Terrain Feature Tools

Introductory Training Video: Terrain Features

Terrain features are bounded areas that follow the contours of the terrain rather than modify them. They can have a specified height and material and can also clip other terrain features. Terrain features can be drawn in 2D and 3D views.

You can create a variety of terrain feature shapes using the Rectangular Feature , Spline Feature , Kidney Shaped Feature , and Terrain Hole tools.

Use terrain features to highlight landscape elements. For example, if the entire terrain is using a grass material, a flower bed can be created within the terrain by specifying a terrain feature that uses a dirt material. Terrain features are also useful for creating walkways using the height property.

Terrain features can also be converted from closed 2D polylines or splines using the Convert Polyline edit tool. See "Convert Polyline".

For information about adding height and material information to terrain features, see "Terrain Feature Specification Dialog".

Terrain features were used to create the following image. Positive or negative elevation values were assigned to each, as were special materials such as sand, water, and soil. The volleyball net, flowers, and tree are all objects found in the Library Browser.

Terrain Holes

A Terrain Hole is a region that cuts a hole in the terrain. Using this tool is the same as creating a terrain feature and checking "make hole" in the Terrain Feature Specification dialog. See "Terrain Feature Specification Dialog".

The Terrain Hole tool is useful for manually clipping the terrain around a foundation that does not match the footprint of the first floor. For more information on clipping, see "General Tab".

Terrain features can be blocked with images and stored in the library for future use. See "Creating Architectural Blocks".