
Did I tell you I like CityEngine today? Okay you will have noticed that CityEngine gives a designer an instant feedback on their rule files. You move a centre line of a road or a node on a building plot and the model created on top of it dynamically changes as it’s moved. It’s fascinating to watch your simple rule files come alive.
Take this example, it’s my attempt at really simplifying a street rule that includes a bridge element. Above a certain elevation (either 0 or a terrain) and the street gets bridge supports and simple sides. Also no trees are planted and no zebra crossings (‘crosswalks’ to our North American friends) are created either.
It works great, raise the road and supports are made, trees are taken out, just as I wanted but what happens if the road goes down… well have a look, I think I have some unintended consequences of a decision I made in my rule file…