ArchiTerra 3.08 - Network First License

This third revision of the well-known, popular Cigraph plug-in retains the basic philosophy intact… ArchiTerra was conceived and is still being developed to provide the designer with a rapid tool for representing the context, environmental and urban planning and 3D terrain model management. This third revision of the well-known, popular Cigraph plug-in retains the basic philosophy intact…

ArchiTerra was conceived and is still being developed to provide the designer with a rapid tool for representing the context, environmental and urban planning and 3D terrain model management. What is not obvious, however, is the method employed to organise and manage data, completely different from previous versions, paving the way for the introduction of new functions and making every operation updateable and modifiable by exploiting the dynamism of Boolean operations.

Characteristics After downloading the free plug in (from the Demo or Updates section on the left), open the compressed file and place the directory it contains in the add-on directory in the ArchiCad directory. The next time the programme is started up, there will be a new toolbox enabling you to create terrain models totally compatible with ArchiCad.

The ArchiTerra 3 package consists of three elements: - the plug-in itself - the dedicated library directory - the manual, accessible directly from ArchiTerra help. The default help language is English. To have the help file in Italian, just download the Italian manual in .pdf and use it to replace the English file in the ArchiTerra directory. As there are numerous modifications, we recommend even experts in the previous version to read the manual carefully.

Work Method The first thing you need are the points which will represent the edges of the mesh ArchiTerra will create. This mesh is totally compatible with ArchiCad meshes and of the same nature, but with many more additional functions. Points can be imported from a text or .dxf file (with the possibility of using filters or restricting the area of interest if the number is excessive), or placed directly using the Point tool, perhaps directly on top of an image imported into the ArchiCad map view. The points can be linked together and then the terrain can be processed.

You can still take contour lines as your starting point. If they do not come from a .dxf file, they can be drawn directly using the ArchiCad tools (polylines, arcs and splines). The idea is to first draw the path of the contour graphically with the immediacy and potentiality of the 2D tools, then convert these graphic primitives into Points and Constraints.

First innovation: the points can now also be exported in .txt format, so it is easier to transfer the modifications made to the project. With the Contour tool, ArchiTerra 3 provides various possibilities for controlling the definition of the area undergoing 3D processing (that mass of imported points are not necessarily all actually of interest). At this point, the mesh is processed and the parameters of the colours and different materials for the Map, Section/Elevation and 3D views are assigned. Once the terrain has been constructed, the image can be improved by displaying the primary and secondary contours and assigning up to four colours which will be shaded according to the altitude of the terrain, depending on the intervals defined and the step of the contour lines. This is the new Show Depth tool.

Let's now take a quick look at the many possibilities ArchiTerra 3 provides to enrich the elements on the terrain model. The Plateau tool has been enhanced and can now be used to work with sloping plateaux. For this and for the Road tool, there is a new interface and the possibility of managing the scarps more accurately. In the latter case, these follow the modifications applied with the Road Longitudinal Section tool which now provides the profiles of the right and left sides of the road.

As well as these improved functions, a Pavement has been introduced. Unlike the Road, this rises up above the mesh according to the thickness set. However, the most important innovation is that roads and pavements are no longer constrained to constant development along an axis, but can take any form (simply draw them with a fill) and are completely editable node by node, including from the 3D window. It isn't difficult to see how easy it is to create junctions, widenings, etc. Difficult to believe? Then try creating a skate/snowboard track with breathtaking parabolic curves.

As well as the usual functions to automatically create basins of water on the mesh reaching up to the altitude indicated, personalize the colours of a number of areas (even if superimposed) of terrain and rapidly construct buildings (with hip roof) for an urban fabric, ArchiTerra 3 also offers a new tool to randomly generate trees, rocks and terrains to enhance the project with diversified natural elements. We will not linger on the Wall and Retainer Wall tools, but these too are completely editable, including in 3D view, and the retainer wall, as well as having a configurable cross-section, enables excavations to be limited in space as happens in real life…

The tools depicted here are used to calculate the volume of terrain moved on the original mesh, to unlink from the mesh the elements involved in its modification in order to restore the conditions prior to the modification, to modify the display of the layers ArchiTerra 3 creates to manage the dynamic Boolean operations and to modify the axes involved in shifting the nodes of an element (useful in the 3D view). These tools are extremely useful in managing the model and are described in detail in the manual.

The last part of the toolbox relates to updating of the model, fundamental after modifying the elements on the terrain, with a powerful Spot Heights tool (fundamental for transferring a map with spot heights to the project), a Gravity tool which positions elements directly at the altitude of the mesh in the point indicated and a Camera to process routes directly on the terrain. Last in the toolbox are the general settings for the various dialog boxes and a link to the User Manual.

Requires ArchiCAD 13, ArchiCAD 12, ArchiCAD 11, ArchiCAD 10, ArchiCAD 9, or ArchiCAD 8 / 8.1



Please note:
Cigraph plug-ins now use a protection key/dongle. Configuring a new dongle or adding a new plug-in to an existing dongle can take a full business day for Cigraph to complete. Plug-ins can be used on any ArchiCAD station and are no longer limited to use with only one ArchiCAD dongle. Single and network usage are not possible on the same Cigraph dongle. A single Cigraph dongle can support up to 10 different individual Cigraph plug-ins at the same time. Or, it can be used to support up to 5 different network plug-ins.This plug-in does not support academic/keyless ArchiCAD versions, ArchiCAD Start Edition, or Constructor. If you serialize this to a PayPerUse key you will lose the ability to use your Cigraph add-on when your PayPerUse time runs out. CAD Garage will not accept returns of this product if it does not work with them. You are encouraged to contact CAD Garage if you have questions on compatibility.