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Chapter 14 See the World in 3D
4. Practice with the two tools for a couple minutes to get the feel for
maneuvering in the GSU environment.
5. Maneuver around so that you can view the front of the building (the
part that opens out onto the street).
14.6 Toggle Terrain
1. For this simplified example, we’ve been assuming the terrain
under Lincoln Building is completely flat. When the GE image was
imported, it also included data about the terrain built into the image.
You would probably want to take terrain into account early in the
process if you were modeling a structure or object built into a
hill or on a large slope so that measurements and features properly
match up.
2. To examine the “real” terrain about Lincoln Building, toggle the terrain
on (again using the Toggle Terrain icon on the toolbar).
3. Orbit around the building and you’ll see that some of the back corners
appear to be slightly “floating” over the terrain. To rectify this, orbit
underneath the building and the image and use the Push/Pull tool to
slightly “pull” the building down below the image. This will ensure that
the building extends completely into the ground and that none of it will
float over the terrain.
14.7 Adding Features to the Building
1. Use Bing Maps’ “Bird’s eye” feature to get a closer look at Lincoln
Building. Viewing from the north, you may be able to see a recessed
entranceway leading into the front of Lincoln Building.
2. Set up the entranceway approximately 27 feet (27′) across and beginning
approximately 34 feet (34′) from each side of the front of the building.
The opening itself is about 9 feet (9′) tall. This is the size of a block you
want to draw on the front of the building.
3. In order to find these dimensions, you can use the Tape Measure to
create some guide lines (or “construction lines”) on the face of the
building to use.
4. Select the Tape Measure icon and start from the lower left corner
(as you face the building). Measure up approximately 9 feet, and then
double-click the mouse.
Important note: A more precise way to use the Tape Measure is to type
9′ (for 9 feet) while dragging the tape in the direction you want to measure.
A small mark will appear at the 9′ length, and you can use that as a starting
point for more measurements.
Chapter 14 See the World in 3D
4. Practice with the two tools for a couple minutes to get the feel for
maneuvering in the GSU environment.
5. Maneuver around so that you can view the front of the building (the
part that opens out onto the street).
14.6 Toggle Terrain
1. For this simplified example, we’ve been assuming the terrain
under Lincoln Building is completely flat. When the GE image was
imported, it also included data about the terrain built into the image.
You would probably want to take terrain into account early in the
process if you were modeling a structure or object built into a
hill or on a large slope so that measurements and features properly
match up.
2. To examine the “real” terrain about Lincoln Building, toggle the terrain
on (again using the Toggle Terrain icon on the toolbar).
3. Orbit around the building and you’ll see that some of the back corners
appear to be slightly “floating” over the terrain. To rectify this, orbit
underneath the building and the image and use the Push/Pull tool to
slightly “pull” the building down below the image. This will ensure that
the building extends completely into the ground and that none of it will
float over the terrain.
14.7 Adding Features to the Building
1. Use Bing Maps’ “Bird’s eye” feature to get a closer look at Lincoln
Building. Viewing from the north, you may be able to see a recessed
entranceway leading into the front of Lincoln Building.
2. Set up the entranceway approximately 27 feet (27′) across and beginning
approximately 34 feet (34′) from each side of the front of the building.
The opening itself is about 9 feet (9′) tall. This is the size of a block you
want to draw on the front of the building.
3. In order to find these dimensions, you can use the Tape Measure to
create some guide lines (or “construction lines”) on the face of the
building to use.
4. Select the Tape Measure icon and start from the lower left corner
(as you face the building). Measure up approximately 9 feet, and then
double-click the mouse.
Important note: A more precise way to use the Tape Measure is to type
9′ (for 9 feet) while dragging the tape in the direction you want to measure.
A small mark will appear at the 9′ length, and you can use that as a starting
point for more measurements.