Terrain Models: From Geographic Data Sources to
Gantry Mill
Prepared for Association of Professional Modelmakers Conference
March 28 2010
1Paul Cote, 2010
Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Harvard University Graduate School of
Design
2Paul Cote, 2010
Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
250 Architecture 50 Urban Planning
100 Urban Design 100 Landscape
500 Design Students
3Paul Cote, 2010
Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
GSD Studio Culture:
75% of Student effort focused on one studio problem
100 Studios per year at the GSD
Focus on representing, understanding, modifying and evaluating places: Appearance & performance
Many Many Models are Made!!!
An intense replica of the greater world of design
A Knowledge Engine
4Paul Cote, 2010
Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Studio Information Lifecycle
Synthesis / Study:MapsDigital 3D ModelsPhysical 3D ModelsSimulation Models
Presentation Materials:Maps3D ModelsAnimationsDocument ationSources / Bibliography
Start Semester Finish
Bulk of Knowledge is Lost
End of Term
Small Fraction Suited for Re-Use Many Mysterious
Presentation Documents
Collect Information:Site PhotosGIS DataCAD DataDocumentsProcess Understanding
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Sharing / BuildingSocietal Knowledge
New Useful Understanding
Lifecycle of Information in GeoDesign
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Evaluate:Performance
& Impacts Of Alternatives
Terrain
Vegetation
Built Systems
Ground Plan
Author / Modify / Synthesize:
Materiality, Lighting
3D Geometry / Views, Massing, Shadows
Physical 3d Models:Laser Cut, Milled, etc
Visualize / Present
Diagrammatic Representation
Discover, Obtain, Transform & Integrate existing Information
Existing Information About Places and
Performance(In-House or Internet)
Compile Data /Create Schema:
Information Infrastructure
Boards, Animations
Reuseable Data, Schema,
Procedures
Collaborate /Share:
Present:
Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Geographic Information System (e.g. ArcGIS)
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Conceptualize Model Extents
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Context
Surround
Design Frame
Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Sources of Aerial Photography
Google Earth Pro: (earth.google.com)• International• Easy to Use• Rich Time Series
U.S. Geological Survey (www.seamless.usgs.gov)• Very High Resolution• Most Current• Georeferenced
Bing Maps (www.bing.com/maps)• Oblique
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Conceptualize Model Extents
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Context Frame:• Neighborhood• Approaches• Horizon: • Views:
• From• of • Across
Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Conceptualize Model Extents
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Surround:Require terrain model to be logically consistent with design and context
Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Conceptualize Model Extents
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Design Frame: Limit of intervention
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Design Frame: Existing Groundplan
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Digital Elevation Models
Broad-Scale elevation models, gathered by aerial survey are ordinarily made available as rasters.
• US Geological Survey (seamless.usgs.gov)10 Meter Resolution, National Scope
• NASA Shuttle Topography: (http://srtm.csi.cgiar.org/) 90 Meter Resolution, Worldwide, GeoTIFF format
• MassGIS: Statewide Elevation Model:5 Meter Resolution. Statewide scope
• NOAA Massachusetts Bay Bathymetry:30 Meter (underwater only)
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Digital Elevation ModelsUS Geological Survey (seamless.usgs.gov)10 Meter Resolution, National Scope
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Digital Elevation Models
NASA Shuttle Topography: (http://srtm.csi.cgiar.org/) 90 Meter Resolution, Worldwide, GeoTIFF format
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Digital Elevation ModelsMassGIS: Statewide Elevation Model:5 Meter Resolution
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Digital Elevation ModelsNOAA Massachusetts Bay Bathymetry:30 Meter (underwater only)
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Digital Elevation ModelsMassGIS Terrestial + NOAA Bathymetry
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
NOAA Navigation Charts
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Generate Contours from DEM
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Export Reference Image with Frames
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Develop Conceptual Design
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Prepare Conceptual Groundplan Manuscript
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Import Contours & Images to 3d Modeling Tool (e.g. Rhinoceros3D)
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Draw Critical Terrain Descriptors (3d Breaklines)
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
3D View of Breaklines
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Parametric Control of 3D Curves
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Convert Curves to PolyLines
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Constrained Delaunay Triangulation(provided by RhinoTerrain Plugin)
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Constrained Delaunay Triangulation(provided by RhinoTerrain Plugin)
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Constrained Delaunay Triangulation(provided by RhinoTerrain Plugin)
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Constrained Delaunay Triangulation(provided by RhinoTerrain Plugin)
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design Paul Cote, 2010 39
Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Scale to Inches and Set up Stock
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Export Mesh as Stereo Lithography Exchange (STL)
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Import Mesh into Mill Driver Application(e.g. MasterCAM)
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Set Up Stock Dimensions
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Choose Tool for Rough Milling
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Simulate Rough Tool Path
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Choose Tool for Surface Finish
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Simulate Finish Tool Path
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Final Contour Cut Traces Edge of Model
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Model Checked by Milling TA
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Double Check Tool Dimensions
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Mount Foam Stock to Milling Table
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Register Mill Gantry to Material
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Rough Surface
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Tool Change
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Fine Surface
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Final Cut Trims Model
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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design
Milled Model Ready for Finishing and Detailing
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