How to Turn 2D Topography or a Survey into 3d Terrain in Sketchup

In this video we walk you through how to turn 2D topography or a survey into 3D terrain in sketchup.

STEPS:
If you don't have sketchup PRO or a CAD file you can import follow the steps with * below. If you want to import a 2D CAD drawing skip to the steps without *0

* 0:22 Import your 2D image (your topography or survey) into your sketchup file
* 1:03 Scale your 2D image as accurately as you can using the tape measure tool. Make sure there's nothing else in your model or that you're using the tape measure inside another group.
* 2:09 Trace the 2D linework in your image. Start with your perimeter property line, and then traces the topographic contour lines within the property boundary.
3:09 Understand what the topography is doing and how it's sloping.
* 4:03 Delete any faces created while drawing your 2D topography
4:43 Separate your property line our boundary as a separate group
5:15 Move your 2D topographic contours along the blue or z-axis to their appropriate locations. This is where understanding the slope comes in handy.
5:56 Highlight all of your contours and select "Draw", "Sandbox", "From Contours"
6:16 Draw additional contours to extend the 3D terrain beyond the property line
8:33 Create a reverse void group of the property and "intersect with selection" on the 3D terrain

What kind of projects are you working on that require you to convert 2d topography or a survey into 3d terrain in Sketchup? Let us know in the comments below.

Checkout more of our free sketchup tutorials with video and written explanations here:

[himalayanmeditations]

Thank you. I’ve been searching for a proper explanation for ages.

[ritujaharidas]

I have broken my brain over this for about 18 months! Guess the key is to watch a video entirely!!
THANKS A TON!!!

[RickVonSloneker]

Loved the video. You fast-forwarded past the painful, time-consuming part :) One thing I found useful is to use the weld extension on the topo lines, vs. grouping and ungrouping before using the From Contours function. Anyhow, this was super helpful overall. Thanks. Subscribed.

[suchandrabanerjee]

Was really helpful :) Very crisp and clear!

[DesignerhacksPage]

Have any other specific sketchup tutorials you're looking for? Let us know!

[mochuism]

Hello, I am trying to re-scale my drawing similar to how you explained, but it's not letting me. Can you walk me through this?

[tonyperkins]

You scaled the drawing to 200' when it should have been 250'...

[gwilliams]

I'm playing around with the web version and trying to make it happen. Really just learn before I upgrade. But I am trying to create lines and elevate them but it looks like garbage. They are not connected to the property boundary.

Do I need the upgraded desktop version to manually create 3D topography? I plan to upgrade but trying to see how much I can get away with before doing so.

[mandalahouse]

Typical Graphic Scale bars do not start with "0" at the far left. They break down the 1" into smaller scale to the left of "0." Just a heads up on your resizing.

[tex]

Awesome video! I need a little clarification though. Are you using different layers for the background(overlay) image and the different elevation levels? Also, my lot is a slope and not a hill. So the different elevations all are just a single line going through the property. Do I need to close them off somehow and make each section a box itself?

[qreaigh]

I know this quite old but is the process the same?

[mikeydrago-dtby]

I want to turn my gaming world map into a 3D rendition so I can see how it'd look in a 3D game. Nothing out there for free lets me do it, and if there is something free, I don't understand a thing. I then saw that it can be done in SketchUp, but I have to pay to use just the Sandbox tool so I can look at my 3D rendition of my map I drew myself. This is why I hate making something with my heart. I just get shot down because I can't afford the good stuff.

[rousselpalanna]

I tried this but after intersect selection the peripheral extra surfaces are not deleting. can I send this model to you and can you let me know where is the error.

[lyndensterling]

will this program work with sketchup free?

[jeanpatrickbaclayon]

My outline still clings to the contour lines when I raise them, after I group them. Help :(

[hussainalhamoud]

Is it possible to do the opposite? I mean turning 3d Terrain into 2D Topography.

[turbonegroegg]

Great video! Too bad the free version doesn't have the contour tools!

[AndrewGreenishere]

a
At 3:02 you suddenly traced the contour lines but can you explain how you did that step?

[CharlesDickens]

Help. I started tracing 2d drawing to create contours with line instead of freehand. I thought the only way I could elevate them was to create groups. But sandbox will not recognise groups as contours. Is there a way round this?

[ef]

how did he trace the contour lines and how did he scale them ? I don't understand why he didn't show that in his video it is making the whole video pointless