You can create terrain directly within Giraffe, import your own terrain data using a GLB file, or even explore terrain generation with Rob Asher’s Mesh Machine app. In this video, we break down 4 different methods for building terrain whether you're working on feasibility studies, site planning, or digital modelling.
This guide breaks down the four key approaches discussed, giving you the knowledge to choose the best method for your project.
Leverage the Mapbox DEM: Quick and Interactive Terrain
Giraffe's integrated terrain app offers the quickest and easiest way to introduce elevation into your designs.
How it works:
1. Click on the terrain app and select "Edit."
2. A 3D mesh based on the Mapbox Digital Elevation Model (DEM) will automatically appear within your site boundaries.
Key Features and Benefits:
Speed and Simplicity: This method is incredibly fast, requiring minimal setup.
Global Coverage: The Mapbox DEM provides elevation data for locations around the world.
Interactive Design:
Building Snapping: Buildings automatically snap to the terrain mesh, allowing them to realistically "slide" down slopes. This is essential for visually accurate site plans with multiple structures.
Cut and Fill Functionality: Easily create cut and fill pads to modify the terrain. Giraffe calculates the volume of earth moved (in cubic meters) in real-time. You can adjust the elevation datum and angle of repose for precise control.
Accuracy:
The Mapbox DEM offers an accuracy of between 10 and 30 meters. While not survey-grade accurate, it's more than sufficient for many preliminary design and visualization purposes.
Use Case:
Ideal for initial site planning, quickly visualizing the impact of terrain on building placement, and performing preliminary cut and fill estimations.
The Roof Tool for Diagrammatic Slopes
For a more diagrammatic representation of terrain, the Roof tool offers a simple and effective solution, particularly when combined with contour data.
How it Works:
1. Draw a geometry representing the area you want to slope.
2. Place the geometry on a new layer (e.g., "Terrain").
3. Reference contour lines from the Mapbox global elevation contour layer or connect to GIS contour data available for almost every jurisdiction.
4. Use the "Make Roof" command (select the geometry, press space, and type "make roof") to create a sloping surface.
5. Set the "Height" property to the desired elevation difference between the base and the peak of the slope.
6. Adjust the ridge line to refine the slope's shape.
Key Features and Benefits:
Simplicity: Easy to create basic sloping terrain.
Visual Clarity: Provides a clear visual representation of the slope.
Integration with Contour Data: Leverages existing contour data for accurate slope representation.
Limitations:
More diagrammatic and less precise than the DEM or imported meshes.
Lacks the cut and fill calculation capabilities of the DEM method.
Use Case:
Suitable for quick visualizations, schematic design, and situations where a high degree of accuracy isn't required, but a visual representation of slope is needed.
Importing Terrain Meshes: High Accuracy, Static Terrain
For situations requiring the highest degree of accuracy, importing a terrain mesh is the way to go. This method allows you to incorporate survey-grade data into your Giraffe model.
How it Works:
1. Create a new layer (e.g., "Model Terrain").
2. Use the "Draw Point" tool and select "Upload 3D Model."
3. Upload your terrain mesh (e.g., from Rhino or other 3D modeling software). Ensure the file is in a compatible format (e.g., .gb).
Key Considerations:
Accuracy: This method can provide the highest level of accuracy, depending on the source of the terrain mesh.
Static Terrain: Imported meshes are static and cannot be easily modified within Giraffe.
Coordination: Crucially, you need to know the scale, rotation, and import point of the mesh to ensure it aligns correctly with the rest of your model. This often involves referencing satellite imagery or other geospatial data.
Units: Make sure you are working with the correct units (meters, feet, etc.) when importing the mesh.
Use Case:
Ideal for projects requiring survey-accurate terrain representation, such as detailed site planning, infrastructure design, and projects where existing site conditions are critical.
Create Your Own Terrain with the Contour Mesh Machine App
For a blend of control and customization, Giraffe allows you to create your own terrain using a custom app like the "Contour Mesh Machine."
How it Works:
1. Add the "Contour Mesh Machine" app (currently in beta).
2. Draw lines representing contour lines.
3. Assign the "contour" property to each line and set it to "true."
4. Add an "elevation" property to each line, specifying the elevation of that contour.
5. Select all the contour lines and click "Run" in the app.
Key Features and Benefits:
Infinite Refinement: Easily add or modify contour lines to refine the terrain mesh.
Customizable Cut and Fill: Manually perform cut and fill operations by adjusting contour line elevations.
Control and Editability: Provides complete control over the terrain generation process.
Extensibility: Firms with computational design expertise can access and modify the app's code to create custom terrain generation workflows.
Use Case:
Perfect for projects where you need a high degree of control over the terrain, want to perform iterative design exploration, or wish to integrate custom computational design processes. This is a powerful solution for slope optimization, storm water flow path analysis, or view analysis.
The Power of Customization: Extending the Contour Mesh Machine
The "Contour Mesh Machine" provides the foundation for creating highly customized terrain solutions. Its open code allows firms to develop their own algorithms for tasks like:
Slope Optimization: Automatically generate terrain that minimizes cut and fill volumes.
Stormwater Flow Path Analysis: Model the flow of water across the terrain to optimize drainage systems.
People View Analysis: Analyze sightlines from different points on the terrain to inform building placement.
By leveraging this customization potential, you can differentiate your business and offer unique solutions to your clients.
Conclusion:
Giraffe provides a versatile toolkit for creating terrain models, catering to a wide range of project needs and skill levels. From the quick and interactive Mapbox DEM to the highly accurate and customizable Contour Mesh Machine, you can choose the method that best suits your project's goals and resources. By understanding the strengths and limitations of each approach, you can create more realistic, informative, and impactful site designs in Giraffe.