Monday 2 April 2018

Architectural Visualisation & Verified Views for planning permission


   

                

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Tips & tricks for architectural Visualisation & Verified Views for Planning Applications: Part 2
 

This part 2 series will focus mainly on proprietary rendering tools such as batch camera render; and on a fantastic tool/script for Verified Views Methodology/Planning

The following tips and tutorials are mostly related to 3d architectural visualisation.

However, users from similar industries such as, Architecture and Architectural design may also find the following tutorials/tips useful.

Verified View/s methodology or Accurate Visual Representation (AVR):: Is an accurate Photomontage of a proposed design/building, using the Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (GLVIA3).

Photomontage in 3d Visualization: Is the process of incorporating a 3d object/design/building into a 2d image/photo, while matching the camera angle/settings, position and the overall lighting depicted in the 2d photo.  
This laborious process often requires the usage of a 2d and a 3d application.
For more information about this entire process, please check the PDF link below I have put together for gobotree.com 

3d Photomontage Process: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1k7Ek-IyuQiGWZ7bvWcePXysAToLCgpsH




To create an accurate Photomontage/Verified View, the 3d Visualizer/specialist needs a: 3d context model to plot/plan and create the shots; a photo of the location in question; the survey data; camera information; a 2d and a 3d application to create the Final Verified View/s .
Some of the articles, The above Video, and tutorials depicted in this blog will take you through the entire process.


Planning Applications: These can be used to find out whether a proposed development is likely to be approved by the planning authority, before substantial costs are incurred developing a detailed design.


Planning Permissions: Is the legal process of determining whether proposed developments should be permitted. Responsibility for planning lies with local planning authorities (usually the planning department of the district or borough council). The legislation, policy and guidance that underpins planning in England can be found on the government's National Planning Practice Guidance


Script for Verified Views

In architectural visualisation, typing in individual survey point values in 3ds Max, can be very time consuming; especially when working with multiple camera views for verified views.

Most verified views come with at least 10 individual survey points, per camera. 

Prior to creating and signing off each camera view with the architects/developers, you need to do the following first:

Get a map/drawing depicting the proposed Distant Views from the architects/developers 


 

Find a 3d context model covering the above mentioned area/s. Zmapping provides excellent 3d context models for verified views. 

To extract the 3d context model, do the following:

a)-Go to Zmapping website and click "Get a quote"


 



b)- In the "Find Location" section, type in the location and click on "Add Polygon" button





c)- Following that, click on "choose a type of polygon" and pick one from the list



d)- Once the type of polygon is chosen, click on "Click here to start plotting"





e)- Click anywhere on the satellite map 
      A square box should appear
     





f)-Hover over one of the polygon points until you see the finger mouse symbol






g)-Begin moving each of the points (if/when necessary) until you cover the desired area




h)- Once satisfied with your area, click on the "Request quote" button, fill in the details and "Get a quote".



You should receive the context model shortly after.

Once you receive the 3d context model from Zmapping, set up your camera views in 3ds max, to match the above mentioned proposed views, 
The proposed new 3d building should also be inserted. 

Send out the CG (computer Generated) "chalk renders" of the proposed views to the architects/developers, for revision/approval .

Once the camera views have been approved/signed off by the architects/developers, organize a Surveyor and a good Photographer to go on site to survey and photograph the agreed/signed off views.

Prior to sending the Photographer and the Surveyor to the site, you need to do the following first:

a)- Mark up the position/location, and the number of survey points you want on each of the agreed/signed off camera views ( mark up/circle around at least 10 survey points on each of the CG "chalk renders") .



b)- Ensure the Photographer chooses the ideal day/time to take stunning photos

 

Surveyor's Equipment Required

Global Positioning System (GPS)

• Total Station (with good reflectorless EDM range)

• Precise Level


Field Survey Methodology

• It should be noted that some locations will often contain coincidental reference points and hence the work should be carefully analysed to prevent excessive back-tracking

• Camera Locations - To establish the position of a viewpoint, the surveyor must set up a GPS on it and record enough points to ensure a high level of accuracy.

