Architectural CADD News by Software
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Architectural CADD News by Software |
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Last Updated : March 28, 1999
ArchiSite 
PracSys Inc. http://www.pracsys.hu
News :
What is ArchiSITE for
ArchiSITE is designed to be the dedicated terrain modeler for ArchiCAD.
ArchiSITE creates a smooth terrain model based on the survey data,
displaying the site around buildings for 3D interpretation. However, at
the same time it offers the basic but quick, FCF (Few Click to Finish)
tools for Earthwork design, including terrain adjustment (terrain
modification) and related necessary engineering tools (like earth
balance calculation) to exactly the RIGHT and ADEQUATE EXTENT.
In detail, ArchiSITE creates a (triangle-based) smooth terrain model
from survey data, locating the most important site features such as
house plots, plateaus, simple roads and paths.
It displays the surface including the site features in 2D by contours
and in 3D mesh and contour view.
The terrain CAN BE MODIFIED by EDITING the CONTOURS and changing the
elevation with the Scan Label tool at any location within the user
defined affect range.
Most of the site features can be edited horizontally (drag, rotate,
stretch, mirror) and vertically by changing the elevation with the Scan
Label tool.
The road model in ArchiSITE makes it SIMPLE to create roads with just a
few clicks; it is just for REPRESENTING the GEOMETRY of the road. (It is
even adequate for calculating the EARTH BALANCE with the accuracy
needed.) Crossings are generated automatically and can be rounded. The
roads can be changed vertically by changing the elevation of the
crossings with the Scan Label tool.
ArchiSITE finally exports the terrain model as a LIBRARY PART to
ArchiCAD.
ArchiSITE integrates several disciplines: Topography, Surveying, Civil
Engineering and Architecture, to exactly the right extent, tailoring the
software to the needs of ARCHITECTURAL PLANNING.
ArchiSITE processes survey data, but it is NOT a Civil Engineering
application.
ArchiSITE creates and handles roads and paths, but it is NOT a Road
Planner application.
ArchiSITE is not designed to resolve such conceptional paradoxes as
exist, for example, between Topography and Geodesy on the issue of
accuracy of contour generation versus their aesthetic requirements.
To get an overall view on ArchiSITE's functionality (what can be done
and how with ArchiSITE) we suggest to follow the introductory script
Getting Started ArchiSITE which can be downloaded from our web site
www.pracsys.hu .
After an hour you can have a feeling on what the program is capable for.
Also, it could make it easy to use ArchiSITE efficiently to study the
pages FAQS and Tips & Tricks on our web site www.pracsys.hu .
>From March 24, some days before releasing it on CD at Graphisoft, the
latest release ArchiSITE 5.6 is available (free for ArchiSITE 5.5 or
5.56 users) on our web site www.pracsys.hu .
It offers the possibility to create the terrain model with much higher
accuracy preserving the functionality of ArchiSITE 5.56. All "user
points" that you defined or modified keeps their exact location. From
now on the accuracy of the contours highly depends on you, since all the
nodes with which you have specified its curve will be unchanged.
Therefore if you want to have high precision model, (e.g. for contract
documentation) you can specify more nodes on the contours, on the other
hand if you can tolerate a less accurate model it is enough to give less
nodes.
In the ReadMe you can find much information on ArchiSITE 5.6 and the
general guideline how to proceed with ArchiSITE.
Our reflection to some of your comments:
As for ArchiSITE is not a professionally accurate tool:
As we have stated, the aim of ArchiSITE was never to be one of the road
planning or other engineering applications. According to our goal
ArchiSITE is a terrain modeler for ARCHITECTURE especially for those who
are using ArchiCAD. And it is not less than providing a DTM application
with the ease of use, however, keeping all the functions and fulfilling
all the requirements set on an architectural DTM application.
Let us see the point in accuracy.
Some, and might be overheated opinion was stating that ArchiSITE is
inefficient by accuracy. These opinions were supported by mentioning
other applications and TIN structure sometimes.
Well, as it is known, a Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) is nothing
else than the spatial collection of survey points connected with lines.
Since the TIN models approximate the surface with a network of FLAT
triangles, it can adequately represent a surface only if the number of
triangles is high enough.
