2.1.1 Site Conditions (Google 3D Map Tile)

Available with the following Subscriptions: All Subscriptions
Available for the following Project Roles: Editor, Admin

This article covers Site Conditions. A Site Condition is required in order to edit the default Google map terrain and is required for earthwork operations or removals of default 3D map objects like buildings and trees. A Site Condition is essentially a user created "piece of the map" for a Project with a Google 3D map type. Once a piece of the map is captured as a Site Condition, it can be scheduled to a Milestone like any other object.  

How to Create a New Site Condition

There are multiple ways to start the creation of a Site Condition:

1. Extract from Terrain: Go to Terrain → Extract Site Condition (1) to define the area you want to trim.

2. Create from the Tree: Add a new Site Condition directly under the Site Condition folder in the tree (4).

3. Automatic Creation: A Site Condition is automatically created for all earthwork, matching the footprint of all earthwork operations. Go to Terrain → Earthwork (2) and choose an operation from the Add Operation tab (3); after creating the operation the Automatic Site Condition will be created or updated.
   
   
    

4. When creating a Site Condition manually, the footprint will need to be sketched. Click on the map to start the Sketch and sketch the area you want to extract as a Site Condition. Click Confirm to finalize the Sketch.
   
   
    

5. The 3D map geometry in the designated area will be removed from the terrain, and a new Site Condition will appear in the tree. The 3D Geometry will be hidden by default, but this can be changed so that the Site Condition can be sequenced to any Milestone. From the Timeline section in the Sidesheet, deselect Hide from all milestones; its is selected by default.
   
   

💡Note: When you create an Earthwork Operation, a Site Condition is automatically generated in the tree and in 3D. Earthwork operations create a Site Condition to move default map geometry/objects out of the way. An auto-generated Site Conditions can be edited to allow for modifications to the footprint and sequencing. 

Fixing Distortions Caused by Site Conditions

After creating a Site Condition you may notice map distortions. There are typically two types of distortions which each require different corrective measures. See below for details on each type. 

Type 1, Site Condition Plateau Distortion

Sometimes distortions occur within the Site Condition footprint -the area becomes elevated or dropped, while surrounding remain at the correct elevation. 

Type 1, Corrective Measure: Custom Initial Terrain

Start by deleting the Site Condition to restore the initial topography. Next create a Terrain Reference Surface to capture the shape of the initial topography. Add points in a the same footprint as the Site Condition and an additional layer or two around/offset from the perimeter. Make sure to only add points on ground elements: grass/paving/earth, and not on trees, buildings, cars etc.. Recapture the Site Condition, make sure to stay within the footprint of the Terrain Reference Surface, the same distortion should appear. Use the Terrain Reference Surface and Site Condition as inputs to Customize the terrain.     

Type 2, Surrounding Area Distortion

Sometimes the area of the map tile surrounding the Site Condition (1) becomes distorted/disfigured (2). This usually happens when the Site Condition boundary cuts through a building (3) or other vertical protrusion. 

Type 2 Corrective Measure:

💡Note: The corrective measure for Type 1 also applies here but the area sampled to create Terrain Reference Surface will have to be much bigger (~10x). 

Capture the surrounding area in a new Site Condition, sketch the shape so that the boundaries of the new Site Condition are on a flat area as much as possible; because horizontal/flat areas are less prone to distortion (4). The resulting second Site Condition will undo any distortions (5) -by equally distorting the surrounding area. 

💡Note: Upon creation, Site Conditions are not visible. Change the Hide from all Milestones option by editing the Site Conditions settings in its side sheet, Right Click > Edit

💡Tip: You can use Zones to fill in any holes, or apply a different appearance to the map to touch up any oddities that appear as result of creating a Site Condition. Be sure to check the Resources > Site Conditions category to replace any vegetation, utilities or street furniture that was removed.