• Reference points - To survey the various reference points, the surveyor should set up two temporary stations (TBMs) within view of each reference point and establish their location using the GPS. Once these co-ordinates have been established, the surveyor will set up a Total Station on the TBMs and take 3 reflectorless survey shots to the reference point in question.

Note: Where GPS positioning is not possible near to the required survey point – due to poor signal, for instance – the surveyor will set up his TBMs at the nearest position possible and traverse traditionally to a position where he can survey the point.


Data Processing & Delivery 

GPS data is processed through Leica Geo-Office to acquire the OSGB36 co-ordinate system information and then processed to produce co-ordinate information for the surveyed points 
  
Below is an example of a typical survey data spreadsheet, provided by the Surveyor




The View name or number is often referred to the camera.

The Easting value is the equivalent of the X position in 3ds Max. The Northing value is the equivalent of Y position in Max.

The Level value is the equivalent of the Z position in Max.
The following script, created by Stefan Johansson (mail@sfjohansson.com), will help create and position each survey value automatically/accurately in 3ds max, as instanced point helpers.

The great advantage of having survey points in 3ds max as instanced helper points is that, their sizes in the camera viewport can be set to have a Constant Screen Size.








To create the script, simply do the following:

Click on the MAXScript button from the main toolbar and choose to open a New Script.







Next, copy and paste the following code onto the MAXScript dialog:


-- open the file as text, read mode
f = openFile "c:/surveypoints.csv" mode:"rt"

prefabPoint = point name:"dummy"

-- if it opened successfully (exists, etc)...
if f != undefined do
(
while not eof f do
(
-- Read a line from the file
l = readline f
-- turn that line into an array of strings using commas as delimiters
lf = filterString l ","
if (lf[1]!=undefined ) do
(
newPoint = instance prefabPoint
newPoint.name = lf[1]
x = lf[2] as float
y = lf[3] as float
z = lf[4] as float
newPoint.pos = [100*x,100*y,100*z]
)
)
close f
delete prefabPoint
)












It’s worth noting that, the first line of code of this script, is set to go to the root of C drive and extract/open a csv file type (spreadsheet)under the name of surveypoints.csv

(e.g. f = openFile "c:/surveypoints.csv" mode:"rt" )

It's imperative to use forward slashes, as opposed to back slashes.
This means that, every time one runs this script, it will automatically look for a file under the above mentioned name, the file extension/type (e.g. csv) and the specified location, as described above (c:/).

However, you can change the location and the file name as you see fit (Not the file extension: cvc).

Example: f = openFile " F:/scene tests/Wembley Stadiumsurveypoints.csv" mode:"rt" )

Once satisfied, simply name and save the script as a maxscript file type.











Once saved, close the dialog box.






To run the script, simply click on the MAXScript toolbar and choose to Run Sript.








All survey points should be created automatically.





If for some weird reason the script isn't working; try opening the spreadsheet file in a notepad program, and save it again out from the notepad program as, a csv file.


It’s worth noting that, the last three or four digits of the survey values might be slightly off (insignificant value offset).

It is NOT a script error: 3Ds Max has difficulty with accuracy, when working or displaying numbers/units that are too far away from 0.0.0

Note: I would like to send a big thank you Stefan Johansson (mail@sfjohansson.com) for taking the time to create this amazing script!

Stefan is an avid programmer and a Unity expert!
Unity is a cross-platform game creation system developed by Unity Technologies.

For more info about Stefan, please visit:



The subsequent step is to create and position the 3d cameras according to the values(X Y Z) depicted in cvc file.

In addition, one can also begin camera-matching each view according to the camera info and the photography provided.








In architectural visualisation/ verified views, it’s common for users to have an AutoCAD drawing with the survey reference.

Architectural companies often use this drawing (in conjunction with the cameras and point helpers), to help with the alignment against the existing context model. 

As mentioned earlier, Zmapping provides excellent context models to align your buildings with. 

To align the matched survey and cameras with the context model, one is required to first save the working scene containing the survey points, cameras and the AutoCAD drawing (if available).


Next, open the main scene containing the context model, building and lights.
Following that, open the XRef scene dialog and Add the scene containing the matched survey data with cameras.













