Building in Model Builder getting sunk into the terrain profile?

[Anonymous]

The 3D building in the Model Builder is getting sunk into the terrain profile. Is there a way to remove the terrain profile? Can I make the terrain simply flat?  The terrain information also seems to be wrong, because almost every flat terrain location I select in model builder, it comes with a wide variation in terrain profile.

[Karsten.Saenger]

Hi @Anonymous

can you send a screenshot?

Usually, the buildings are draped on terrain, it sounds strange that a building is below the terrain, except it's steep. Then parts of a building might be under ground.

If it's a single building, then just select it in move it up.

Model Builder terrain is derived from SRTM elevation data. If you want a flat terrain, I suggest create one for your area of interest in Civil 3D and export it from there as LandXML and import into InfraWorks. OR - create a flat LandArea, it will flatten the terrain surface where it is drawn, see InfraWorks Help: To add or modify land areas (preview)

Regards,

Karsten.

[Anonymous]

This is how my buildings are getting sunk into the terrain profile (there are many of them like that).

In this, I applied the Land coverage areas with grading style and you can see the difference. But I need the Google Earth Imagery on the base as grading style as shown in the screenshot above without the terrain profile (or with flat terrain profile)

[Karsten.Saenger]

Hi @Anonymous

that looks strange?

Is it possible to get the area information, so that I can try and create a Model Builder result for the same area? A bounding box shape file with PRJ file would be good or a location name that I can find in Model Builder or just a XY coordinate.

What you can do to get the building footprints as data source:

• Open the model sqlite file in Map 3D or Civil 3D as FDO connection (MAPWSPACE)
• Load the buildings only
• Export the building footprints as SDF or SHAPE (MAPEXPORT)
• Load the data into InfraWorks, delete the old Model Builder buildings
• Now you can make sure the buildings are draped on ground

Regards,
Karsten.

[Anonymous]

Sorry for late reply, 

I have tried to link up my Infrawork file if that helps.
Btw, the location is Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai. If you search BKC, you should get it. 

[Karsten.Saenger]

Hi @Anonymous

thanks for the model.

I could not find the place from your first screenshot where it looks as if complete buildings are below terrain.

But I could find a number of buildings that are partly below terrain, for example:

The reason is a very large building footprint in an area where the terrain elevation changes.

The building is placed on ground that way that the (flat) footprint gets the elevation of the lowest point. If the elevation changes a lot within the footprint area, it might happen that parts of the building are below ground.

In this case you need to insert flat surface areas for the footprints. Either use another program (Civil 3D) to create those and import them. Or use land areas that create a flat terrain.

You can extract the footprints for example if you connect to the model.sqlite file in Map 3D or Civil 3D and export the building footprints as SDF or Shape files.

Alternatively, use a higher resolution surface model as the SRTM surface is quite coarse.

Regards,

Karsten