Civil Engineering + Sketchup - Complex interchanges
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Hi there! Background info, I make relatively quick models of transportation, roadway, streetscape projects for a civil engineering firm.
I've been using Sketchup for about a year now and feel like I have a pretty good handle on doing the things that I do. BUT I seem to run into a dead end every time I'm asked to model any kind of intersection that incorporates any kind of surface that isn't flat, ramps of any kind, basically any type of corridor that changes elevation. It's a struggle every time. I feel like there must be a better approach to these things and I can't figure out what that is.
I've attached a screenshot of the file I'm working on currently. I typically get 2D CAD drawings and x-sections to go from. This time I have a surface built from LiDAR as well as 3D polylines of each profile and alignment. I have tried using the 1001bit tools extrusion plugin and a bunch of others, but with the lane drops, merges, changes, I can't just extrude a typical section and call it done. Does anyone have any advice, or could you maybe tell me what your approach would be for something like this?
Thanks a ton for your help!
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This would run very smoothly with profile builder 2 though you can even do it with follow me. Try thinking on each road as a profile to follow a path.
Some details could be done right with extrusion tools and curviloft to complement above procedure.
Some other stuff could be created with shape bender, curvishear and fredo scale radial bending or even twisting.
If you have a terrain where you must draw your road then some clever usage of sandbox could get the job done.
Even the recent flowify could help you get the job done.
Start with follow me:
1 - Draw the axis of the road in 3d.
2 - Draw the profile of a road segment.
3 - Use the axis as follow me path.Shape bender:
1 - On bends, turns and corners roads have an inclination. Draw it straight and then use shape bender. -
Street generator by Thomthom ?
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Amazing work to be doing this in SketchUp. I Suspect that follow me is not that useful because the roadway needs to bank and widen differentially rather than follow one width and aspect. If you are not using Curviloft or Extrusion (Extrude) Tools, Give them a try. Also Toposhaper for terrain.
A lot depends on the base info and guidelines you need to use. If two curves represent the road, You might be able to extrude a railing or shoulder for each side of the road then use Extrude Tools or Curviloft to build the roadway between them. Or to the crown if that is given.
Why are you making these models? What is it used for?
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pbacot,
I definitely agree with you but things have to start by the simplest form and only when faced with geometry that can't be done in that simple form should people evolve to more complex solutions. It's amazing what you can do with follow me and the native tools...
Follow me with a single profile wouldn't work almost for sure. But you can use more profiles...
There's a great lack of information on what exacly is to be achieved here.
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Can't see the images or walk inside the French corner...
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Ok I will reput them as copy!
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Some guy on the French section makes that
He explains his method! (in French: I suppose you must be registered to usergroups for see it)
By Chon
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With the right follow-me shape, one can imagine using Vertex tools to adjust scale, rotation etc.
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Well Pilou that's almost it.
I would make all profile endings stretch to 100m more than needed and intersect faces with terrain... But mainly what your friend does, it's about it.
@pbacot said:
With the right follow-me shape, one can imagine using Vertex tools to adjust scale, rotation etc.
Weld the borders of the road and move them up, down or scale them and you'll get the inclinations towards the center of the curves you'd need.
Use curvishear to make a continuous inclination.
It's fairly simple to imagine how to fine tune a follow me road, after you've tried it for the first time.
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Wow, thanks for all of the great input!
I do these models mainly for conceptual visualizations in the preliminary or promo phases of projects. I recognize that a Civil 3D/3DS Max workflow would be better for something like this. But I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around that stuff at the moment.
I wish I could understand French. That guy is doing exactly what I need to be doing. Thanks so much everyone!
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