Getting started with CityEngine

The end of the year is getting close and I did not want to finish it without having my first contact with CityEngine. For my final degree project I will be using this professional software in order to create 3D models of some of the buildings in my university: Jaume I University.

Since modeling is one of my favourite areas to work, I cannot wait to dig deeper into CityEngine tools and learn more about different and new ways to create 3D models.

CityEngine is a three-dimensional (3D) modeling software application developed by Esri R&D Center Zurich (formerly Procedural Inc.) and it is specialized in the generation of 3D urban environments using the procedural modeling approach.

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In order to get used to the user interface and how CityEngine tools work, I started by completing Esri's official tutorials, which you can find in the following page.

For today, I only have been able to complete Tutorial 1 and 2, which have already felt inspiring. In Tutorial 1 I learned how to navigate through CityEngine's workplace and I took a first look to procedural generation of streets and 3D models using CGA rules.

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In Tutorial 2 I started learning how to create terrains using image files.

The software uses gray scale height maps in order to generate them.

For example, I used the Heightmap file described before combined with the Base Map file, which is "the drawing" of the terrain itself, to bring on the terrain you can see in the image on the right

After this, I learnt how to use Obstacle Maps to indicate the Street Generation tool, how to avoid certain parts of a terrain. After that I got the result you can see on the left.

It also uses a similar method to identify which areas should be avoid or not. I was really impressed by the results and I'm starting to realize how many possibilities this software could have.

Finally, I aligned the segments (corresponding to the streets) and the shapes (corresponding to the buildings) to the terrain to get a better and more natural result.

Now it's time to go and celebrate that the ominous 2020 is about to be finally over! Do not worry, I am celebrating with just one of my friends. Security first! Happy New Year to everyone! :D