I have compiled a dynamic component tree, which can turn tree survey data into a 3D model.

Tree Surveys provide:

• Trunk Width
• Canopy Height (ie. the underside)
• Tree Height
• Maximum Spread (North, East, South, West) - walking around the tree clockwise.
• Species
• Survey ref for tree

This is not quite enough to model a tree that is useful for solar or shading studies.
So, I added;

• Effectively, 2 rubber bands ("limiters/shapers")to the canopy, and
• I started to add transparency - to mimic the diurnal cycle (not implemented)

The model is a trunk and 3nr. shaped elements for the canopy - all in one Dynamic Component (attached).

Dynamic Tree

OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT

I would have preferred a 'balloon' like canopy with 'rubber bands' but I couldn't think of a way of doing it; eg. scaling the upper and lower faces of each canopy component??

It would have been nice to control the transparency of the canopy - but again... it stumped me.

I would be happy for anyone to assist.

Even if you explode the component and stretch the faces, it should get you pretty close - in workflow terms.

Best,

Gary

Hi there,

I'm a UK Architect and Master-planner, who has foregone the traditional CAD programs in recent years. I have designed extension to towns and extensions to listed buildings in SketchUp alone (Sir Walter Raleigh's mansion, none the less).

BIM as a 'process' is either helpful, or not depending on the result you are looking for. The St Martin's Centre, Cambridge, UK did a nice piece about the ^benefits^ of re-drawing a scheme as it passes key gateways. I favour this.

• Sketch schemes and initial massing studies can be quite loose.

• More detail studies,that might look at the 'spatial puzzle' that is a building, need to be more precise. I myself model at a scale, that on paper (yes, I did that too), would probably be 1:50 (maybe, 1:20). However, I do like the rigor of attributing data - i.e. taking off key metrics.

Personally, I end up 'simplifying' many BIM models, yet try to keep the attribute intact.

SketchUp is a wonderful workbench for designers of all flavours; if one 'corner' wins, by inference, the other looses! This would be a shame.

Garbage IN: Garbage OUT (GIGO) is the old saying. If BIM = less garbage = Great!

We have been working on a daylight and sunlight analysis plugin for SketchUp that is about 'less garbage' at the other end of the spectrum - the massing model end! This offer levers off SketchUp in the same way BIM does (by using sensible atributes to calculate lux levels, daylight factors, ADF, Vertical Sky Components and Insolation/Solar Gain).

Our hope is to turn SketchUp into 'the platform' for creating urban plans that facilitate low-energy construction - with a 40%-70% energy saving across larger scale development.

Again, SketchUP is an excellent spatial workbench. So, I only ask for 'less garbage', less 'tunnel vision' and point out that occasionally its is ^actually better^ to re-draw. In which case, everybody can have what they want!