MAGNET Modeler for Autodesk: Element area parameters

This article is about managing element area parameters and using them in MAGNET Modeler for Autodesk.

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MAGNET Modeler for Autodesk: Element area parameters

The element areas object allows you to create areas filled with certain element masses, for example, humans, materials, etc.

The element areas object reads AutoCAD polylines, arcs, circles, ellipses, splines, or 3D faces. The defined area is filled with single elements based on the parameters.

Parameters

•  layer 

Layer where the element area border polylines are.

•  materials 

Materials for elements. The probability (0-1) of the element is separated with a semicolon (;) after the material name. This way, the amount of different elements can be defined accurately.

•  description 

A descriptive text for the entry. If defined, it will be shown instead of the long description.

•  info text 

Information text attached to items.

•  info URL 

URL link attached to items. MAGNET Explorer can launch a web browser with the URL.

•  object data tables 

These are Autodesk Map object data tables that will be used for source of object information for the elements in the virtual model. The table list also matches wildcards.

•  objects 

List of the AutoCAD 3D blocks that will be used as elements in the virtual model the same way as texture elements. If more than one block is selected, one of them will be randomly chosen for each instance. The insertion point is always interpolated to the ground. Material information is read from the AutoCAD block (mesh) triangle materials. Texturing mode is always “Box.”

•  var_place 

Randomness in position in system units. Has effect only when randpattern is set to yes.

•  var_size 

Randomness in size in percentage.

•  densityx 

Distance of elements in X direction in drawing units.

•  densityy 

Distance of elements in Y direction in drawing units.

•  rotation 

Rotation of distribution pattern.

•  z_rotation 

Angle = Rotates the resulting object’s z-axis. With this parameter, objects can be rotated so that they are not pointing upward. Setting this to 90 will result in objects that are horizontal.

•  randpattern 

If set to yes, the program uses its own random generator to place the trees. In this case, rotation parameter has no effect, and density is defined only with densityx as number of elements in a hectare. If set to no, elements are placed into a rectangular grid which you can affect with a rotation parameter. In this case, density is defined with both densityx and densityy parameters.

•  rotating 

If set to yes, elements are always faced to the viewer.

•  z_rotating 

Select yes or no.

•  elemwidth 

Width of single elements. If left empty, the width of the material or the objects is used.

•  elemheight 

Height of single elements. If left empty, the height of the material or the objects is used.

•  polylines 

If set to yes, polylines are used. This means that polylines of the concerned layer are used to generate element areas.

•  triangles 

If set to yes, 3D faces are used. This means that 3D faces of the concerned layer are used to generate element areas.

•  negate 

If set to yes, this element area will remove elements inside the polylines/triangles instead of creating them. It will apply to the elements defined as materials (unless none is defined, then all elements inside the polylines/triangles are deleted).

•  buffer 

Expands the element area outward (positive value) or shrinks it inward (negative value).

•  area_around_points 

Creates a circular element area around each point on this layer. The radius of the area is defined by the buffer parameter. With this parameter, it is possible to use points as element areas. With a negative parameter, it is possible to remove elements around points.

•  area_along_lines 

Creates an element area around the polylines on this layer. The area size is defined by the buffer parameter. With this parameter, it is possible to use lines and non-closed polylines as element areas. With a negative parameter, it is possible to remove elements around polylines (like remove trees from road lines). If this value is set, all polylines are handled as non-closed polylines, and an area is created around the polyline and not as a normal polyline element area.

•  background_material 

Material for an element's background. If this material does not have texture, the alpha channel of the front material is used.

•  interpolate_z_from_poly 

The z value of the elements are taken from the z value of the polyline.

•  interpolation_mode 

  • top = The element stretches from the ground. The top of the element is set to the polyline elevation. 
  • bottom = The element height is read from the height parameter (default setting).

•  interpolate_to_materials 

In case of multiple materials on top of each other, defines the material that these items will be interpolated on.

•  interpolate_to_layers 

Select those layers that will be used to raise your component. For example, if you use LandXML as a reference or Civil 3D surface as a reference, you generate layers for those references and then select that layer into this box.

•  position_offset 

Shifts objects according to given transformation parameters (X,Y,Z).

•  alignment  

  • default = Objects are aligned vertically as usual.
  • surface = Objects are aligned so that they follow the surface shape. Texture elements are aligned perpendicular against the surface triangle. 3D objects are aligned to the surface using object dimensions (bounding box) and lowest points.

•  group 

The name of the group of these items.