Vrbn MasterPlanner: A Smart City Planning Tool for Esri CityEngine

Archive notice: This article was originally published on February 5, 2019. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.

For the first time, nothing has to be scripted. Anyone familiar with CE knows that the modelling rules have to be developed in CE’s own scripting language CGA. Tight deadlines and a lack of affinity for scripting are often an obstacle to getting the most out of the software. The MP has therefore deliberately been developed as a tool that requires no scripting and can be learned and used well in one day. For example, it is possible to track at any time what building density the current design achieves. The most important parameters can be controlled directly on the 3D model using so-called handles with a mouse click. Numerous further details, such as roof shape or window dimensions, can be adjusted via a menu if required.

Masterplan Example

Let us get into an example at the location of Zurich, Switzerland. We have already created a context model and three given parcels. The basis for the surroundings consists of a terrain model, the city’s official 3D city model, and the tree register. By working in the context model, it is already possible during the design process to assess how well the new buildings fit into their surroundings.
We use two rule packages from the MP: vrbn_parcel.rpk and vrbn_building.rpk. We apply the parcel rule to the parcel polygons. With the Shape Creation tools, we create the basic building outlines, apply the building rule and use the given attributes to roughly work out the building shape.
Ultimately, however, the numbers have to speak: Using the dashboards supplied and perfectly matched to the rules, various key figures can be read out in real time and even monitored live while editing the buildings. The dashboards also make it possible to compare the scenarios with one another and thus provide a perfect basis for decision-making. This means you have the design and the emerging key figures under control at all times and can design an urban design many factors faster and more easily than in a conventional CAD or 3D program.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” images=”68253,68254,68255″ img_size=”200×200″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]

Communicating the Design

Depending on the project, various routes for communicating the planning results can now be derived from the design (see above).
Naturally, the models can also continue to be used for other purposes such as analyses (shadow, sound, wind, …) in separate tools such as Esri’s ArcGIS Pro.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Mysterium

For city renderings in general, Vrbn has developed an internal rendering workflow, codename: Mysterium. Its speciality is the specific connection to CityEngine, enabling complex procedural materials to be rendered directly at final quality. Mysterium is the natural further development of the workflow used at the time on the “Favela” project (see DP 06:15), now enriched with Matthias’ knowledge from the VFX industry.

Conclusion

The MP is used by planners and architects in many places and is being evaluated internationally. The possibility of having a customised premium version developed and licensed for a specific given zoning code appears to be a welcome feature.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]