topic Re: Large Topography in Modeling

Large Topography

Lasha97 — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 00:19:30 GMT

Hello, I want to generate terrain in Archicad from a large-scale topographic file, but the project becomes so heavy that even simple navigation becomes very slow. Could you give me any advice on how to convert topography into terrain more easily, quickly, and with good quality?

Operating system used: Windows

Re: Large Topography

Botonis — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 07:37:38 GMT

I never create contour lines. These are therotical.

It seems you have created the contour lines and so many points have made the mesh heavy.

Just use the measurements from the GPS via a txt file.Those points are far more less and will keep the model simple and fast.

Use the contour object if you need contour lines.

https://bimcomponents.com/GSM/Details/23474

Re: Large Topography

karsten_bauschert — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 16:11:36 GMT

If you use xyz data files from the surveior one can could google for the tool cloud compare which can reduce the resolution.

If you retrace the contour lines of the map by hand with the help of the magic wand then u could reduce the detail level of the wand in the options.
Countour lines can be added afterwards to the terrain via a GS terrain addon.

Re: Large Topography

cuba — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 16:37:40 GMT

I always redraw the contourlines with splines and build up the mesh with these splines. De splines generate less points and a 'lighter' model. The contour lines provide a clearer understanding of the plan.

Re: Large Topography

Lingwisyer — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 01:12:41 GMT

If you frequently make terrains like this, you could consider the plugin ArchiTerra.

Re: Large Topography

Erwin Edel — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 09:07:33 GMT

I remember a post on the forum from long ago that suggested to plot a grid of points rather than contour lines. You can then make the grid more or less dense in areas that need more or less detail. This resulted in significantly less polygons.