Height Restriction Planes

[kurk]

Does anyone know if there is a way to create and display Height Restriction Planes (not sure if this is the correct terminology everyone uses?) such as 'height in relation to boundary regulations'? (eg 2m ht at bdy then 45 degree plane into site). Could this be visable in a 3d view, rolling along with the contours at the property boundary, indicating any areas where the building may fail and protrude through? Ideally this would semi-transparent... I can't seem to find any threads in the forum on this.

On a similar note is there a way of showing an overall maximum height restriction as semi-transparent entity on a contoured site as well? Can I simply copy the site toposurface up and give it a semi-transparent material/colour?

I am finally attempting to produce working drawings for our first fully Revit project and have enough of the basics to properly learn yet but these would be a cool touch! 8-)

Cheers

[sfaust]

There is not a tool for this specifically. You could try using in place massing families (or generic families with transparent materials for that matter) and just building them yourself. As far as copying the topo, you can do that, but in section you will have earth cut pattern under the highest toposurface, so it will look like your building is underground. Alternately, you could export the topo to ACAD, then re-import it and move it up and give it a transparent material.

[GS Fulton]

Your idea of copying the contour surface up the distance of the height restriction works great. I've been doing that for a while (if that is how heights are measured). I generally change the material of the top plane to glass.

George F

[trombe]

[QUOTE=kurk]Does anyone know if there is a way to create and display Height Restriction Planes (not sure if this is the correct terminology everyone uses?) such as 'height in relation to boundary regulations'? (eg 2m ht at bdy then 45 degree plane into site). Could this be visable in a 3d view, rolling along with the contours at the property boundary, indicating any areas where the building may fail and protrude through? Ideally this would semi-transparent... I can't seem to find any threads in the forum on this.

On a similar note is there a way of showing an overall maximum height restriction as semi-transparent entity on a contoured site as well? Can I simply copy the site toposurface up and give it a semi-transparent material/colour?


Hi Kurk,

I regularly have to do SAP ( Sunlight Access Plane) breach control illustrations ( also called recession planes, daylight access planes depending on the local TA) and the 8m and 10m height restrictions (WLG district plan).
I model whatever is appropriate for the situation by using a Generic Model based object in the form of a Sweep, along a named reference plane path.
I set up as many reference planes as needed, locked to the boundary in plan, and drawn co-planar with the mirror image of the topography in elevation ( a line drawn parallel with the relevant part of the topo at any given section of the topo).

I then sweep a 10 mm thick glass sheet along the path.
The sheet of glass morphs itself through your building, so whatever is breaching the SAP, (glass sheet) is now clearly visible and able to be measured.
Bit of a bummer that you have to sweep multiple times if you have topo that is so variable that it requires it, but otherwise, you can render what you need, show on sample elevations, and using Visibility Graphics, you can quickly turn on and off what you need to while preparing SK /resource consent stuff, PD / DD / CDs.
Also can experiment with differing colours for the glass for preso stuff to suit your personal choice.
Hope this is of some use
regards
trombe

edit:
see attached situation for some additions & alterations to a dwelling in the Hutt.
Part of job is to add a new 2 storey wing at one end, major mods to ground floor and add to the first floor in the middle.
The SAP breach is shown as the upper 15 degree section of new gable end roof that might have been, but client instructions to be under SAP 37.5 degree ( in this case), so had to chop off the gable end and configure a 28 degree pitch to match ground floor extg roof.
Not what we desire as designers for sure, and I'd rather take on the TA but.....

I almost never model the vertical section ( of say glass sheet) on the boundary line finding it is never helpful; to the cause anyway, but you can add the top section for height control as needed and with some hidden line images and a couple of rendered ones, find that the images are compelling to the TA and as long as you have done your job well, are able to be argued with the planners successfully.

I like the earlier suggestion of the copied topography and turning it into water or glass or whatever for transparency, however, you will almost always need to edit the surface in terms of cutting off bits / regions that get in the way of clarity for understanding ( of a presentation drawing) , so you should end up with only a small piece of it
I imagine the topo section / region idea is the same to dimension as the generic model as the end result is always to show and or prove a dimension for consent.

[kurk]

Thanks for the help guys, sounds good. I will have a decent crack at it when I get the chance (I have been slightly sidetracked on some more basic Revit processes for now! - as I said this is only my first project!). The 8m overall maximum height restriction sounds simple enough thanks to you guys but I will obviously need to play around a bit with the sweeps along a contour based path.

I will endeavour to inform you how I get on though, if I'm not asking more questions!

Thanks again.

[Steve Hutana]

Creating recession planes

The trick is for the recession plane to be offset the required height above the "existing" ground line on the boundary which is undulating and to follow the boundary line.
Up front confession here. My way will only work on a straight boundary line. "If" your boundary line in plan is curved then use the force Luke!

To acheive recession planes I do the following.

1) Create section on boundary and a second perp to first section through ctr of site
2) create temporary wall parallel with and "on" boundary line concerned
3) Open section and set work plane (pick plane) "select wall) this will alter work plane to vertical
4) under "model" create solid wall with sweep
5) Map path on the section (lines will not snap to contour line, "but" you will be able to draw line virtually on top of the contour line ie (within 1mm so to speak)
6) Under profile options go to section B and create profile there (note - first create just the height above the boundary location and the angled line ie (35 , 45 ,55 deg) . Next offset out say 30mm.
7) Change material to glass and finish wall sweep.

What you will end up with is a "continuous" recession plane that follows the "actual" contour of the existing G.L with consistant height and angle.


Trust this method helps someone in Revit land!