The site designer's guide to SketchUp's powerful modeling capabilities SketchUp for Site Design is the definitive guide to SketchUp for landscape architects and other site design professionals. Step-by-step tutorials walk you through basic to advanced processes, with expert guidance toward best practices, customization, organization, and presentation. This new second edition has been revised to align with the latest software updates, with detailed instruction on using the newest terrain modeling tools and the newly available extensions and plug-ins. All graphics have been updated to reflect the current SketchUp interface and menus, and the third part of the book includes all-new content featuring the use of new grade and terrain extensions. Developed around the needs of intermediate professional users and their workflows, this book provides practical all-around coaching on using SketchUp specifically for modeling site plans.
SketchUp was designed for usability, with the needs of the architect, industrial designer, and engineers at center stage. This book shows you how the software's powerful terrain and grade functions make it an ideal tool for site designers, and how to seamlessly integrate it into your workflow for more efficient design and comprehensive planning.
- Master the SketchUp basics, navigation, components, and scripts
- Turn 2D sketches into 3D models with volume, color, and material
- Create detailed site plans, custom furnishings, gradings, and architecture
- Learn sandbox tools, organization strategies, and model presentation tips
SketchUp has undergone major changes since the publication of this guide's first edition, with its sale to Trimble Navigation bringing about a number of revisions and the availability of more immediately useful features. SketchUp for Site Design shows you how to harness the power of this newly expanded feature set to smooth and optimize the site design workflow.
Table of Contents:
Part 1: Introduction to SketchUp 1 Chapter 1: How to Use This Book 2
What’s New in the Second Edition? 4
wwwdanieltalcom 4
Who Can Use This Book? 4
Learning Tutorials 5
Downloadable Tutorial Models 5
Downloadable Pre?]Made Components 6
The Four Parts 6
Part 1: Introduction to SketchUp 7
Part 2: Introduction to SketchUp Process Modeling 9
Part 3: Terrain Modeling 9
Part 4: AutoCAD to SketchUp 10
Chapter 2: SketchUp Basics 12
Geometry 12
Simple Geometry 12
Complex Geometry 13
Healing Faces 13
Subdividing Faces 14
Sticky Geometry 14
Face Count 14
Basic SketchUp Tools 15
Drawing and Modification Tools 16
The Line Tool 16
The Select Tool 16
Additional Tools 17
The Measurement Window 19
Styles 20
Edge Settings 20
Background Settings 20
Navigation and 3D Inference System 21
Navigation 21
Inference System 21
Drafting with Edges 23
Model Organization 25
Layers 25
Layer 0 26
Chapter 3: Components and Groups 27
The Importance of Components and Groups 27
Using Components 28
Component Instances 29
Editing Components 29
Adjusting the Component/Group View 31
Components Within Components 33
Components and Layers 35
Pre-Made Components 36
Component Library 36
3D Warehouse 37
DanielTalcom 39
FormFonts 39
DynaSCAPE Sketch3D 40
Chapter 4: Problem Solving 43
Problem-Solving Tutorials 44
Typical SketchUp Problems 44
Different Results on Different Computers 44
SketchUp Freezes 45
Auto Save 45
Subdivide 45
Resources 46
Chapter 5: SketchUp Extensions 47
Using SketchUp 47
Extension Warehouse 49
Installing Weld 49
Using Weld 51
Extension Websites 52
Installing Extensions 52
SketchUcation Plugin Store 53
Smustard 54
Recommended Extensions 56
Part 2: SketchUp Process Modeling 59
Chapter 6: Introduction to SketchUp Process Modeling 60
The Built Environment 60
Surfaces 61
Objects 61
The 2D = 3D Method 62
Drafting the Flatwork Base 64
Drawing the Base 64
Reviewing the Drawing 67
Applying Material and Color 68
Organizing Models 69
Adding Volumes 70
Lowering the Road 70
Creating the Building 71
Making a Roof 72
Push/Pulling the Steps 72
Push/Pulling the Walls 73
Adding Objects to the Flatwork Base 73
Organizing Components 74
Creating Component Layers 74
Component Tools 75
Adding Components to the Flatwork Base 78
Adding Component Windows and Doors 80
Adjusting the Building Components 81
Reviewing the Completed Model 81
An Advanced Example 83
Modeling Your Own Designs 84
Chapter 7: Detailed Site Plan Modeling 85
Using Site Plans 85
Importing Site Plans 86
Imported-Image Resolution 87
Placing the Plan Image on a Layer 87
Scaling the Image 87
Preparing the Drafting Trace 88
Drafting Tips 89
Drafting Order 90
Drawing the Site Perimeter and Building Footprints 91
Drafting the Identified Surfaces 91
Adding the Small Edge Details 94
Creating the Flatwork Base Group 97
Adding Color and Texture 98
Adding Volume 99
Road and Curb 99
Steps and Plaza 100
Planter Walls 101
Ramp 102
Planter Wall Adjustments 103
