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

Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design

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

Paul Cote, 2010 16

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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Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design

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 37

Harvard UniversityGraduate School of Design Paul Cote, 2010 38

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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