Site Modifiers

[homero]

I am building a site model with contour lines and would like to carve out for the building pad with a vertical cut on the uphill side.  I've been trying to use the site modifiers but I find that it does more contour interpreting than I would like.  In simple terms, I would like to control the contours as if I was building a foam core topography model like we used to in the old days in architecture school.  Even with a pad with retaining edge, I get some interpreting on the uphill side.  I would like complete control of the contour lines.  No interpretation. I want a perfectly vertical cut where the retaining wall will be. I want contour lines to dive into the side of the building as opposed to wrapping around behind it.  Is there a setting for this?

 

P.S.  I also can't seem to delete source data.

Edited March 3 by homero

[homero]

Anyone?  Why am I not getting vertical cuts with "pad with retaining edge"?  Instead, I'm getting contour lines wrapping behind the pad "site modifier".  

[Jeff Prince]

Post your VWX file and it will be easier to help you.

[homero]

1 hour ago, Jeff Prince said:

Post your VWX file and it will be easier to help you.

 

topo.vwx

[Jonathan Pickup]

the first thing I found was that your original 3-D polygons used to create the site model are still visible after the creation, which means that you've copied the site information and left the originals behind. When you delete the originals you'll lose those lines. 

 

I don't like using 3-D polygons for site modelling, I prefer to use stake objects or 3-D Loci

 

You appear to have moved the site model in 3-D. When I investigate your source starter, the lowest level contour zero, but when we look at your site model and elevation, the lowest level of your site model is -2 feet. Please don't move the site model in 3D if you need to move the data, enter the site model and change the data so it's correct but do not move the site model up and down in 3-D.

 

If you import survey information, you should never move the site model at all.

Site model answer.pdf

[Jonathan Pickup]

this movie might help

 

[homero]

11 hours ago, Jonathan Pickup said:

this movie might help

 

Thank you.  Do you know why the "pad with retaining edge" "site modifier" isn't creating vertical cuts for retaining walls?  Also, is there a way to delete the original 3D polygons after the fact?  I couldn't find that function.

 

 

Edited March 5 by homero

[Jonathan Pickup]

2 hours ago, homero said:

Thank you.  Do you know why the "pad with retaining edge" "site modifier" isn't creating vertical cuts for retaining walls?  Also, is there a way to delete the original 3D polygons after the fact?  I couldn't find that function.

 

 

 

When you create the site model you can choose whether or not to keep the source information. 

 

When I recreated your site model I got the correct site modifies.

[homero]

Hi Jonathan,

 

Thanks again.  I learned to give the site modifier a Z dimension to get a more vertical cut.  Unlike yours, my contour lines are still being manipulated by VWs.  Can you post that model?  How do you get VWs to not manipulate the contour lines?

[homero]

I'm beginning to suspect it's a 2022 glitch.

[rDesign]

It would help with future diagnosis if you added your system info and which version of Vw you are using to your signature. 
 

Site modifiers have changed in recent versions in that you didn’t use to be able to create vertical cuts; They had to be slightly offset from one another. 

Edited March 5 by rDesign

[homero]

Does anyone know why my contour lines are being modified when I apply a "pad with retaining edge"?  I'm trying to keep the original contour lines like in Jonathan Pickup's model.  I don't want any contour lines outside of the modifier to be modified.  Maybe it's a 2022 glitch.

[Jonathan Pickup]

do you have a grade limits?

 

[homero]

I do have that tool although that tool has a mind of it's own as well.  Is that what you did? 

Edited March 14 by homero

[homero]

I simply want to know why the site modifier modifies contours outside of it.  I have no control over this.  

[line-weight]

All of this was recently discussed on another thread:

 

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/85946-site-modifier-pad-with-retaining-edge-hot-to-get-a-clean-line-sinking-down/

 

Read that carefully - there are step by step instructions. The pad tools are not intuitive.

 

Also, as per that thread, the pad modifier behaves differently depending on whether you are applying it to the "existing" or "proposed" version of the site model. This makes everything even more confusing than it already is.

[homero]

5 hours ago, line-weight said:

All of this was recently discussed on another thread:

 

https://forum.vectorworks.net/index.php?/topic/85946-site-modifier-pad-with-retaining-edge-hot-to-get-a-clean-line-sinking-down/

 

Read that carefully - there are step by step instructions. The pad tools are not intuitive.

 

Also, as per that thread, the pad modifier behaves differently depending on whether you are applying it to the "existing" or "proposed" version of the site model. This makes everything even more confusing than it already is.

Thank you for the link.   I am on 2022 Architect and I don't believe I have a "send to surface" option.  That might be the real problem.  It's very frustrating because my version is not at all creating a slab with "retaining edge".  It's creating a drainage funnel around my building instead.  Another frustration is that this appears to be a glitch that shouldn't be fixed with a pricey upgrade.   

[rDesign]

13 minutes ago, homero said:

I am on 2022 Architect and I don't believe I have a "send to surface" option.

You have it — It is there in Vw2022 Architect. Found in the help file:

 

Edited March 14 by rDesign

[homero]

30 minutes ago, rDesign said:

You have it — It is there in Vw2022 Architect. Found in the help file:

 

Thank you.  Why isn't this function a setting within the site modifier tool?  How is one to know the combination of these two different functions?  

 

 

 

[Tom W.]

3 minutes ago, homero said:

Thank you.  Why isn't this function a setting within the site modifier tool?  How is one to know the combination of these two different functions?  

 

 

 

 

There is a 'Send to Surface' button in the OIP for Retaining Edge Modifiers. It was there in VW2023. Not checked VW2022.

[homero]

15 minutes ago, Tom W. said:

 

There is a 'Send to Surface' button in the OIP for Retaining Edge Modifiers. It was there in VW2023. Not checked VW2022.

Here's what I see.

[Tom W.]

Ah here's VW2023:

[homero]

3 minutes ago, Tom W. said:

Ah here's VW2023:

Mystery solved!  Thank you VW community!

[homero]

1 hour ago, Tom W. said:

Ah here's VW2023:

I'm very disappointed.  VW continues to reshape the contours outside of the modifier after bringing the "retaining edge" up to the surface.  The modfier is set proposed only.  The 3d display is of the  proposed.  

Edited March 14 by homero

[Tom W.]

When you ran Send to Surface which option did you choose? 'Fit the retaining edge'? Are you using a Grade Limits as @Jonathan Pickup said earlier?