AutoDesSys products: form&middotZ
 


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.

 

 

form·Z feature list

Introduction


Interface


Modeling

Primitives
Spherical objects
Metaballs
3D solids and 2D shapes
Patterned polygons
Derivative surfaces, extrusions, enclosures
Parallel objects
Frames

Projection objects
Unfolding
Terrain models
Revolved objects
Helixes
Screws and bolts
Stairs
Sweeps
Draft Sweeps
Skinning
Lofting
S-lofts
Meshed objects
Subdivisions
Moving and disturbing meshes
Deformations
Bending along curves
Morphing
Image based displacements
Rounding
Blending and filleting
Draft angles
Splines and c-curves
C-Meshes
Nurbz
Formula curves and surfaces
Patches
Boolean operations
Trimming, splitting, and stitching
2D and 3D sections
Deriving contours
Lines of intersection
Grouping and ungrouping/Joining and separating
Placing and editing text
Symbols
Editing 3D lines
Converting representations of objects
Extracting controls
Inquiring and measuring
Repairing objects and projects
Moving, rotating, resizing, and mirroring
Clones
Attaching
Replace
Inserting
Deleting

Drafting


Rendering


Special features

Extensive import/export
Panoramic views
Straight up perspectives
View matching
Walk through animation
Rapid prototyping
2D/3D digitizing

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