In architectural visualisation, it’s common for the matched survey points and cameras to be miles away from the 0.0.0 point and the main scene.








To line up the XRef survey points with the main scene, create a dummy object and bind it to the XRef scene.










Following that, move and/or rotate the dummy in order to line up perfectly with the main scene.






The XRef and a dummy were used to ensure the original surveyed point values remained intact from their original surveyed location (i.e. miles away from 0.0.0 point).

Below are examples of some of many verified view images I have personally produced while at GMJ design ltd










For more information about the overall process, please visit the following websites:        

 https://zmapping.com/


 http://www.v-real.co.uk/verified-view

 Verified Views Photographer: http://www.ianhumes.co.uk/

  https://www.sunsurveyor.com/

 Landscape Institute: https://www.landscapeinstitute.org/visualisation/

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzKOBtTbUmg

  https://store.insta360.com/product/one_x?insrc=INRZEJ7

  http://www.edisurveys.co.uk/

  https://www.sccssurvey.co.uk/surveying-equipment-instruments/lasers.html

 https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/idoxWAM/doc/Other-890013.pdf?extension=.pdf&id=890013&location=VOLUME2&contentType=application/pdf&pageCount=1
     

GLVIA (Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment)
In addition, it's worth checking its Visualisation page/tab guidelines

Government Pre-Application Advice

Mandatory Documents

I hope you have found this article somehow useful!




(Full HD with custom captions/subtitles)




BatchCameraRender







The plug in/script was created by, Sergo Pogosyan

While this amazing script is packed with numerous rendering tools; we will focus mainly on the ones that architectural visualisation companies often use to automate daily/vital project tasks that are dimmed time consuming, tedious, repetitive and chaotic at times.

In architectural visualisation, it’s very common for companies to structure each project folder in the following manner:

Main Project folder name: Project number & project name (i.e. 0000001_Wembley Stadium)

Sub-folders structure: In; Out; Scenes; Renders; Post-Production; Animation; etc.

The one sub-folder that often becomes chaotic /messy is the, “Render” folder.
This folder is commonly inundated with multiple renders deriving from constant design options, camera changes, Materials, First draft renders, multiple render elements, Final renders, Region renders, etc.

The following tutorial will take users through the process of using the BatchCameraRender script to help organize folders, by automatically structuring each render sent, into sub-folders with the appropriate name and date.

To download the free script, please go to:



Once downloaded and unzipped, simply open your 3ds Max file and run the Script; by clicking on the Maxscript toolbar and choosing the Run Script option.

Next, locate and open, to run it.






The following step is to place it on the main toolbar.

To do so, simply click on the Customize toolbar and choose the Customize User Interface option from its drop down list.





The Customize User Interface dialog should appear. In the Toolbars tab, under Category, scroll down and choose the Sergo Pogosyan category from the drop down list.





To make it a toolbar, simply drag and drop its Action (i.e. Render scene cameras with specified…) on the main toolbar!









With the script on the main toolbar, one can easily access it whenever necessary.








In order to help depict some of the key features of BatchCameraRender, we are going to create a 3d camera first.






Next, rename the newly created camera according to its position and view option (i.e. Camera View A_first floor). This will later help organize/structure the renders and their sub folders more intuitively.







The subsequent step is to save 3ds max file in the scenes’ project folder. Also, name the scene according to the camera name (i.e. Camera View A_first floor).









Once the scene is saved, open the BatchCameraRender script dialog, by clicking on its icon from the main toolbar.

The camera in the scene should automatically be detected in the Camera Manager Settings rollout parameters.

Enable the camera tick box, to begin working on its parameters (otherwise it will be greyed out) .








To setup the Render Output and the subsequent rendering folders, scroll down to the Render Output rollout and click on the File toggle.

In the Save Image dialog, name the render output according to the camera name and save it as a tif file format.

Once the Save button is clicked, note how promptly the default file paths were automatically changed.






The next step is to use syntaxes to automatically save, rename and place every rendered frame in their respective folders, along with their rendered elements.

Click on Syntax toggle to open its File name template info dialog. The dialog depicts all available syntaxes and their functionalities.

