mass modelling > snapping slabs to mesh

[Anonymous]

Hi!

I am new to 3D modelling in ArchiCad and am doing a quite huge landscape model for my work. However, I've created the landscape using the mesh tool. Now I want to place the buildings on top of it... As far as I see there is no gravity functionality to slabs, right? Is there anyone who ever did mass modelling in ArchiCad and could give a suggestion? I do not really want to end up placing every single house on the site... There are many many hills...
Would be great if there was anyone who could help!
cheers, Suse

[Anonymous]

Correct - slabs don't allow for gravity, but walls do, start with walls first. Then query the walls for the proper slab elevation. A general technique in this situation (workaround) is to place a section line that intersects as many slabs as possible, so after the slabs are placed you can go to the section and change the elevation to precisely the correct point.

Important - I think you are about to run into a problem with story levels. On your site each building will be situated at a unique elevation. However each project has only one possible set of story definitions.

SO- create the multitude of buildings in separate files and hotlink them into the overall site file. Search this forum and you'll find several threads on this subject.

Please state your AC version and OS, many issues have version and OS specific answers.

Snap

[Anonymous]

thanks Snab!
As far as I see the walls don't really help me because I need them to have snaps, but I don't need to create roofs for the houses so slaps are generally easier (at least that's what I understand out of your answer). I don't really get what to do after I did the walls?
anyways, thanks for the hint with the storys. I don't need floor plans for the houses. (it's an urban planning project, so we'll stay in large scales and I do just mass modelling) Does that make my life easier or doesn't it change anything? For placing the slabs on the right levels, I can do sections and delete them ones I've placed the objects, right?
I am using ArchiCad 13 (if it makes my life easier I can use an ArchiCad 14) and Mac OS 10.

- Suse

[Anonymous]

Well, then make your walls 40 feet thick, 40 feet long and 40 feet tall, looks like a cube ~ No?

Query the walls = open the wall element settings and look at the base of wall elevation. Gravity will put the wall on the mesh and thus this number corresponds to the mesh height at that point.

Snab to my friends!

[Anonymous]

makes sense...
I just have so many different types of houses that it will be the same amount of work I guess.... I've to think about it for a while maybe, while modelling the streets...
thanks for the answer!

[Anonymous]

Don't forget that walls also have a 'polywall' mode that gives you the same creation and editing method as a polygonal slab.

[Anonymous]

Gosh - I wasn't really paying attention. Mass Model!! Only visual results count!! Minor errors should not be important.

Ok, place all your house objects or slabs/polywalls of the correct thickness (tall) well above the mesh. In 3D view you should see a bunch of floating "homes".

In the 3D window select each "house" one by one and use the pet palette "elevate" tool to lower them to the mesh, depending on how important accuracy is you can do several dozen placements in a few minutes.

Using 13 in favor of 14? Open your copy of 14, open Help and then look at the "New Feature in 14",you'll find the improvements over 13 there.

Snap

Thanks Peter for the polywall suggestion.