Topo/survey modeling.

[Rishie]

What is the easiest way to cut building into the 3d topo slope?

[Pat Stanford]

Probably add a Pad with Retaining Edge in the shape of the building.

[Benson Shaw]

Draw 2d outline of the building footprint or other relevant shape, then:

 

Either

Select the outline>Objects from Shapes>Site Modifier>Pad

Select the Pad

AEC>Terrain>Create Grade Limits from Pad (creates a slightly offset object and converts it to a Grade Limits)

 

Or 

Select the 2d outline>Objects from Shapes> Site Modifier>Pad with Retaining Edge

Select the Pad with Retaining Edge>AEC>Terrain>Send to Surface>Fit

 

Notes:

• The Pad sinks a hole into terrain surface.  This acts like a contour, connecting to nearest parts of the mesh contours, rather than vertical sides.
• The surrounding Grade Limits conforms directly up or down coincident with surface. Pad connects directly up/down to the Grade Limits or Retaining edge, rather than to the nearest points on the mesh contours.
• Vectorworks cannot make an actual vertical hole, therefore the Grade Limits or Retaining Edge is slightly offset (Fraction of inch or mm?) from the source outline. Very close to vertical.

 

Lots more options, but this is the basics.

 

-B 

Edited March 19, 2022 by Benson Shaw
Verticality

[Benson Shaw]

Doh! Pat commented earlier by a few seconds!

 

-B

[Pat Stanford]

But you offered the much more complete answer. 👍

 

Interesting that we were just playing with very simple DTMs and pads during the LA Vectorworks Users Group Zoom meeting this morning. If I didn't have experience only a couple of hours old I probably would have skipped answering.

 

[Benson Shaw]

More Details:

 

1. When using the Pad with Retaining Edge version:

Create the Pad>Apply the Send to Surface command> Then update the Site Model.

 

         Because

If the Site Model is updated prior to the Send to Surface command, the site model modifies the mesh contours to connect to the pad.  In this modified status the Send to Surface command sends the retaining edge to the already modified surface - ie, it hardly moves at all.  It does not "remember" or find the unmodified surface condition.

 

2. When using the standard Pad, also best to create the Grade Limits (it automatically goes to the Surface) prior to Update the Site Model. Adding the Grade Limits to the regular Pad after site model is updated to the Pad causes a  Grade Limits shape at bottom of hole following the modified terrain.  But there is a way out: applying the Send to Surface to this complicated shape causes it to move up/down to the surface, and create a nearly vertical hole, possibly with minor edge or corner deformation.

 

3. Pads, standard or with Retaining Edge, have controls for elevation (depth of hole or height of plinth) and slope.

 

4. Site Modifiers can surround other Site Modifiers, but cause conflicts if they are coincident/intersect other Site Modifiers. Grade Limits need to surround the Pad, but do not have to be closely offset.  They can have any shape or size to control the grade as long as they do not intersect any other Site Modifiers. Often, a good strategy is to surround several Pads with a single Grade Limits, even it they have Retaining Edges. A large Grade Limits surrounding an entire site (and all the other modifiers therein) can correct otherwise unsolvable surface defects.  Search internet for good videos on this.

 

-B