Setting site model properties
Site model properties
After the site model has been created, it can be edited in a variety of ways.
The site model object can be copied, cut, pasted, rotated, and deleted like other objects. In Top/Plan view, the 2D Display selected for the site model is shown; if both existing and proposed models are selected for display, they are superimposed. In any 3D view, the 3D Display selected (if any) is shown.
The site model can be textured from the Render tab of the Object Info palette. The texture is applied to the surface of the site model, and is scaled to fit the site model bounding box.
The site model surface can be sculpted, pushing and pulling the surface to create a custom site model as described in Sculpting the site model terrain.
The site model contours can be edited, changing the original source data (the existing site model) or the proposed site model as described in Editing site model contours.
Set the appearance of the contour labels from the 2D Contour Labels attributes on the Site Model tab of the Graphic Properties; see Setting site model graphic properties.
Add more contour labels along a line; see Adding contour labels.
Right-click on the site model and select Edit from the context menu, or select Modify > Edit Site Model. From the Edit Site Model dialog box, choose to edit the Site model settings, edit the existing or proposed contours, edit components and component thicknesses, and choose the default editing behavior when double-clicking on a site model.
After generation, the site model is cached by default so that updating occurs more efficiently; however, large file sizes can result. See Document preferences: Display tab for information on changing the default setting.
The site model can be modified by the various site model modifiers; see Concept: Site model modification.
You can create a site model snapshot, which can be frozen to show the site model's appearance at a particular time, or unfrozen to update it at anytime. See Creating a site model snapshot.
In addition to the Site Model Settings dialog box, you can change many parameters of a selected site model from the Object Info palette.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Geometry Lowest Z |
Sets the lowest elevation (vertical Z offset) of the site model geometry; changing this value moves the entire site model, but does not affect site modifiers |
Site Model Settings |
Opens the Site model settings dialog box. The settings here (and the related graphic properties settings) are identical to those specified at site model creation. The option to keep or delete original source data is only available at site model creation. |
Update |
Updates the site model and any associated snapshots, when the existing site data has changed or site modifiers have been added or changed. Also, if the site model is textured with a geoimage, re-downloads the geoimage, when it no longer displays after a save operation. |
Create a Snapshot |
Creates a site model snapshot (see Creating a site model snapshot) with the current site model settings, for displaying different iterations and display types of the site model |
2D Display |
Select the display type for the 2D site model |
2D Style |
Select the display style for the 2D site model |
3D Display |
Select the display type (or no display) for the 3D site model |
3D Style |
Select the display style for the 3D site model |
Add Contour Labels |
Adds contour labels along a drawn polyline; see Adding contour labels |
Area Display Type |
Select the units for displaying the projected and surface areas for existing and proposed site models |
Projected Area |
Displays the projected area (the area projected in plan view) of the site model |
Surface Area (Existing) |
Displays the 3D surface area of the existing site model |
Surface Area (Proposed) |
Displays the 3D surface area of the proposed site model (when one exists) |
Update Cut and Fill Calculations |
Recalculates the site model cut and fill; after modifying and updating the proposed site model, click to view the resulting cut and fill volumes (see Creating a spoil pile area). When the calculated volumes indicate that updating is necessary, click to display the latest results. |
Volume Display Type |
Select the units for displaying the cut and fill volumes (or allows cut and fill volumes to be hidden, if desired) |
Volume (Existing) |
Displays the total volume of the existing site model |
Volume (Proposed) |
Displays the total volume of the proposed site model |
Cut Volume |
When the proposed site model has been modified by a site modifier, displays the volume cut from the site model |
Fill Volume |
When the proposed site model has been modified, displays the volume of fill added to the site model |
Net C&F Volume |
Displays the net cut or fill volume, indicating whether fill is required or extra cut volume needs to be removed from the site |
Total C&F Volume |
Displays the sum of the cut and fill volumes |
Edit Crop |
Click for Cropping a site model with a custom site border |
Edit Existing Surface |
Click for Sculpting the site model terrain of the existing site model |
Edit Existing Contours |
Click for Editing site model contours of the existing site model |
Edit Proposed Surface |
Click for Sculpting the site model terrain of the proposed site model |
Edit Proposed Contours |
Click for Editing site model contours of the proposed site model |
Recreate from Source Data |
Restores the site model based on its source data or boundary, as described in the next section |
Edit Components |
Opens the Site Model Components dialog box, to specify the components; see Creating site model components The Enable components below surface option must be selected on the Components tab of the Site Model Settings. |
Edit Geological Survey Points |
In an editing mode, allows you to specify the thickness of components at various locations on the site model; see Adjusting component thickness with survey points |
Vertex parameters |
Edits the vertices of the site model boundary; see Editing vertex-based objects |
Recreating the site model from the source data
The original source data, or boundary and grid-spaced loci, that were used to create the site model can be edited; this operation removes any edits to the site model contours or surface, and recreates the site model, but preserves any site modifier edits.
To recreate the site model:
Do one of the following:
Select the site model, and click Recreate from Source Data from the Object Info palette.
Right-click on the site model and select Edit from the context menu, or select Modify > Edit Site Model. From the Edit Site Model dialog box, select Recreate from source data.
Right-click on the site model and select Recreate from Source Data from the context menu.
In source data editing mode, changes can be made to the source data, and the source data can be validated (see Validating 3D source data).
Return to the site model by clicking Exit Recreate from Source Data at the top right of the drawing window. The site model updates automatically, reflecting any source data changes.