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Getting Started with VNS 3: Roads & Buildings
Getting Started with VNS 3: Roads & Buildings

Part 7E. Cabins

1. All we have left are the cabins. Go to the 3D Object Task Mode, select 3D Objects, and Add Component from Gallery.

A screenshot of Visual Nature Studio 3.0 software showing a right-click context menu with options, including "Add Component from Gallery" selected. A project named Cabin7.proj appears in the window title.

2.Go to the Building page in the Component Gallery and load the Log Cabin.

Screenshot of a 3D object component gallery showing various building models such as a commercial building, detached house, industrial building, and log cabin. A cursor hovers over the log cabin model.

3. We’re going to use a vector to position the cabins, so answer No when asked if you want to center the cabin’s position in the current DEM bounds.

A dialog box titled "Load 3D Object" asks if the loaded 3D object's geographic position should be centered in current DEM bounds, with options "Yes" and "No". The cursor is hovering over "No".

4. Expand the 3D Objects category in the upper Scene-at-a-Glance pane. Expand the Vectors category in the lower S@G tab. Drag the Cabins vector to the Log Cabin 3D Object.

A screenshot of Visual Nature Studio 3.0 interface displaying a project with 3D Materials, 3D Objects, and Log Cabin (3D Object) selected in the project tree. Cursor points at "Log Cabin (3D Object).

5. Use the Cabins vector for Position and disable Geographic Instance rendering.

Dialog box with the title "Log Cabin (3D Object)" asks if user wants to add cabins (Vector) for position or alignment, with three buttons: "Position," "Alignment," and "Cancel." A cursor points to the "Position" button.
Dialog box titled "Log Cabin" with the message "Disable Geographic Instance rendering?" and buttons for "Yes" and "No." A cursor points to the "Yes" button.

6. Switch the Cabin Plan view back to realtime mode and zoom in a notch. The cabins are active and show up highlighted in yellow.

A computer screen displaying a design plan labeled "Cabin Plan." The plan features yellow rectangles, curved blue and green dashed lines, and various symbols and icons.

7. There may be a delay during interactive operations because the cabins are set to Preview Detail, which can slow response when several high-polygon 3D Objects are in view. Once we get them aligned, we can switch to the faster Box Preview setting.

Screenshot of a 3D object editor showing a log cabin model. Features include name field, preview options, and vector placement. Model details: 8937 vertices, 8365 polygons, 11 materials.

8. All the cabins have the same odd heading. Go to the Size & Position page and select the Rotate tab. The cabins have Rotate Y (Heading) value of -19°. Change it to 90°.

3D Object Editor interface for positioning. Shows Latitude, Longitude, and Elevation settings with options for geographic, ground, and vector elevation. Displays controls for rotating and moving the object.

9. The cabins are now all facing west.

Screenshot of a software with a "Cabin Plan" title. The display shows a diagram featuring lines, arrows, grids, and blocks, possibly representing a layout or design schematics.

10. Another great feature in VNS is 3D Object Alignment, which makes housing developments like this quick to set up. Go to the Align page and select Align Heading to Vector.

A software interface for "3D Object Editor - Log Cabin" shows various alignment options, including heading, vertical, and vector alignment settings with checkboxes, radio buttons, and dropdown menus.

11. The cabins will align their Z axis to the placement vector by default.

A computer-generated cabin plan displaying small gray cabin structures along a curved path on an orange background, with dashed and dotted lines indicating various planning measurements.

12. The placement vector alignment is close, but we want the cabins aligned to the road. Select Align to this Vector in the Vector section and pick the Cabin Road from the dropdown list.

Screenshot of the 3D Object Editor window featuring options for heading alignment, vertical alignment, vector alignment, and a dropdown menu for selecting alignment to a specific vector named "Cabin Road.

13. The cabins are now aligned to the Cabin Road.

A computer-generated image showing a cabin plan with a winding path marked by small rectangular structures. The screen includes various tool icons at the top.

14. Go to the General page and change the Preview to Box. This should speed up operations a bit.

A software interface titled "3D Object Editor - Log Cabin" with settings for preview, vertices, polygons, materials, vector placement, and options to enable or disable shadows.

15. Save the project and render a Cabin Plan preview.

A top-down view of a cabin plan map, showing a curved road with several cabins and a bridge crossing over a wooded area.

16. Open the Cabin Final view.

A computer-generated topographical map showing two red structures connected by a dotted path, with various terrain features and pathways highlighted.

17. Save the project and render a preview.

A computer-generated aerial view depicting a forested landscape with a winding road and a small body of water.
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