Some users screen grab this dialog to keep it as reference.







In architectural visualisation, most users utilize the following syntaxes: %date% ; %cameraname% ; %projectname% .

It’s worth noting that, when using syntaxes the backslash key is NOT permitted.

In addition, each syntax starts with a % and finishes with a % . The next Syntax can be typed in after a space (i.e. one space bar click: %date% %projectname% %cameraname%.tif ).

Furthermore, the Save File output syntaxes can only be typed in the Filename field (Syntax toggle). Once the syntaxes are typed in, press Enter. Note how the File path above changes automatically.

Tip: Ensure the file extension is typed in correctly (i.e.: tif, jpg, etc.), otherwise it will generate errors.









To set the Batch Camera Render to automatically create sub-folders, simply type in a number or a name, followed by a backslash (i.e. 1\ ). Once entered (press Enter), it automatically changes the File path above.

The backslash key can only be entered in the Open Folder name field.








If rendering elements, simply go to the Render Elements folder/Sub-folder group and tick on the enable Elements option. It’s undefined by default.

Users often copy the syntaxes from the Filename (select & right click), followed by pasting them in the elements name field.











Note: Any new changes made to the Batch Camera Render or scene (i.e. syntaxes; folder/sub-folder creation; Scene states; new cameras in the scene, etc.) need to be Refreshed; otherwise it will either overwrite/override previous renders or generate rendering errors.

To refresh the Batch Camera Render new settings/parameters, simply scroll up to the Camera Manager settings and click Refresh.







The amazing feature about this script is that, once you set it up with one camera, you can later merge and save it into a new/different project scene: It will automatically translate the previous project settings/parameters into a new scene, based on which project folder the camera was last saved in.
One can simply copy the merged camera settings into a new one.
To do so, simply select the camera from the Camera Manager settings and click on the Copy button .
Next, select a new camera and click Paste.








For a quick test render, set the Output Size parameters by simply clicking on, From Max, button. This function extracts the current Output size settings from the 3Ds Max’s Render Setup dialog.







Alternatively, you can simply type in a size, or choose from the available pull down pre-set.





Also, enable some render elements. If using V-Ray, the frame buffer needs to be enabled, along with its Split render channels option.

Note: The V-Ray frame buffer file path doesn't require being set.













Back in the Batch Camera Render dialog, click Render to see the results.









Note how the files, folders and sub-folders were automatically created and named accordingly.

For any subsequent renders or test renders, simply scroll down to the Render Output rollout, and type in 2\ in the Open Folder name field.

This action will automatically create a new sub-folder under the name 2.

Note how the File extension above also changed simultaneously.









Feel free to name the folders and/or sub-folders differently, if desired

There are also other great features such as Scene State- Render Preset and Light assignment, which can be explored in the link below:


As mentioned earlier, every time a new value or preset is entered, one should click on the Refresh button to update the changes.







                                                         Video Captions available (CC)




                                                      Video Captions available (CC)



 
                                                      Video Captions available (CC)




Video Captions available (CC)





Checkout below my other Courses with High Resolution Videos, 3d Project files and Textures to download.


Course 1: Exterior Daylight with V-Ray + 3ds Max + Photoshop  

Course 2: Exterior Night with V-Ray + 3ds Max + Photoshop



https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9eQU0iHK3WA/XguRwIGeE0I/AAAAAAAAKgo/-eW0NMMyH-YmjyXyFcaRjPlW_G9p8NEywCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Living%2BRoom%2B3dBeeIT%2BCamera%2BRaw%2BFilter.JPG
 Course 3: VRay 3ds Max Interior Rendering Tutorials 

Course 4: Interior Daylight with V-Ray + 3ds Max + Photoshop

Course 5: Interior Night with V-Ray + 3ds Max + Photoshop

Course 6: Studio Lights with V-Ray + 3ds Max + Photoshop

Course 7: Planning Applications for Verified Views


Course 8: 3d People + 3ds Max + VRay + Photoshop 
 

Also, please Join my Patreon page or Gumroad page to download Courses; Project files; Watch more Videos and receive Technical Support. Finally, check my New channels below:


https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2469908  















Important Terminologies & Descriptions:


3d Rendering: Is the process of converting the three dimensional (3D) data seen in a 3d scene into 2D image/s (rasterized).
The rasterization process include, the rendering parameters, the rendering engine, lights, 3d models, textures, shaders, and other effects. 
3D renders can be a sequence of animated objects/effects/cameras, or a single frame with a still camera and object/s.
Some of the articles, Videos and Tutorials depicted here will take you through the process of rendering.

