Generating the Geometry

Fig. 16-4: The organized AutoCAD file containing only the linework needed to create a SketchUp file. Fig. 16-5: The Flatwork Base linework is organized into an AutoCAD base file. This is the first file with lines that is imported into SketchUp.

The two categories of information will be broken up into two separate AutoCAD files. These files are then imported into SketchUp.

One fi33 le contains the linework that defines the Flatwork Base (Fig. 16-5).

The second fi33 le contains the AutoCAD Blocks (Fig. 16-6).

For more information about organizing the AutoCAD files, see Chapter 17.

The AutoCAD linework that composes the Flatwork Base is imported into SketchUp first. The imported linework is then used to generate faces and surfaces (Fig. 16-7).

Fig. 16-6: AutoCAD blocks representing the site elements, furnishings, and vegetation. This is the second file imported into SketchUp.

Fig. 16-7: AutoCAD linework is imported into SketchUp (left) and used to generate faces (right) to create a SketchUp Flatwork Base.

There are two different methods you can use to heal the bases to create faces: Use the Line tool to heal faces.33 Use fi33 ve custom Ruby Scripts, known as AutoCAD Cleanup scripts, to create geometry from the AutoCAD linework.

After you create the base geometry, you can add color and Push/Pull surfaces to create the volumes and add detail (Fig. 16-8). Generating the geometry is reviewed in detail in Chapter 18, where you will learn to organize the AutoCAD Flatwork Base.

Fig. 16-8: The Flatwork Base is completed in SketchUp. Color and volume are added to the base.