As it is to see, the TIN model is an approximation of the terrain, since
it is explicit just on the surveyed points. In the most case it is
nothing else than a LINEAR approximation in between.
ArchiSITE's smoothed TIN method utilizes the most advanced modeling
technologies available today. It is also based on the TIN structure that
builds up of the survey points.
The construction of the TIN bases on the widely appreciated Delaunay
optimization method, which enables the best optimal TIN based structure
known today.
Additionally it uses adaptive curved triangles ( Hermit Polynom based
triangular patches) instead of flat ones to describe the terrain.
Therefore,
on the common edges of the triangles the interpolated surface is
tangent-continuous. Of course, it is also true for every point of the
surface. It means an even more accurate approximation of the real
terrain, that the model is to represent. Finally, the generated surface
is exact at the surveyed points and generally approximates the real
terrain much better at the other locations than the linear (TIN) model.
This way for example we can have continuous spline contour lines in
opposition with TIN contours which break on every edge of the
triangulated network.
On the top of it, contour input is considered not just as a simple unprocessed survey input but reserves its topologic relations (e.g. sloping vector known as gradient in topography)
It highly utilizes the TIN's adaptive behavior, the more curved the surface is, the more triangles will be describing the surface. This property enables the existence of higher precision earth-working/surface modifying tools for the users.
Some features coming from the above are unique in ArchiSITE for architects:
- - The surface can be defined with contours as well, not only with 3D points.
- - The surface can be modified by editing the contours.
- - In ArchiSITE 5.6 the modified surface and the contours are generated exactly on the nodes you defined/modified.
It is to see the high integration of the 3D surface model and the contour map.
- - ArchiSITE does not cooperates with ArchiCAD via any interface, but creates the terrain model directly as an ArchiCAD library object.
Do have sufficient input to generate surface
We found that many of the problems are caused by insufficient input data. ("I have started to enter the input, created the surface. It was somewhat close to my intention when I started to adjust the contour lines to their planned locations. The more I edited the contours the more has been changed in the wrong way. I ended up to delete my file.")
Surface editing is not for tracing the input data to get the required result. If the surface does not match with the one you want to get, than there is probably a shortage of surface defining information. This is not to be resolved via surface editing.
As seeing that ArchiSITE has created a somewhat different model that you desire to get immediately Undo building the 3D model and refine the input (add supplementary input data) and Build Surface again to create the desired surface. Repeat this until you get the result you want.
More comments are appreciated
We appreciate all comments that are concrete, constructive and detailed.
We cannot do anything with the type of comments that "ArchiSITE is not suitable for contract documentation purposes." If you described in detail that what is missing or what should be done in another way we might consider in the further development of the product. This is the way you could contribute to have a more convenient terrain modeler for the ArchiCAD community.
We are ready to receive and investigate your project files on problematic projects as well, first to give you a help, and second to see the areas to be further developed. You can contact us at support@pracsys.hu .
Best regards,
Andras Haszonits
Support Manager
PracSYS
ArchiSITE
There does exist a demo version available on our Internet home page: http://www.pracsys.hu to all interested architects. It is a full function version except you can not save your project. It is an evaluation version!!!
The aim of the demo version is that PracSYS does not offer a "cat in a sack", but offer the opportunity to our possible users to see what they get for their money. If you find ArchiSITE meeting your needs, you buy it, if you find it not to be adequate to your needs, you do not have to buy. Documentation and demo files are also available for the evaluation to prepare your decision.
So, if you have found ArchiSITE worth to invest in and convinced you can make use of it in your work, you can buy the Full Version at Graphisoft. Of course if you have any question either before or after the purchase, we are always ready to help you on support@pracsys.hu . All of your ArchiSITE and terrain modeling related questions are welcome.
>You mention the TERRAIN tool. What is this? Is it different to the mesh tool? Is it ArchiSite
As you had seen, the icon of ArchiSITE is placed on ArchiCAD's tool palette. Thus, it might be disbelieved as an ArchiCAD Terrain tool. But it is a separate application developed exclusively for ArchiCAD users. The difference between ArchiSITE and the mesh tool of ArchiCAD is essential. ArchiSITE is a geosurvey based terrain modeling application, while the mesh tool is developed for architectural canvas structures (like the Olympic Stadium in Germany) and not for geodesic functions. Both of them have to be used within their respective area of competence.
