Google SketchUp for Site Design : A Guide to Modeling Site Plans, Terrain and Architecture

by Tal, Daniel

• ISBN13: 9780470345252
• ISBN10: 047034525X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-08-24
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

The Book will detail the power and capabilities of Google SketchUp to the specific needs of landscape architects. The book will include techniques that best incorporate SketchUp into a firm including: 1) how to efficiently use SketchUp within project scopes, fees and services; 2) how to integrate SketchUp into each design phase: schematic, design, design development and construction documents; 3) how to use step-by-step techniques for modeling a variety of different project types including terrain modeling; and 4) understanding the system requirements and limitations of the software.

Author Biography

Daniel Tal, ASLA, is a practicing landscape architect in Denver, Colorado, and a SketchUp specialist who conducts workshops and seminars on SketchUp for landscape architects and architects. Daniel also consults on SketchUp tools and future SketchUp developments to meet the needs of landscape architects and architects, and helps Beta test SketchUp releases.

Table of Contents

Introduction to SketchUp	p. 1
How to Use This Book	p. 2
Who Can Use This Book	p. 2
Learning Tutorials	p. 4
Downloadable Tutorial Models	p. 4
Downloadable Pre-Made Components	p. 7
The Four Parts	p. 7
Introduction to SketchUp	p. 7
Introduction to SketchUp Process Modeling	p. 8
Sandbox Tools	p. 8
AutoCAD to SketchUp	p. 10
SketchUp Basics	p. 11
Geometry	p. 11
Simple Geometry	p. 11
Complex Geometry	p. 12
Healing Faces	p. 12
Subdividing Faces	p. 13
Sticky Geometry	p. 13
Face Count	p. 13
Basic SketchUp Tools	p. 14
Drawing and Modification Tools	p. 15
Additional Tools	p. 16
The Value Control Box	p. 18
Styles	p. 19
Navigation and 3D Inference System	p. 20
Drafting with Edges	p. 22
Model Organization	p. 24
Components and Groups	p. 26
Components Instances	p. 28
Editing Components	p. 28
Adjusting the Component/Group View	p. 30
Components within Components	p. 32
Components and Layers	p. 34
Pre-Made Components	p. 35
Free SketchUp Bonus Pack Components	p. 35
FormFonts Components	p. 37
SketchUcation and Google SketchUp Component Forums	p. 37
Component Forums	p. 37
Google 3D Warehouse	p. 37
Component Library	p. 37
Problem Solving	p. 39
Problem-Solving Tutorials	p. 40
Typical SketchUp Problems	p. 40
Different Results on Different Computers	p. 41
SketchUp Freezes	p. 41
Auto Save	p. 41
Subdivide	p. 41
Support Sites	p. 42
Ruby Scripts	p. 43
Downloading Ruby Scripts	p. 44
Installing Ruby Scripts	p. 45
Activating Ruby Scripts	p. 45
Troubleshooting an Installation	p. 46
SketchUp Process Modeling	p. 47
Introduction to SketchUp Process Modeling	p. 48
The Built Environment	p. 48
Surfaces	p. 49
Objects	p. 49
2D = 3D	p. 50
Drafting the Flatwork Base	p. 51
Drawing the Base	p. 52
Reviewing the Drawing	p. 55
Applying Material and Color	p. 56
Organizing Models	p. 57
Adding Volumes	p. 58
Lower the Road	p. 58
Creating the Building	p. 59
Making a Roof	p. 60
Push/Pulling the Steps	p. 60
Push/Pulling the Walls	p. 61
Adding Objects to the Flatwork Base	p. 61
Organizing Components	p. 62
Creating Component Layers	p. 62
Component Tools	p. 63
Adding Components to the Flatwork Base	p. 66
Adding Component Windows and Doors	p. 68
Adjusting the Building Components	p. 69
Reviewing the Completed Model	p. 69
An Advanced Example	p. 71
Modeling Your Own Designs	p. 72
Detailed Site Plan Modeling	p. 73
Using Site Plans	p. 73
Importing Site Plans	p. 74
Imported-Image Resolution	p. 75
Placing the Plan Image on a Layer	p. 75
Scaling the Image	p. 75
Preparing the Drafting Trace	p. 76
Drafting Tips	p. 77
Drafting Order	p. 78
Create the Flatwork Base Group	p. 85
Adding Color and Texture	p. 86
Adding Volume	p. 87
Road and Curb	p. 87
Steps and Plaza	p. 88
Planter Walls	p. 89
Ramp	p. 90
Planter Walls Adjustments	p. 91
Entry Sign Wall	p. 91
Buildings as Components	p. 91
Building Volumes	p. 92
Adding Detail to Volumes	p. 93
Detailing the Sign	p. 93
