Site modelling gripes

[Hugh Chapman]

We're only just transitioning to VW 2026 so I'll be pleased to know if any of these gripes have been addressed. And if anyone has tips and tricks to share I'm all ears.

 

In no particular order:

 

1) Send to Surface is a handy option for certain elements. It works fine when sending elements up from z=0 to the site model. But it seems to have a glitch where if I use Send to Surface on elements which aren't at z=0 (say I've already used Send to Surface and then had to adjust the site model for some reason) then they get beamed up to a z value which I think might be their elevation + the z elevation of the site model at that x,y location.

 

2) PIOs including curbs and fences attach to other site elements like walls/massing models/trees after gravity mode is applied. Ways I've found to address this are: (i) turn off the wall/massing model/tree etc which is causing the issue then re-apply gravity mode then turn the wall/massing model/tree back on; (ii) create a small gap between the end of the curb/fence and the wall. This seems like it should be a fairly easy issue to address by making gravity mode for curbs and fences only 'see' the site model, hardscapes and landscape areas. When does anyone want to put a fence in a tree??

 

3) Gravity mode can only be used on curbs one at a time. Makes for a rather inefficient workflow when draping kerbs up to a site model.

 

4) Also for curbs - the 'z-value offset' needs to be reset to zero before re-applying gravity mode. Say I'm using a 125mm z value offset to create a 125mm raised curb. If I then have to adjust the site model for some reason and need to re-apply gravity mode I must: (i) reset the z-value offset to 0; (ii) apply gravity mode; (iii) reapply the 125mm z-value offset. It would be helpful if the z value offset was always in relation to the draped position of the curb. I can see how this could be tricky to impliment but maybe it is possible..?

 

 

[Tom W.]

34 minutes ago, Hugh Chapman said:

2) PIOs including curbs and fences attach to other site elements like walls/massing models/trees after gravity mode is applied. Ways I've found to address this are: (i) turn off the wall/massing model/tree etc which is causing the issue then re-apply gravity mode then turn the wall/massing model/tree back on; (ii) create a small gap between the end of the curb/fence and the wall. This seems like it should be a fairly easy issue to address by making gravity mode for curbs and fences only 'see' the site model, hardscapes and landscape areas. When does anyone want to put a fence in a tree??

 

You can tell Fences + Curbs to ignore send to surface for objects on certain classes. See the 'Apply Send to Surface by Class' button in the General tab. Uncheck the classes you want to be ignored. I think someone else has already requested that all classes be unchecked by default rather than checked as is currently the case.

[Jonathan Pickup]

What Tom says, except I have found that there are only a few classes that I need to turn off, such as massing models, plants, and roofs. I you save this file as a template, then Vectorworks should remember the classes to be ignored next time. 

[HebHeb]

I would wish for a "drape mode" for Curbs like Hardscape does (as addition to the actually sometimes really useful gravity mode)

[Katarina Ollikainen]

@HebHeb, we avoided a drape mode for the curb, as this is not how you normally think when installing a curb.

A curb is a very structural component - you use it to steer up elevations and directions. If you just drape it, you'll lose all the rigidity.

If you want a fairly fluent curb, I suggest setting the Elevation Point Frequency to a low value, so it adjusts to the site model more often than only at corner vertices.