Photorealistic Rendering: Is the Process or Art of making a typical Computer Generated Image/render (CGI) look indistinguishable from a real photo.
To achieve this, users often need to possess the skills and the"eye" to appreciate good photography, cameras, composition, lighting, shaders, materials, 3d modelling, rendering and have some post-production skills. 
Some of the articles, Videos and Tutorials depicted here will help you achieve truly photorealistic renderings. 


Post-Production: Is the process of creating effects or/and results after (post) the main process.
This terminology can be used to describe the results (post-production) of main processes such as 3d renderings  and/or filming a scene.
The post-production often occurs in applications such as Photoshop, After Effects, Nuke, etc.   
Some of the articles, Videos and Tutorials depicted here will take you through the process.


Textures: Is a term often used to describe photographed  2d images to be later used in a toggle of a shader or procedural map.
Textures can be used in the Diffuse toggle, Reflect, Glossy effects, Bump, Displacement, etc. 

Some of the articles, Videos and Tutorials depicted here will take you through the process of applying textures.

Materials: Is a term often used to describe maps, textures,procedural maps or shaders, depending on the context the term is being used.
Some of the articles, Videos and Tutorials depicted here will take you through the process of applying materials.


Procedural materials: Is a term often used to describe maps with editable/proprietary parameters/functions.
Some of the articles, Videos and Tutorials depicted here will take you through the process of applying procedural materials.


Shaders: Is a term often used to describe complex materials with functions and procedural maps created for a specific purpose.
Some of the articles, Videos and Tutorials depicted here will take you through the process of applying shaders.

Studio Lights: They are fundamental in the process of creating appealing images/renders.
Lighting determines not only the brightness and darkness, but also the tone, mood and the atmosphere of a scene.
Hence the importance to control and manipulate the lights accordingly, in order to fully capture the textures and the vibrancy of your objects.
By distributing the shadows and the highlights accurately, you can achieve truly appealing images/renders.

V-Ray: Is a rendering engine that uses global illumination algorithms, including path tracing, photon mapping, irradiance maps and directly computed global illumination.
Furthermore, it is used as a commercial plug-in for third-party 3D computer graphics software applications such as 3ds max, Maya, Houdini, Blender, Nuke, etc,  for visualizations and computer graphics in industries such as media, entertainment, film and video game production, industrial design, product design and architecture.

3ds Max: Autodesk 3ds Max, formerly 3D Studio and 3D Studio Max, is a professional 3D computer graphics program designed to create 3D animations, models, games and images.
In addition, it has modelling, animation and movie effects capabilities, frequently used by video game developers, TV commercial studios and architectural visualization studios.
3ds Max also features shaders, dynamic simulations, particle systems, plug-ins, and much more, with its own scripting language.

Adobe Photoshop: Photoshop is a powerful raster based graphics program produced by the Adobe Corporation. 
It is widely used for a variety of photo/image editing purposes worldwide. The program has a huge number of filters, functions, plug-ins, scripts, etc.
In addition, there is a huge online support for this software, and countless online sites with tips and tutorials.
Finally, there are readily available books, online/college courses, and its full documentation at Adobe.com

A 3d Visualiser works within the realm of 3d visualization, a sector of the Computer Graphics Industry (or CGI) that is primarily concerned with the visual presentation of design concepts and ideas. And a company within the 3d visualisation sector offers to its customers (among many things) 3d Visualization Services.

More tips and Tricks:

Post-production techniques

Tips & tricks for architectural Visualisation: Part 1


Essential tips & tricks for VRay & mental ray

Photorealistic Rendering

Creating Customised IES lights

Realistic materials

Creating a velvet/suede material