Terrain Modeling

This tutorial will teach you how to shape your terrain to simulate the contours of your own property. Specifically, you can learn about:

How Terrain Modelling Works
Terrain Settings
Types of Terrain
Hills and Valleys
Plateaus
Berms and Trenches
Slopes

How Terrain Modeling Works

The program has a Terrain Level separate from the Building Locations where Building and Interiors elements are inserted. The terrain level is really just a grid to which you can apply different elevations. This process of creating hills, valleys, berms, trenches, plateaus, and slopes to create a landscape that has any type of elevation is called terrain modeling.

You can also add plants, hardscaping, boundaries, and objects to your terrain level. These topics are covered in other tutorials. This tutorial will help you define the basic contours of your landscape plan.

Note: The Terrain tools described in this tutorial are only accessible in versions of the program that include a Terrain toolbar, such as 3D Home Design Suite.

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Terrain Settings

The Terrain Settings dialog allows you to make choices about how your terrain level will be displayed.

To access the Terrain Options dialog:
Select Terrain Settings from the Settings menu.

Auto-cut terrain around building

Terrain base level Size properties Material definition Contour properties

Auto-cut terrain around building - Checking this box cuts the terrain level around structures on the chosen building location. Definitely use this option if your structure is on a sloped or hilly lot. You can use the pulldown to select the building location to which the terrain will be cut.

Terrain Base Level - This value determines at what elevation your terrain level will be drawn. 0' is the default elevation.

Size Properties - The Size box allows you to set the length and width of your terrain level. Generally, you want your terrain level to be a little bit larger than the size of your lot.

Material Definition - This is the Material that will be applied to your terrain level in your rendered views. To change the material (if you want a different type of grass, for example), simply click on the Select button and select another from the list.

Contour Properties - Checking the Show Contours box displays changes in elevation in your 2D Plan views. Lines will be drawn to connect all points at the same elevation. You can determine at what height you want contour lines to start and at what higher or lower elevation you want contour lines drawn (every 2 feet for example).

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Types of Terrain

The program has several tools that create elevation in the terrain level. You can use each tool alone or in combination to get the landscape plan you want.

	Hills and Valleys are elevations defined by a single point at the highest (hill) or lowest (valley) elevation.
	Berms and Trenches are elevations defined by a line between two selected points. A positive elevation is a Berm or ridge. A negative elevation is a Trench or ditch
	Plateaus have a flat area of elevation defined by a set of points. Negative elevations create a depression with a flat bottom.
	Slopes apply elevation up or down in a defined direction to the entire terrain level.

The terrain modeling tools are not like other elements that have many customizable properties. They only have a shape, height, and/or angle.

Hills and Valleys

To insert a hill or valley: 1. Click on the Hills/Valleys tool under the Terrain tab. 2. Make selections in the dialog to create the kind of hill or valley you want. 3. Click in your project where you want the hill or valley to appear. 4. If you want, continue to add hills and valleys with the same height and shape by clicking more points. 5. Right-click and select Finish when you are done.
Area with several inserted hills

Note: If you want to add hills and valleys with a different height and shape, reselect the Hills/Valleys tool and enter the new values. You can also change the height and shape of existing hills and valleys by editing their properties.

The Hills/Valleys Dialog
When you click on the icon to insert a hill or valley, the following dialog appears:

Height
Zenith

Height - This value defines the height of the point you insert above the existing terrain in your project. A positive value will create a hill; a negative value will create a valley.

Note: Terrain inserted into your project is cumulative. In other words, if you place one 5 foot hill on top of an existing 5 foot hill, you will create an elevation of 10 feet at that point.

Zenith - This setting determines the shape of the hill or valley. Moving the slider to the left will create sharp, angular sloped hills. Moving the slider to the right will create smooth, rounded hills.

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Berms and Trenches

To insert a berm or trench: 1. Click on the Berms/Trenches tool under the Terrain tab. 2. Make selections in the dialog to create the kind of berm or trench you want. 3. Click where you want the berm or trench to begin. 4. Click a second point where you want the berm or trench to end. 4. If you want, continue to add berms and trenches with the same height and shape by defining more lines. 5. Right-click and select Finish when you are done.

A single inserted berm

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To insert a plateau: 1. Click on the Plateaus tool under the Terrain tab. 2. Make selections in the dialog to create the kind of plateau you want. 3. Click at the starting point of your plateau, then click again for each new point you add to define the shape of the plateau. 4. Right-click and select Finish when you reach your last point. The Plateaus tool will automatically reconnect to the starting point.

Area with an L-shaped Plateau

Height
Zenith

Height - This value defines the height of the flat part of the plateau above the existing terrain in your project. You can enter a negative value to create a flat depression.

Note: Terrain modeling elevations are cumulative. In other words, if you put a 6' hill on top of an existing 5' plateau, the hill's peak will be 11'.

Zenith - This setting determines the shape of the sides that slope away from the plateau's flat area. Moving the slider to the left will create sharp, angular slopes. Moving the slider to the right will create smooth, rounded slopes.

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To insert a slope: 1. Click on the Slopes tool under the Terrain tab. 2. Make selections in the dialog to create the kind of slope you want and click OK. 3. Click in your project where you want the bottom of the slope to start. 4. Move your mouse the direction and distance you want the slope to go. 5. Click again where you want the top of the slope to end.
	Inserting a slope

Slope type
Height value (or Angle)

Slope type - You have two choices for how the slope is defined, an overall height from bottom to top, or an angle. The type of value you choose has an important effect on how you draw your slope…

Height or Angle value - Depending on the slope type, enter a height or angle value here. A positive value will create a slope that goes up in the direction of the arrow you draw. A negative value will create a slope that goes down in the direction of the arrow you draw.

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