A really useful addition to help streamline design and modelling then carrying forward this information to documentation would be adding a User Defined Datum or RL which can be toggled on and displayed next to the Z-Base and Z-Height coordinate readout. To explain further; for those who design and document in 3D/2D using DataCAD's smart parametrics along with covered polylines and 3D slabs, the design and modelling generally starts at ZB=0 for convenience and ease of understanding the relative heights up the various floors of a virtual building. This works well during the design phase when you're focused on the building as a model, however, once this information is then reused in the documentation stage real RL's need to be added to define the actual floor levels relative the the survey datum point.
One option is to move the model and all data up to the RL Datum point so it becomes the new zero, but in reality this requires updating clipcubes, GTV's MSP's etc. and doesn't feel right working 500-600m in the air or whatever the RL is for the project.
A better option could be to add a User Defined Datum/RL where you set the ZBase you want the RL to reference to, then enter the RL, An example would be a site survey RL of say 576.800 and you want this referenced to ZBase=0. Identifying any entity in the design model would then display the ZB and ZH relative to ZB=0 as currently exists, as well as RL relative to the User Defined RL of 576.800. Critical RL's such as floor slabs, setdowns, stairs and landings, ramps, parapets etc. could then quickly display the actual RL at the point identified along with the usual ZB/ZH which relates more to the model. This saves having to rely on the calculator to continually add or subtract the floor-floor height difference from the Datum RL to determine that floors finished RL for the project. It also reduces the potential for human error. Essentially, all this added feature is doing is providing a quick maths calculation of: Identified RL = Datum RL + (ZH - ZB) and displaying in the readout menu.
I hope this makes sense as it would be a useful new feature.
Thanks.
One option is to move the model and all data up to the RL Datum point so it becomes the new zero, but in reality this requires updating clipcubes, GTV's MSP's etc. and doesn't feel right working 500-600m in the air or whatever the RL is for the project.
A better option could be to add a User Defined Datum/RL where you set the ZBase you want the RL to reference to, then enter the RL, An example would be a site survey RL of say 576.800 and you want this referenced to ZBase=0. Identifying any entity in the design model would then display the ZB and ZH relative to ZB=0 as currently exists, as well as RL relative to the User Defined RL of 576.800. Critical RL's such as floor slabs, setdowns, stairs and landings, ramps, parapets etc. could then quickly display the actual RL at the point identified along with the usual ZB/ZH which relates more to the model. This saves having to rely on the calculator to continually add or subtract the floor-floor height difference from the Datum RL to determine that floors finished RL for the project. It also reduces the potential for human error. Essentially, all this added feature is doing is providing a quick maths calculation of: Identified RL = Datum RL + (ZH - ZB) and displaying in the readout menu.
I hope this makes sense as it would be a useful new feature.
Thanks.
DataCAD user since v4!
Regards
Mark Bell
Principal
ATELIER MARK BELL
Australia
https://www.ateliermarkbell.com
Regards
Mark Bell
Principal
ATELIER MARK BELL
Australia
https://www.ateliermarkbell.com