Managing Zones under sloped or irregular ceilings is currently cumbersome. Adjusting Zone heights requires splitting Zones, creating multiple elements, or using manual cuts, which complicates reporting and introduces errors.
We propose evolving the Zone tool to support a Mesh‑like editable top surface, with both sloped surfaces and vertical steps, similar to how real ceilings often behave (e.g., dropped ceilings, beam offsets).
Key capabilities:
- Node-based editing: Add nodes and set different heights, just like with Meshes, to model irregular ceiling shapes directly within a single Zone.
- Vertical steps: At the same point in plan view, define sudden height changes (like steps or drops), not only gradual slopes—essential for accurately modeling suspended ceilings, soffits, or split-level interiors.
- Multiple display modes:
- 3D realistic mode: Shows true sloped and stepped geometry.
- Conceptual planar mode: Flat top with automatic average height calculation (Volume / Area).
- Detailed data extraction: Automatically obtain:
- Area and volume for each sloped or stepped portion,
- Minimum, maximum, and average heights,
- All accessible in labels, schedules, and expressions.
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- Zone types: Keep current flat Zones for simple spaces; add advanced Zones with editable top surfaces for complex spaces.
Why this is useful:
- Simplifies modeling of spaces under complex roofs or ceilings, including sloped and stepped areas, without multiple Zones or cuts.
- Ensures accurate area and volume calculations in reports and schedules.
- Improves documentation: in plan view, display divisions of ceiling heights and slopes automatically.
- Similar improvements would also benefit the Mesh tool itself, which currently lacks true step handling within a single surface.
Open