Links to Dealers, Resellers, User groups :
(ArchiCAD, PlotMaker)
Integrated CADD Services (ICS) (Greg Conyngham) Cambridge, MA ------- (ArchiCAD, MiniCAD) ------ http://www.intcad.com/
Envision Architectural Technology Services, LLC (Honolulu HI) -------- (ArchiCAD) --------------------------- http://www.envision-ats.com/
Dimensions Design Group (Neil McCann) --- (ArchiCAD GDL RealDoors and RealWindows, Custom GDL)
Objectsonline--- (ArchiCAD objects resource)
Dimensions (Neil McCann) Provides modeling, rendering, and animation services. Writes custom ArchiCAD macros in GDL. http://www.ddgi.com/
ArchiCAD Mail List Forum ----------------------------- http://www.shore.net/cgi-bin/lwgate/archicad
ArchiCAD Users Group - (Meeting calendar USA wide) ------- http://www.caddworks.com/cwp4.html
ArchiCAD Users Group --- (Connecticut) ------------------------ http://www.caddworks.com/cwp4.html
Mar 5-6 - ArchiCAMP: Los Angeles, California, Kellogg West Conference Center, Cal Poly Pomona, March 5 & 6, 1999. Call 203-857-0563 for more information, or visit <http://www.caddworks.com/ac_main.html> for course descriptions and location.
From: jinara@redstone.net (James Johnston)
Tips for Using Archisite
I simply can't sit still any longer after enduring more than a week of this second round of bashing. Obviously you frustrated Archisite users simply haven't been able to successfully master the program. I have been using the program for about a year with good results. I'll admit to some frustration at first, but eventually I got it to work in an acceptable way. Here are some tips:
1. Open the the examples provided by Pracsys and study them carefully note in particular the surface settings affect range and the number of nodes along any of the contours.
2. You need to really tattoo those lines with nodes. It doesn't take long, they are only mouse clicks. (I did a 10 acre site with 50 contours in about an hour)
3. After you build the surface check for accuracy and pull any errant nodes back onto the intended path. Add more nodes, if necessary, and build surface again. you should be able to do this in a couple of passes.
4. It aint perfect but 95% plus of the contours will be exactly where they should be. The program does have some difficulty with acute angles like ditches or stream beds, but most of the contours work just fine.
5. The biggest shortcoming of the program is that you can't make a working drawing out of it. I overcome this by importing the original survey to Archicad setting the contours to hairlines and draw the grade changes with the spline tool. It's still way faster than the old way and you can check it for accuracy.
6. I make two Archisite models, one with original grade and the other with final grade placed in separate layers in Archicad. I use these models to establish existing and final grades on my elevations and sections. I check these for consistency with the site plan.
Brumby wrote: "An error of in surface tolerance of +100mm over an area of 15 acres would be rather significant, (ie 6069 cum @ $164/cum = $1,000,000). This magnitude of error is not acceptable. As an Architect using CAD software I do not want a toy or a computer game. I require an accurate, reliable tool, that is user friendly, fast, and where the results generate confidence. (By accurate I mean +-10mm in 3000 mm for terrain modelling.)"
I should say so! For the sake of argument, assuming a gradient of 10% all of the contours on the Brumby model would have to be off horizontally by a full meter all in the same direction, over the entire site to get this kind of error. Trust me, Archisite is capable of being way more accurate than that and well within reasonable tolerances.
If you are still worried about dead on accuracy, consider the fact that native soil being excavated from any site depending on the type of soil will expand approximately 10 to 20%. Even the excavators won't know exactly how many truckloads of material they will haul until they dig it (that's why they have contingencies). Also the survey engineer very likely interpolated the contours from a 25 or 50 ft grid he shot at the site and very likely they don't represent exactly what's out there anyway.
And, for all of you folks out there that so desperately need to be instantly gratified, you may want to remember that it took about 75 years to get from the clunky Model T Ford to the exquisitely engineered Porche Boxter. How long has Archicad been around? C'mon, at least, give it another 10 years! I am sure the programmers are dancing as fast as they can, and to this point in time, I think they have done a great job. Good Luck! James Johnston James Johnston Architects P.S. Redmond, Washington, USA
