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[SteveB]

I have attached a file which I imported a surveyors .dwg file into and have tried for ages to replicate the contours without any success.
Can anyone offer me any tips?
I got the training video but I must be missing something.
The green contours are 1m intervals and yellow 0.5m.

[Virtual Architec]

See if this is what you had in mind.

[SteveB]

That is pretty clever.
What is the secret? How did you begin? How long did it take?

[Virtual Architec]

5 minutes.  Use your plateau tool  set it to 1 meter with the slider all the way to the right.  starting at the upper left corner, trace the line and run it out past your terrain in the model, continue the line accross the bottom of the screen to the right, and back up to the top of the screen on the right, then back to the left where you started.  Keep doing this for each line and you will have it.

[SteveB]

Many thanks.
That might be a good one to add in a training vdeo.

[SteveB]

One more question. Why do my contours appear jagged rather than smooth like yours. I went into terrain settings and changed grid mesh spacing to 1000 (I use millimeters). I looked in the program settings / drawing aids and "enable grid" and "enable grid snap" are both unchecked. Must be another setting I am missing.
Any ideas?

Steve

[Virtual Architec]

Turn off Anglesnap.

[FynrDzynr]

Good afternoon Ed
Is there some way of creating terrain from spot levels taken onsite? I usually do my own site survey when measuring the existing structure. Divide the lot into say a 2m grid, put dumpy readings into an Excel spreadsheet to calculate RLs then input that into AP using the Input Spot Levels from field Notes.
Now with Env it seems I need to use a different logic!
Merv

[Virtual Architec]

Merv,
I never have use AP so I am not familiar with how it works.  Does it create contours for you after you put in your spot locations?  If so you could just export the contours into EV and trace over them with your terrain tools.

[FynrDzynr]

That's what I'll be doing for the time being. However I'm trying to eliminate AP from the equation. It means maintaining 2 separate files & that's always an added QA issue.
Site tools in AP are very comprehensive.
Insert spot levels.
Calculates contours & inserts the text label.
Creates a mesh surface
Does cut & fill to a user nominated RL (with quantities of cut & fill automagically calculated)

I just hope all these functions are available in Env Real Soon Now
Merv
/later I'll be spewing if v4 still can't handle importing text & attributes in dwg files. In AP the user can attach a comment to each spot level which comes in very handy when plotting paths, drains, retaining walls etc.
If not it means I'll have to plot the dwg as well before tracing over in Env.

[SteveB]

Any ideas on creating a vertical face on terrain?
For example If I create a steep slope using the plateau or slope tool, the bottom and top have a slight curve.

[FynrDzynr]

Retaining walls?
Merv

[SteveB]

Yes, retaining walls. If they are located next to a horizontal surface such as a driveway the curve looks kinda odd.

[FynrDzynr]

Yes, and you can't always plant ground cover to hide it. Top of the wall is also a problem. Insert Fills that always "hug terrain". It seems Canadians think different to us! I'm looking forward to the North American solution.
I try thinking "outside the square" but if I start from the wrong square . . . .
Merv

[Virtual Architec]

What I have been doing to counteract the limitation is to use foundation walls.  you have to define a closed region to cut the terrain out.  Set the foundation wall height and slope to follow the terrain where it comes down the side.  Then come out with walls untill your terrain is level, cut across then back to your retaining wall.  Set your wall height for the section you don't want to see as .1mm or whatever, and then put a slab or fill to cover the area that is cut out.  It works.