Terrain Modeling for ArchiCAD: ArchiTerrra 3

Terrain Modeling in ArchiCAD has been around for some time, but most products have been unable to overcome the problem of how to define existing terrain from man-made interventions. Human intervention prior to design is a given whether you're working in urban areas or trying to develop a new ski resort in the Rockies.

As a consequence the process of modeling terrain has been daunting: first one might model what they imagine the site to be without interventions, add existing roads, buildings, earthworks, etc. and then readjust the model so as they appear to be existing. All this before any new work is done.

The adoption of Boolean operations - the definition of dynamic relationships between objects in a model - or Solid Element Operations as they are referred to in ArchiCAD have changed all that. SEOs have been available in the last three versions of ArchiCAD, but it is only now that a 3rd Party Developer has been able to exploit them in a terrain modeler.

CIGRAPH have today released version 3 of their renowned terrain modeling add-on for ArchiCAD and it would appear to rewrite the way that we can interact with landscapes.

Some of New Features:

• Human interventions are modelled with SEO modifiers and so they can assume irregular shapes more easily;
• Cut and Fill Calculations can be better utilized because the terrain is altered dynamically and the volume calculations are readily updated;
• Terrain can be realistically shaded with gradient colours established by the user;
• Specific terrain features can be mapped to portions of the terrain model using a 2D Fill;
  
• Plateaus can be sloped reducing the number of model element required to define non-level earthworks;
• Road and pavement tools offer more realist treatment of paths, trails, roads, etc. These can be generated from polylines or 2D fills. Shopping Mall designers rejoice!
• Trees, rocks, fences, guardrails are easily inserted and modified in the model. Again, CIGRAPH is exploiting new capabilities in ArchiCAD.

CIGRAPH have always provided first rate tech support and respond enthusiastically to user feedback. Fabrizio Diodati is a frequent contributor to ArchiCAD-TALK. He is usually very happy to work with users - one-to-one - on specific projects. Even more remarkable is that they offer versions of their plug-ins for ArchiCAD versions 8.1 through version 10. For all platforms.

More product information, a working demo and a downloadable user manual can be found here.

Some other recent releases from CIGRAPH include:
ArchiMAP which offers Bluetooth integration of data collected by a Leica DISTO and an ArchiCAD model; as well as
ArchiPANEL - a tool for creating raised floor systems and lay in ceilings.