Simulation
Introduction
The Simulation cluster provides components that model dynamic processes on terrain surfaces. These tools help you understand how water and other phenomena interact with your terrain design over time.
Unlike static analysis tools that measure existing conditions, simulation components trace paths and accumulate effects based on physical principles like gravity and flow direction. This makes them invaluable for validating drainage designs and identifying potential issues before construction.
Component Usage
Please refer to the following sections for each component from this cluster.
Rain Simulation
This component simulates water flow across the terrain surface using gradient-based pathfinding. Starting from specified points, it traces the steepest descent path until reaching a local minimum or the terrain boundary.
| Param. | Abbr. | I/O | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mesh | M | Yes | Terrain mesh to run the simulation on. | |
Start | P | Yes | Start point(s) for the simulation, placed on or above the terrain. | |
Steps | S | No | Maximum number of simulation steps. Default: 100. | |
StepSize | D | No | Distance to move in each simulation step (world units). Default: 1.0. | |
Flowline | C | Polyline curves representing the simulated water flow paths. |
The simulation uses the terrain’s gradient (slope direction) at each step to determine the flow direction. This produces smooth, natural-looking flow paths that follow the steepest descent.
Flow simulation stops when:
- The maximum number of steps is reached
- A local minimum (depression) is encountered where all neighbors are higher
- The flow reaches the edge of the mesh
- The terrain becomes flat (no gradient)
Tip: Place start points at ridge lines, property corners, or areas of concern to visualize drainage patterns. Use smaller step sizes for more detailed flow paths on complex terrain.
Tips
- Validation: Use simulations to verify that your grading design achieves intended drainage patterns.
- Iteration: Run simulations after each major terrain edit to catch unintended consequences early.
- Visualization: Flow paths make excellent presentation graphics for communicating drainage concepts to clients.