Entry Sign Wall 103
Buildings as Components 103
Building Volumes 104
Adding Detail to Volumes 105
Detailing the Sign 105
Detailing the Planters 107
Chapter 8: Custom Site Furnishings 110
The Modeling Process 110
Components within Components 111
Mirroring Components 111
Making Unique Components 112
The Follow Me Tool 113
Model Organization 116
Tutorials 116
The Bollard 117
The Pedestrian Light 119
The Modern Bench 122
The Park Bench 123
The Decorative Planter Bench 129
The Decorative Rail 133
The Handrail 135
Profile Builder……137
Chapter 9: Custom Architecture 142
Sculpting the Building 142
Building the Mass 142
Making Window and Door Components 144
Problem Solving the Window Components 148
Copying and Inserting 148
Copying and Pasting Between Instances 149
Making Unique 149
Tutorials 150
Setting the Workspace 151
Adding Mass to Buildings 1 and 2 151
Adding Mass to Building 3 154
Window Components 156
Door Components 161
Balcony Component 162
Chapter 10: Arranging and Presenting the Model 165
Arrangement Methods 165
The Accuracy Method 166
The Speed Method 166
Logical Order and Adjustments 166
Buildings 167
3D Vegetation 167
Furnishing the Components 171
Creating and Exporting Scenes 173
Selecting Your Scenes 173
The Scene Menu 174
The Position Camera Tool 174
The Look Around Tool 174
The Zoom Tool 174
Plan Views and Elevations 174
People and Cars 174
Trees and Scenes 175
Adding Sky 175
Exporting Scenes and Shadows 175
Troubleshooting Shadows 175
Chapter 11: Architectural Tutorial 180
Working with Arcs and Circles 180
Hidden Geometry 181
Components and Faceted Surfaces 182
The Courthouse Tutorial 184
Drafting the Floor Plate 185
Adding Volume 188
Adding the Custom Components 195
Arranging the Components on
the Building 200
Adding Detail to the Building 205
Part 3: Terrain Modeling 209
Chapter 12: Introduction to the Terrain Tools 210
Playing in the Sandbox 210
The From Contours Tool 211
The From Scratch Tool 212
The Smoove Tool 213
The Drape Tool 214
The Add Detail Tool 215
The Stamp and Flip Edge Tools 215
Terrain Extensions 217
Tools on Surface 217
JointPushPull 218
Soap Skin Bubble 220
Drop GC 221
Artisan 222
Additional Tools and Concepts 223
Intersect with Model 223
Construction Geometry 225
Chapter 13: SketchUp Conceptual Grading 226
Conceptual Grading 226
Modeling and Grading Tips 227
The Tutorials 227
Pedestrian Ramp 228
Driveway Ramp 230
Slopes and Grades 233
Building Entry Walk 235
Park Landform 246
Campus Quad—Area 1 255
Campus Quad—Area 2 258
Campus Quad—Area 3 262
Campus Quad—Area 4 277
Chapter 14: Complex Canopies 286
2D Plan to 3D Form 286
Simple Canopy Tutorial 287
Complex Canopy Tutorial 293
Chapter 15: Digital Elevation Modeling 299
Skill Level 299
Terrain Extensions 299
Dataset 299
3D Terrain Types 300
DEM Tutorial 300
Importing the CAD File 300
Generating Terrain with TopoShaper 301
Draping the Road 303
Modeling the Home 305
Positioning the Home and Walls 306
Generating the Proposed Grades 309
Depressing the Road 313
Completing the Model 313
Part 4: AutoCAD to SketchUp 317
Chapter 16: Overview of AutoCAD to SketchUp 318
General Overview 319
Organizing the AutoCAD File 319
Generating the Geometry 321
Arranging the Objects 323
Chapter 17: Organizing AutoCAD 326
AutoCAD Reorganization 327
Folder and File Structure 327
AutoCAD Base Files 328
External Reference Files 328
Isolating Surfaces 332
Closing Perimeters 333
Organizing Site Objects 334
Identifying the Objects 334
Creating AutoCAD Blocks 334
Placing Object Blocks on Layers 335
Write Block Surfaces and Objects 335
Flatwork File 335
Object Blocks 336
Convert to Blocks 336
Importing the Flatwork File 337
AutoCAD and SketchUp Units 337
The Flatwork Drawing File 338
Chapter 18: Modeling the AutoCAD Flatwork Base 339
Exploding the Flatwork Base 339
Problematic AutoCAD Lines 340
Overlapping and Short Lines 340
Arcs 342
Random Anomalies 342
Healing the AutoCAD Flatwork Base……342
Healing with the Line Tool 343
CAD Clean-Up Extensions 346
Working with Extensions 348
Troubleshooting Extensions 351
Size Limitations 351
Incomplete Faces 351
DynaSCAPE CAD Cleanup 352
Method Summaries 352
Next Steps 352
Chapter 19: Arranging the Model 356
Populating the Flatwork Base 356
Exploding the Objects 358
Importing Layers 359
Replacing the Components 360
Finishing Touches 367
Articulating the Buildings 367
Exchanging 3D Components 368
Conceptual Grading 370
Adding More Components 372
Making Adjustments 373
Adding New Details 375
Adding People and Cars 379
Index 381
About the Author :
DANIEL TAL, RLA, is a licensed landscape architect who freelances on a range of projects and consults on technology education and software development. He consults on SketchUp-related tools, conducts workshops and seminars on 3D modeling, and beta tests future software releases to assure that they meet the needs of professionals.
