Terrain Economy
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Why do the terrains created from contours with the sandbox tools become so cumbersome and file heavy? Are there alternatives that will create lighter terrains?
For instance, the GoogleEarth terrains when imported seem to be managable even if there are mountains in them.
How can I take my cad contours and crete a lightweight terrain map?
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Hi Tom,
More often than not it's a result of all the hidden geometry that 'from contours' creates. Try opening the group you created by using the 'from contours' command and showing hidden geometry (View->Hidden Geometry). While inside the group you can now use the eraser-tool to get rid of all those lines that reside on horizontal planes.
It's tedious, I know, but the more you use it the better (and quicker) you will get at it
I hope this helps. If it doesn't, let me know cos I can post some screenshots if you want.
EDIT: just realised, you may be dealing with really complicated lines that cause an extreme amount of triangulation. You should be able to see that by viewing hidden geometry. If that's the case you might wanna redraw the lines in SU
Unless someone has a fix of course -
The problem often is from survey software that makes very detailed - overly detailed topo lines. Use the simplify contours plugin to reduce the edge segment count of the topo lines before creating the TIN (surface).
http://sketchup.google.com/download/rubyscripts.html - its the last on the page.
There is also a plugin that helps recreate irregular terrains. Makes them into nice and squared up grid like patterns, as found on Google Earth. It lets you determine how large to make the grids, whie helps control accuracy. Check it out here:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=11320
Chris
EDIT: PS, great looking work on your website!
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@chris fullmer said:
The problem often is from survey software that makes very detailed - overly detailed topo lines. Use the simplify contours plugin to reduce the edge segment count of the topo lines before creating the TIN (surface).
http://sketchup.google.com/download/rubyscripts.html - its the last on the page.
That script simplifies by comparing the angle between each two set of edges only. I added the Douglas–Peucker algorithm into one of my plugins: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=24593
I found that algorithm to be better at simplifying the contours while preserving it's shape. -
Cool Thom, I did not know you had done that. That sounds great,
Chris
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