Connecting drawing objects to the site model
When connected with a site model, certain objects can conform to the site model's terrain.
A landscape area will drape realistically over a connected site model, and its components can also cut into the site model. Conforming with a site model may change the landscape area's area and plant quantities, as compared with the results for a flat polyline. Landscape areas can also cut into the site model, depending how they are set up.
Plants are by default placed directly on the site model surface; the plant's Z value is 0, and for a single plant, the Elevation field in the Object Info palette display's the plant's layer elevation; the Elevation isn't available for plant objects composed of multiple plants, since the undulation of the site model may mean each individual plant in the object has a different elevation. If the layer elevation is changed, the Z value reflects the change, and the difference between the layer elevation and the site model elevation.
Grade objects can conform to the site model, and can serve as a pad site modifier.
A few rules dictate how objects are connected with a site model by default. For files with multiple site models on multiple layers, you can change the site model an object connects to in the Object Info palette.
In general, when setting up design layers, the layers containing the drawing objects need to be located above the site model layer, for automatic connection to work. Layer visibilities are also important for automatic connections.
The object, such as a landscape area or large plant array, must be completely inside the boundary of a connected site model. If any part of the object falls outside the site model boundary, the object is not properly connected and will not conform to or modify the site model. If this is the case, the Object Info palette displays an alert prompting you to adjust the object.
When a drawing object is placed, and there is only one visible site model on a layer under the object's layer, the object is automatically connected with that site model. If there is more than one site model visible in the drawing and under the object's layer, the object is set to the top site model layer, in stacking order.
Drawing objects do not automatically change elevation/drape when the site model they are connected to is edited. Reset the objects from the Object Info palette to fit them to the edited surface.
If you want the object to connect among different site models for a phased project, without needing to manually reconnect it every time, place the drawing object on a layer above the site model layers, and select Auto for the Site Model Layer parameter on the Object Info palette. As long as there is only one visible site model layer located under the object's layer (which must also be visible) at a time, the object is automatically connected with the visible site model. You must select the landscape area and update it from the Object Info palette for the change to take effect.
