[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by craines]

Still nothing positive on this Phil...
It's just keeps getting pushed to the bottom of our to do list as other software demands dominate. I can try and find a beta version that might run reasonable well for you if you would like.

Regards,
Caroline

Caroline Raines
Square One research Pty Ltd

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Chris Cusack]

Hi
I am also interested in the beta version.
Regards Chris

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by zlmzj]

I am also interested in the beta version too

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Alice]

I am very interested in the beta version too. I am working on a Urban Design Competition and I would like to have more info about the Terrain Tool, if it is useful for city scale. Thank you.

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Cameron Beasley]

Hi Caroline,
Could I get a beta copy of the terrain tool as well?
Can the terrain model be imported easily into ECOTECT (so that I can insert a building model into the terrain model)?

Thansk,
Cameron

[Archived phorum post from squ1.com v2 by Olivier]

Cameron,

I have been working on this for a little while now, and I am slowly getting a grasp on it.
I get my terrain model from a Digital Elevation Model that I convert into a DXF file. Then it is just a matter of importing into your current model.
I think Andrew has not been working too much on the terrain tool lately, but instead he has been working on import functionnalities for terrain model in the up coming Ecotect 550.
The only issue I have so far is with the scaling - something I can work around now, and the size of these terrain model: they are usually large and analysises on these, such as shading or radiation, take a long time.

Hi Ecotect users,

I am using Ecotect for a month.

I try to model a terrain with ECOTECT to see building sunning at different time of the year. Unfortunately, I haven't found the appropriate way to manage this task : I try to import topography level from a dxf file, but it's really too long (splines have to be translated in polylignes, imported in ECOTECT, and converted in faces).

So I would like to know if an easy way exists to model rapidly a terrain. I have seen that a terrain tool is being developped. Is it possible to have a beta version of it?

Thanks a lot for your help,

Best regards

Adrien

Hello Adrien,

There are a few ways to model terrain in Ecotect.
I often import a dxf of an already model terrain, but as you said, these can be rather large.

In Ecotect, you can model terrain quite simply.
2 methods I use:

1. The morphing method: draw your lines (trace an imported topo map)for each contour, then elevate each one by the correct elevation step from your topo. Next, select the first two lines and go under Edit menu > Morph Facets - this will create facets between these two lines. You can go on with the next two contour lines and so on so forth.

2. The "Pancake" terrain model: similar to what you would do on a physiscal terrain model... Create planes folowing your contour lines...elevate each one by the elevation increment, then extrude (you can select them all and do them all at once)them by the same z distance as your contour increment. Prety rough and simple, but sometimes that is all you need.

I am attaching a sample file for you here.
Best,
Olivier

can somebody tell whether you need to follow the contour lines point by point or whether it is possible to select the line, make sure that all points are in the same z-position and then give a command like "create a plane from the closed line"?
I have got topography lines that are very detailed and I think it's unneccessary work to draw the plane by following the line.