Site model appearance with curved modifiers.

[JonKoch]

So I have a couple of retaining wall site modifiers that are curved and the "curve" is made up of a bunch of small straight lines. This results in a ton of small triangles when it re-grades the site model. I then placed a landscape area with a grass texture that has some displacement on it. When I render that out in final quality renderworks with shadows etc... from a renderworks background, it renders the grass and you can see those triangles. I've attached a couple of screenshots. 

 

My question is: Is there a way to smooth this out in the model so the grass renders correctly? Maybe I need to adjust the bump settings for the displacement? I've found grass to really bog down the rendering time when I am trying to produce final renders and they come out wonky with the site model issue I described above. 

[bcd]

I believe the current recommended workflow is to place a matrix of 3d loci in the vicinity>Send to Site Mode and then cut>paste in place in the source data.

see:

 

[JonKoch]

So here's what the existing DTM looks like with the DTM data (3D loci from a survey I performed) vs. the proposed DTM with the modifiers on it and original DTM source data. Is the take home message to get many more spot elevations when surveying? 

 

 

[Kevin K]

Jon, what rendering setting did you use for those images?

Also….not quite clear, but did you import survey data From a surveyor?? Or did you make your own?

Also….I have found that using continuous 3d polys is preferable to stake objects or 3d loci, in my opinion.

[JonKoch]

@Kevin K Those were final quality renderworks with a renderworks sky background. 

 

I performed a survey myself with an emlid base and rover. I surveyed all the existing conditions and took a bunch of spot elevations. But maybe not enough?  Basically I import all of the points and let vectorworks interpolate the data to make the contours. When I import the data, I use "Import Survey File" and import the CSV which is what the Emlid software outputs. So unlike a normal survey that I get from a surveyor, there aren't any Polys drawn for contours. I'm not sure if there's a way that I can draw my own poly's to use as contours and use the spots as supplemental data. 

 

 

[Kevin K]

Jon

Ok, got ya.

Yes, you would probably need to have a lot more spot elevations to mitigate some of the issues you are having.

 I am not familiar with the Emlid software, so that is greek to me 🙂

 

You can draw your own polys using two methods...

1) go to the settings for the site model and select 'recreate from source data' and you can add any 3d data you wish

2) double click the site model and select 'Edit Site Model Contours', either existing or proposed, and you will get this dialogue box:

 

 

Just chose the Site Model Contour, and you can draw your own.

You just need to be mindful if you use this option that you are not crossing over or violating existing counter data.

 

Just curious....would you be willing to upload that file so I could take a gander at it? I may be able to make some constructive suggestions....or not 🙂

 

 

[Kevin K]

Jon, you could just message me with a link to the file...dropbox, or whatever you use..you dont need to post it here directly in the Forum.

[JonKoch]

5 minutes ago, Kevin K said:

Jon, you could just message me with a link to the file...dropbox, or whatever you use..you dont need to post it here directly in the Forum.

Just sent you a message with a download link. 

[JonKoch]

8 minutes ago, Kevin K said:

Jon

Ok, got ya.

Yes, you would probably need to have a lot more spot elevations to mitigate some of the issues you are having.

 I am not familiar with the Emlid software, so that is greek to me 🙂

 

You can draw your own polys using two methods...

1) go to the settings for the site model and select 'recreate from source data' and you can add any 3d data you wish

2) double click the site model and select 'Edit Site Model Contours', either existing or proposed, and you will get this dialogue box:

 

 

Just chose the Site Model Contour, and you can draw your own.

You just need to be mindful if you use this option that you are not crossing over or violating existing counter data.

 

Just curious....would you be willing to upload that file so I could take a gander at it? I may be able to make some constructive suggestions....or not 🙂

 

 

Hey Kevin, 

 

Yeah I've used the recreate from source data before and added spot elevations, my only thing is that I can't really draw accurate contours you know? The emlid just shoots spot elevations of different features, as a normal surveyor would do. Again, I probably haven't shot enough points to make a smoother model. 

[bcd]

Have you tried adding additional 3d loci to the source data per my earlier response?

[JonKoch]

1 minute ago, bcd said:

Have you tried adding additional 3d loci to the source data per my earlier response?

I haven't tried that yet. I will give it a go tomorrow and see if it works. Still trying to just wrap my head around the workflow. 

[Jonathan Pickup]

I assume you have tried to smooth the site model?

 

[JonKoch]

@Jonathan PickupMaybe? Where is that located?

[Jonathan Pickup]

its here:

 

 

[JonKoch]

Oh yes, I've got mesh smoothing checked on. 

[JonKoch]

18 hours ago, bcd said:

I believe the current recommended workflow is to place a matrix of 3d loci in the vicinity>Send to Site Mode and then cut>paste in place in the source data.

see:

 

Ok, so I've somewhat figured this out, but I am trying to refine the proposed site model so if I put these 3D loci in the source data, won't that affect the existing model? 

[bcd]

Select them all then

Landmark>Send to Surface before Cut&Paste in Place into the source data - they won't change the geometry of the Site Model but will allow it to add localized tessellation which should help with the issue you're seeing

Edited December 14, 2023 by bcd