topic Importing Collida (.dae) files into CityEngine in ArcGIS CityEngine Questions

Importing Collida (.dae) files into CityEngine

AliceDuff1 — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 12:20:27 GMT

Hello,

I am having some problems importing .dae files into city engine. I am downloading 3D buildings in London from the Trimble 3D warehouse.. some of the models display fine, but others can only be displayed if I switch the transparency on.

If I turn the transparency off, then they are invisible. I checked one of the models which doesn't display correctly in SketchUp, and it displays perfectly.

Why does it not display in CityEngine, and is there anything I can do to get around this issue?

Thank you.

Re: Importing Collida (.dae) files into CityEngine

AliceDuff1 — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 14:59:14 GMT

Some more detail..

I checked, and some of the models I was trying to import had a very complex rating on Trimble.. that made me think that perhaps, CityEngine was unable to cope with complex models. So I tried to load up a model which was classified as "simple" on Trimble, but again, that did not work. It only displays as transparent...

Re: Importing Collida (.dae) files into CityEngine

MatthiasBuehler1 — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:31:39 GMT

Hi !

can you point me to the file via PM ?

TIP :
if you import the collada file and check Window > Error Log and get a warning that all faces are transparent then it's the file's fault since it was not written out according to the collada standard which CE uses.

There's some confusion what is transparent and opaque ( 0 or 1).

Lemme know .. 🙂

Re: Importing Collida (.dae) files into CityEngine

AliceDuff1 — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:08:35 GMT

Hi!

The file is this one: http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=ca04d433b2a6201d8e2dd5feea45e0e2

Ok, that is encouraging, do you know how i could "get into" the collida file and change the 0 to a 1?

is it easy? I hope so!

Re: Importing Collida (.dae) files into CityEngine

MatthiasBuehler1 — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 11:08:46 GMT

See my other mail ..

Editing Colladas is relatively easy since it's ascii files (pure text). Thus, you can edit it in NotePad by 'search and replace'.

But in your case, I just recommend to get the SketchUp file and re-export it as an other collada file as a triangulated mesh and getting rid of the holes in the polygons. That solves most issues.

cheerio ! 😮

Re: Importing Collida (.dae) files into CityEngine

AliceDuff1 — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 09:33:35 GMT

Thanks!

It worked!

I imported the model into sketchup, then I followed the guidelines on this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYUvox8rSY8

and I exported it to a new .dae file with the triangulate faces option checked!

Thanks!