SketchUp for Urban Planning!
SketchUp is the ultimate user friendly software for all kinds of 3D modeling and that includes spatial and urban planning . The SketchUp method of ‘push & pull’ modeling is a patented system. Its USP is the ease of converting the 2D surfaces into 3D faces by pushing and pulling the lines intuitively rather than tracing and vectorising on the imagery.
GIS and CAD have been the traditional 2 D & 3 D modeling software of landscape features, structures and buildings. Conventional 3D presentations take a long time to make as each point needs to be defined on the X and Y axis. Also, not everyone has the inclination and expertise in GIS and CAD. Above all, time is of critical essence when decision making is involved.
SketchUp has changed the speed of work and options to choose from. Planning involves a range of evaluation exercises. Analysis of the past, study of the present and projections for the future define all planning exercises. Preparation of alternative scenarios is important for the decision making process.
SketchUp helps do a quick job as realistic buildings, structures, skylines, terrain, street furniture, vehicles, plants and people can be made with much ease. More importantly, its integration with GIS allows more interactive simulation and visualization.
Planners use it for quick and informed decision making.
How?
Well, it is simple to use, easy to learn and fast to work with.
Complex geometric data is converted to visuals of the site/area/city which are understood by the planners and community. Alternative scenarios take minutes to generate instead of hours.
- Do you have a heritage conservation project with only old photographs of buildings and have to make the 3D of the historic zone?
- Do you have a flyover coming up in a congested urban zone and need to develop scenarios?
- Is there a highway cutting across a forest? Do you need a terrain model?
- Need alternative concept landscape plans for a new township?
- How is the neighborhood skyline changing due to new structures?
- Is CAD and GIS not your cup of tea?
- Are you creating a regional development plan?
For all this and much more, integrate SketchUp with GIS to get more end user friendly results for physical planning. SketchUp helps you give the 3D effect to geometric data, view the real time situation and develop scenarios.
Users of SketchUp vouch for the versatility of the software. How you want to use the software to achieve the end result is entirely up to the user. The range of possibilities:
- Import data from other formats – CAD, 3DS files, digital elevation models and raster data
- Export file into CAD, GIS ( multipatch or 3D symbology), rendering or presentation software. ( has add ons for export to 3d text, 3DS max, IRender, Kerkythea, RPS 3D PDF, Rp reports, Rp tools)
- Allow display settings like water marks, sketchy effects and 3D text
- Allow inclusion of camera and sun movement – important for any site planning exercise
- Create interactive 3D GIS plans for real time studies and impact evaluation
- Place your model on Google Earth
