Terrain Elevation Tools

Elevation data can be specified using Elevation Point

, Elevation Line , Elevation Spline , Elevation Region

and Terrain Break

tools. When terrain is generated, this data is used to calculate the surface of your site and is represented by contour lines in floor plan view and a curved surface in 3D.

Elevation Points

Elevation Points contain absolute elevation data for one location. Chief Architect requires many points to make an accurate approximation of your site. They should be used in addition to Elevation Lines and Elevation Splines .

Even small sites with a slope may require over a hundred points to generate an accurate model of the terrain. For the sake of illustration, the following image shows only a few elevation points.

To place an elevation point, select Terrain> Elevation Data> Elevation Points

and click in floor plan view. The Elevation Point Specification dialog opens. Enter an elevation value and click OK. Click somewhere else in floor plan view and the Elevation Point Specification dialog opens again with the last elevation value entered. See "Elevation Point Specification Dialog".

To generate the terrain, select Terrain> Build Terrain

. Chief Architect gathers the elevation data provided, fills in the gaps where elevation data has not been provided, and generates contour lines. See "Building the Terrain".

Elevation Lines

An Elevation Line contains absolute elevation data for many points at a constant elevation. Elevation lines can be connected to create a polyline with many straight sections. For the sake of illustration, single-section elevation lines were added to the following image.

To place an elevation line, select Terrain> Elevation Data> Elevation Line and click and drag in floor plan view. At first, an elevation line is at elevation 0' - 0". It must be opened and assigned an elevation.

Elevation Splines

Elevation Splines can be used to form complex curves and shapes. Like elevation lines, elevation splines contain absolute elevation data for many points along a constant elevation.

To place an elevation spline, select Terrain> Elevation Data> Elevation Spline and click and drag multiple sections in floor plan view. Elevation splines are initially placed at elevation 0' - 0"and must be opened and assigned an elevation.

Elevation lines and elevation splines are created and edited just like CAD lines and splines. See "The CAD Drawing Tools".

Elevation Regions

An Elevation Region contains absolute elevation data for an enclosed region and is ideal for creating a flat surface for your building site. Avoid specifing any other elevation data within an elevation region.

To create an elevation region, select Terrain> Elevation Data> Elevation Region

and then click and drag a rectangular polyline in floor plan view. Once the elevation region is drawn, it must be opened and assigned an elevation value. Elevation regions are created just like rectangular polylines. See "Rectangular Polyline".

Terrain Breaks

A Terrain Break creates a division along the terrain surface that effects terrain generation. Elevation data on one side of the terrain break does not affect the terrain generation on the other side, allowing you to create immediate drops in terrain.

To place a terrain break, select Terrain> Elevation Data> Terrain Break

and click and drag a line in floor plan view.

If the terrain break divides the terrain perimeter into two separate pieces, the terrain data on either side is calculated independently and smoothed separately, resulting in sharp terrain contours.

If the terrain break does not extend completely from one side of the terrain perimeter to the other, the areas near each end of the terrain break are blended.

The Retaining Wall

tool creates a similar effect and adds a retaining wall that rests against the terrain break. By default, the height of the retaining wall matches the terrain on the high side of the break and the bottom matches the low side. Height can also be specified independent of the terrain elevation. See "Retaining Walls".