Detailing the Planters	p. 95
Custom Site Furnishings	p. 98
The Modeling Process	p. 98
Components within Components	p. 99
The Follow Me Tool	p. 101
Model Organization	p. 104
Tutorials	p. 104
The Bollard	p. 105
The Pedestrian Light	p. 107
The Modern Bench	p. 110
The Park Bench	p. 111
The Decorative Planter Bench	p. 117
The Decorative Rail	p. 121
The Handrail	p. 123
Custom Architecture	p. 125
Sculpting the Building	p. 125
Building the Mass	p. 125
Making Window and Door Components	p. 126
Problem Solving the Window Components	p. 128
Copy and Insert	p. 129
Copy and Paste Between Instances	p. 129
Make Unique	p. 130
Tutorials	p. 130
Setting the Workspace	p. 131
Adding Mass to Buildings 1 and 2	p. 131
Adding Mass to Building 3	p. 134
Window Components	p. 136
Door Components	p. 140
Balcony Component	p. 141
Arranging and Presenting the Model	p. 145
Arrangement Methods	p. 146
The Accuracy Method	p. 146
The Speed Method	p. 146
Logical Order and Adjustments	p. 147
Buildings	p. 147
3D Vegetation	p. 147
Furnishing Components	p. 152
Creating and Exporting Scenes	p. 153
Selecting Your Scenes	p. 153
Plan Views and Elevations	p. 154
People and Cars	p. 154
Trees and Scenes	p. 154
Adding Sky	p. 155
Exporting Scenes and Shadows	p. 155
Troubleshooting Shadows	p. 155
Architectural Tutorial	p. 160
Working with Arcs and Circles	p. 160
Hidden Geometry	p. 161
Components and Faceted Surfaces	p. 162
The Courthouse Tutorial	p. 164
Drafting the Floor Plate	p. 165
Adding Volume	p. 168
Adding the Custom Components	p. 175
Arranging the Components on the Building	p. 180
Adding Detail to the Building	p. 185
The Sandbox Tools	p. 189
Introduction to the Sandbox Tools	p. 190
Playing in the Sandbox	p. 190
The From Contours Tool	p. 190
The From Scratch Tool	p. 192
The Smoove Tool	p. 193
The Drape Tool	p. 194
The Add Detail Tool	p. 195
The Stamp and Flip Edge Tools	p. 195
Ruby Scripts and Sandbox Tools	p. 197
Tools on Surface	p. 197
Joint Push Pull	p. 198
Soap Skin Bubble	p. 200
Drop Ruby	p. 201
Simplify Contours	p. 202
Additional Tools and Concepts	p. 203
Intersect with Model	p. 203
Construction Geometry	p. 205
SketchUp Conceptual Grading	p. 206
Conceptual Grading	p. 206
Modeling and Grading Tips	p. 207
The Tutorials	p. 207
Pedestrian Ramp	p. 208
Driveway Ramp	p. 210
Slopes and Grades	p. 213
Building Entry Walk	p. 215
Park Landform	p. 226
Campus Quad-Area 1	p. 235
Campus Quad-Area 2	p. 238
Campus Quad-Area 3	p. 242
Campus Quad-Area 4	p. 257
Complex Canopies	p. 266
2D Plan to 3D Form	p. 266
Simple Canopy Tutorial	p. 267
Complex Canopy Tutorial	p. 273
Sandbox Architecture	p. 279
The Drape Tool	p. 279
Working with Drape	p. 279
Troubleshooting Drape	p. 284
Sandbox Building Tutorial	p. 284
AutoCAD to SketchUp	p. 293
Overview of AutoCAD to SketchUp	p. 294
General Overview	p. 295
Organizing the AutoCAD File	p. 295
Generating the Geometry	p. 297
Arranging the Objects	p. 299
Organizing AutoCAD	p. 302
AutoCAD Reorganization	p. 303
Folder and File Structure	p. 303
AutoCAD Base Files	p. 304
External Reference Files	p. 304
Isolating Surfaces	p. 308
Closing Perimeters	p. 309
Organizing Site Objects	p. 310
Write Block Surfaces and Objects	p. 311
Importing the Flatwork File	p. 313
AutoCAD and SketchUp Units	p. 313
The Flatwork Drawing File	p. 314
Modeling the AutoCAD Flatwork Base	p. 315
Exploding the Flatwork Base	p. 315
Problematic AutoCAD Lines	p. 316
Overlapping and Short Lines	p. 316
Arcs	p. 318
Random Anomalies	p. 318
Healing the AutoCAD Flatwork Base	p. 318
Healing with the Line Tool	p. 319
AutoCAD Clean-Up Ruby Scripts	p. 322
Working with Ruby Scripts	p. 324
Troubleshooting Ruby Scripts	p. 327
Method Summaries	p. 328
Next Steps	p. 328
Arranging the Model	p. 331
Populating the Flatwork Base	p. 331
Exploding the Objects	p. 333
Importing Layers	p. 334
Replacing the Components	p. 335
Finishing Touches	p. 342
Articulating the Buildings	p. 342
Exchanging 3D Components	p. 343
Conceptual Grading	p. 345
Adding More Components	p. 347
Making Adjustments	p. 348
Adding New Details	p. 350
Adding People and Cars	p. 354
Index	p. 355
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