Draping onto Autocad 3dD Mesh

Zootsuit

Hi Everyone

I posted recently about an Autocad 3d mesh I was trying to import and create terrain from. Using the Sandbox 'from contours' tool, I was able to create a surface skin to cover the mesh.

Im now trying to drape the OS plan onto this surface. The OS plan is also an Autocad file I have imported, though it is all on a flat plane. In the past I have been able to drape plans onto simple surfaces bit by bit, but the surface I created from the initial mesh is so complex it just freezes or bug splats everytime I try, unless I drape about a foot square at a time (the model is about a mile square, so this method will take me forever!)

Has anyone else come across this problem before with complex terrain models? I guess its maybe just to much for Sketchup too handle. Is there a way to project the OS plan onto the Mesh in Autocad or another program? I also have access to Rhino and Viz, though Ive not used Viz much apart from rendering.

Any thoughts suggestions much appreciated!

Cheers

Zootsuit

Gaieus

Hi Zootsuit,

Would simplifying your mesh be too much of a sacrifice in order to be able to work with it or would you like to keep its details by all means?

pbacot

Use a routine in AutoCAD to simplify the contours before importing? I don't know of such a lisp etc. but my application has one, you should be able to find one for AutoCAD. Perhaps you don't need the level of detail if you are modeling a square mile?

Gaieus

There is also a simplify contours plugin by Google (well, @Last) but there is one by Didier Bur that can create a simpler (and more regular!) terrain from an existing one in SU.

Zootsuit

Thanks

I tried the Reduce polygons plug-in but it didnt seem to work. Ill have a search form something in AutoCAd, I dont use it much to be honest so Im a bit unfamiliar with its operations. Would the simplfy contours tool work on the surface or the actual mesh? Sorry , Im not too experienced with terrina models!

thanks

Gaieus

Simplify contours works on contour lines before you make the mesh. Didier's plugin, Terrain reshaper works with already existing meshes.