Landscape Design Systems - Toolkit

1. Terrain Sandbox Tool

A custom tool that facilitates terrain design operations through modelling automation, analysis and optimization.

This tool is part of the computational tools repository @White Arkitekter

1.1 Terrain Creation and Modification

The tool takes all types of objects (points, curves, complex surfaces, meshes) and blend them all together into a fine terrain model, making the process of creating, modifying and exploring complex terrains significantly more efficient and accessible for all designers regardless their level of modelling skills.

1.2 Landscape Information Modelling (LIM)

The tool utilizes Landscape Information Modelling approach by featuring a set of smart objects that carry metadata which informs the tool how should they affect the terrain.

For example, a path with a certain width, or a building pad with a certain slope where the width and the slope are the metadata.

1.3 Slope Analysis and Optimization

The tool allows the user to monitor and optimize the slope of the terrain in real-time to ensure better decision making through the design process, considering the importance of the slope factor in landscape design.

1.4 Cut & Fill Analysis and Optimization

The tool allows the user to monitor and optimize the cut & fill amounts globally and locally in real-time, along with the balance, this ensures that the designer is aware of the consequences of each design decision on the cut & fill calculations in real-time.

1.5 Boundaries

The tool allows the designer to divide the project into boundaries and toggle between them for better local investigation with higher resolution, this limits the cut & fill calculations to the active boundary as well.

1.5 Areas and Localization

This feature allows the users to split the terrain into different areas using 2d cutters, this allows for handling different areas in different ways according to the design requirement, like applying different materials or performing analysis on a specific area.

2. Informed Spots Tool

This tool enhances the process of adjusting spot elevations in a landscape or urban context through:

• Automation of points adding and modifying.
• Creating a live network of slopes between the spots.
• Height and Slope monitoring to highlight slope connections larger than a specific %

This tool is part of the computational tools repository @White Arkitekter

3. 2D drawings to 3D Model Automation

This method automates the creation of complex 3d landscape models from 2d curves through a set of rules to define:

• The type of the landscape element (hard / soft).
• The material of the element.
• The geometrical description (height / width / offset).

Applications in Projects

This section features a selected application for the toolkit in a project @White Arkitekter.

Bergen Bystrand - True Blue

“White won the international competition for the planning and design of Bergen's new city beach and city park.

The nearly one kilometer long parkway will become the city's new landmark, where residents can experience the different properties of water and nature in all seasons for the next hundred years. Here, people, nature, animals and water will be woven together in a spectacular and sustainable urban environment.”