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How to Seed the Composite Triangulation Model

Applies To

Product(s): Bentley MXROAD

Version(s): N/A
Environment: N/A
Area: Analysis
Subarea: Trinagulation
Original Author: Jason Walsh, Bentley Technical Support Group

Steps to Accomplish
Setting up the Automatic Seeding

Seeding is the process of adding groups to a triangulation model i.e. Road, Shoulder, Grass etc. This process
allows for the creation of rendered images and videos once the triangulation has been associated with the
relevant style and feature set.

Display both the COMPOSITE MODEL and the COMPOSITE TRIANGULATION (How to Create a Composite
Triangulation Model) as this will let you determine to determine the locations for the different groups.

Load the Automatic Seeding tool Analysis>Triangle menu>Automatic Seeding. Select your COMPOSITE
TRIANGULATION as the Triangulation Model and your COMPOSITE MODEL as the Model Name.
When you hit Next a Warning will show to assign the default style set, Select OK.

This will apply a default group to the triangulation.

Seeding the Composite Triangulation Model

The Define Triangulation Groups dialog box will appear, this is the tools that assigns the groups to the
different Areas of the trinagautlion model. The seeding functions of the tool are detailed below.
Eyedropper Tool

This tool changes the current group code to that of a triangle you select.

At any time when using a different tool, you can press the CTRL key and select a triangle to change the
current group code.

Feature Select

This tool assigns all triangles between the feature types which lie either side of the triangle you select to the
current group code. It is particularly useful for seeding parallel features such as carriageway edges and
shoulders. Note that all triangles lying between strings of the same feature type are seeded, no matter where
they are in the model.

It is recommended that you use this tool first and then make any corrections using the other tools.

If you have assigned triangles using any of the other methods, they are not overwritten using Feature Select.
Use Highlight to highlight the triangles before they are seeded.

Crossing Select

This tool draws a line across several triangles and assigns all triangles that the line crosses to the current
group code.

Paint

This tool assigns individual triangles you click to the current group code. You can also drag the cursor to
select multiple triangles.
Fill

This tool assigns triangles to the current group code using traditional seeding. It is less selective than the
other tools, but is useful for seeding large areas at a time which you can then tidy up using the other tools. If
the triangles have already been assigned, only triangles with the same group code as the triangle you select
are seeded, so the tool is also useful for changing the group code of adjacent triangles.

Fill to String

This tool also assigns triangles to the current group code using traditional seeding, but stops at a string link.
It is particularly useful for seeding closed shapes such as buildings.

Use the slider underneath the palette to adjust the size of the link tolerance; a low value means that the seed
can easily escape into the surrounding area whereas a high value means that the seed is easily blocked.

Undo and Redo

Use these tools at any time to undo and redo the seeding. There is no limit to the number of undos you can
perform and you can undo assignments made in a previous session. You can also use CTRL Z (Undo) and
CTRL Y (Redo)

The main seeding groups are

FOOT - Foot path

GRAS - Grass
KERB - Kerbs
RIVR - River
ROAD - Road
SHDR - Shoulder
WALL - Wall
WATR - Lake/Pond

Viewing the Seeded Composite Triangulation with Materials.

Change the feature and style set of the COMPOSITE TRIANGULATION model to MFW Grouped Triangles
with materials. This associates materials with the various seeding groups assigned to the triangulation.

To display a basic render of the seeded triangulation select a new view from the View Toggles (View 2) and
use the Rotate View button to give a 3D view of the triangulation model.From the view display dropdown
select Smooth with Shadows.
See Also
MX TechNotes And FAQs

How to Create a Composite Triangulation Model

How to Create a Fly Through