Terrain height

Terrain height

Terrain height is the whole of differences of terrain elevation in a given area, the quantitative measurement of vertical elevation change in a landscape. Terrain is used here as a general term in physical geography, referring to the lay of the land. This is usually expressed in terms of the elevation, slope, and orientation of terrain features. Terrain height - as element of a terrain - affects surface water flow and distribution. Over a large area, it can affect weather and climate patterns.

In overlays, the user can select two types of elevation, the digital terrain model (DTM) and ditital surface model (DSM). A DTM represents the bare ground surface without any objects like plants and buildings. In contrast; a DSM represents the earth's surface including all objects (e.g. houses, trees, etc.) on it.

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Terrain height in the Tygron Engine

In the Tygron Engine, as well as in real life, terrain height can be of high importance. The terrain of an area largely determines its suitability for constructions: flatter, alluvial plains are suitable, while elevated slopes are not suitable for constructions. Adjusting terrain height can alter the terrain type; if lowered enough, the ground level will drop below the ground water level, creating open (polder) water. A lower terrain is more prone to flooding, a flat terrain is immediately suitable for constructions. When an area is low and flat, this makes for an interesting water storage challenge if the area is build up with constructions. Terrain height has thus an influence on the visual representation of an area, the suitability for constructions, the terrain type and the water storage.

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Adding or removing terrain height

File:TerrainHeightBrushPanel1.jpg

Drawing Terrain Height in 3D world

When a project is created in the Tygron Engine, all terrain is flat. To add relief in the form of terrain height, a specific tool is available - the height tool brush.

The Terrain Height Brush panel

Below is an image of the Terrain Height Brush Panel. This tool looks like the more common brush panel, but is adjusted to be able to draw in terrain height in the 3D world.

File:TerrainHeightBrushPanel2.jpg

Terrain Height Brush Panel

Start/ stop drawing

The top button on the panel is called "Start Drawing" by default when loading the panel. This first button (de)activates the Terrain Height brush panel, by selecting the button named "Start Drawing" the rest of the options become available on the panel. With the brush panel activated, the user can start "painting". Selecting this button again - now named "Stop Drawing" - deactivates the panel, greying out the options.

• TerrainHeightBrushPanel3.jpg

  Terrain height brush panel inactive

• TerrainHeightBrushPanel2.jpg

  Terrain height brush panel active

Radius

The first slider from the top is called "Radius". The radius slider refers to how big the area is that the cursor will affect when changing the terrain's height. The more to the right the slider is positioned, the larger the area of effect is.

• TerrainHeightBrushPanelRadius.jpg

  Terrain height brush panel radius slider

Press

The second slider from the top is called "Press" - for "Pressure". The press slider refers to how fast the area will be affected when changing the terrain's height. The more to the right the slider is positioned, the faster the area will adjust, making it possible to quickly alter terrain. If the slider is positioned more to the left side, the height effect can be finely adjusted.

• TerrainHeightBrushPanelPress.jpg

  Terrain height brush panel press slider

Brush Types

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Clear

Located under the "Radius" and "Press" sliders are the brush type buttons. The first (top left) one is the "Clear" button. With this button, any area that the brush 'paints' will return to it's default flat state. Selecting this button, and then dragging the cursor over the area with the left mouse button pressed, will bring all terrain height in the area back to it's original state: flat.

• TerrainHeightBrushPanelClear.jpg

  Terrain height brush panel clear button

Flatten

The brush type button on the right of the "Clear" button is called "Flatten". With the "Flatten" button, any area that the brush 'paints' will be flattened while maintaining most of its height. This is useful when placing constructions on elevated or lowered terrain, as constructions can only be placed on flat surfaces.

• TerrainHeightBrushPanelFlatten.jpg

  Terrain height brush panel flatten button

Raise

The brush type button below the "Clear" button is called "Raise". With the "Raise" button any area that the brush 'paints' will be raised in elevation, in order to create terrain height, such as hills or other relief.

• TerrainHeightBrushPanelRaise.jpg

  Terrain height brush panel raise button

Lower

The brush type button below the "Flatten" button is called "Lower". With the "Lower" button any area that the brush 'paints' will be lowered in elevation, in order to create terrain effects such as valleys or even open (polder) water.

• TerrainHeightBrushPanelLower.jpg

  Terrain height brush panel lower button

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Reset Changes

The next button is called "Reset Changes". This button makes it possible to quickly undo any changes. With this button any changes that are not applied yet will be reverted.

• TerrainHeightBrushPanelResetChanges.jpg

  Terrain height brush panel reset changes button

Apply Changes

The last button, on the bottom of the panel, is called "Apply Changes". This button confirms changes made with the terrain height brush. After applying these changes it is not possible to revert them anymore.

• TerrainHeightBrushPanelApplyChanges.jpg

  Terrain height brush panel apply changes button

Adding terrain height

How to add terrain height:

1. Open the Terrain Height Brush Panel
2. Select "Start Drawing"
3. Adjust the Radius and Press sliders as desired
4. Select the brush type Raise, Flatten or Lower
5. Adjust terrain height by pressing and holding the left mouse button while drawing in the 3D world
6. Confirm the changes by selecting "Apply changes"

Removing terrain height

How to remove terrain height:

1. Open the Terrain Height Brush Panel
2. Select "Start Drawing"
3. Adjust the Radius and Press sliders as desired
4. Select the brush type Clear
5. Adjust terrain height by pressing and holding the left mouse button while drawing in the 3D world
6. Confirm the changes by selecting "Apply changes"

How to change terrain height

Changing terrain height is identical to adding or removing terrain height. The only difference is that the change takes place on already existing terrain elevation. It might be desired to adjust already existing terrain height; for instance to flatten hills in order to make constructions possible.