Terrain models from contour lines



Three dimensional terrain (landform) models can be created with ease from sets of 2D contour lines, which can either be drawn in form·Z or imported. This unique feature of form·Z offers four types of terrain models: meshed models, triangulated meshed models, stepped models, and triangulated contour models. All terrain models are created by pre-selecting the contour lines and then selecting the site to which the terrain model will be trimmed. The site can be any regular or irregular closed shape, which can even contain holes.

Above, top to bottom, left to right: Contour lines and site from which meshed, triangulated meshed, triangulated contour, and stepped terrain models are generated.
Below: A stepped model generated from contours and a site that have only rectangular corners. The site also has two holes.

By combining the four types of terrain modeling available in form•Z, and possibly other operations of the program, terrain models can easily incorporate additional features such as rivers, lakes, flat areas, and roads, as illustrated below.

Especially noteworthy is form·Z's unique ability to generate terrain models on the surfaces of other previously created 3D objects. These surfaces may have any arbitrary orientation in 3D space. This ability makes the terrain modeling tool useful for the articulation of 3D forms in areas other than landform modeling.