demanding specialized task regardless of what app you prefer. It is probably fair to say that alot of people struggle with how to do it effectively.

 

Brian's original intent "to post some rather difficult challenges" is a good one. I am certain that he will introduce more difficulty as any good teacher does.

[Frosty]

Randy, I love that idea. This does two things at once.

 

1) It allows everyone an in depth look at many different solutions to any difficult problem we can dream up.

 

2) It allows everyone to see how these problems can be tackled in a wide range of software.

[vizwhiz]

Frosty

 

Randy, I love that idea. This does two things at once.

 

1) It allows everyone an in depth look at many different solutions to any difficult problem we can dream up.

2) It allows everyone to see how these problems can be tackled in a wide range of software.

 

Frosty & All

 

CGA Typical Topic for Tips & Techniques discussion/dissection

 

1. select a few moderators or whoever is interested in making This happen

2. solicit Ideas for discussion (maybe 1 week to submit The various Ideas)

3. have a poll or vote

4. organize ideas by priority

5. establish length of Time per category (could vary)

6. GO!

 

just another random idea

 

not only could we compare software solutions but gain a lot of knowledge of The more difficult cg issues

 

looks like Brian is already doing This = cool

 

http://www.cgarchitect.com/vb/29826-3dats-challenge-2-a.html

 

Thanx

[Nils Norgren]

Herre is my 15 min all Max - No plugins solution, I added extra smoothing, to transition the top from the sides, otherwise it was too abrupt.

 

-Nils

[dean@pikcells]

i have been working on several terrains, and im slowly developing a method to produce good results.

 

one thing i noticed is how people dont stick to 4 sided polys. this causes loads of problems, mainly with turbo smoothing and other smoothing issues, which when it comes to landscaping is a must. i will create a base mesh and use that to buld upon and use turbo smooth to create a really flat and smooth landscapes. you cant get good results not using 4 sided polys.

 

the other point i have noticed is this cad is very well constructed and very simple. how many clients send us cad that clean and that easy to understand?

 

if i have time later i may show my techniques for a good and flexable landscape.