Google SketchUp for Site Design: A Guide to Modeling Site Plans, Terrain and Architecture [Paperback]

"This book adds valuable information about features not even mentioned in the "Missing Manual". This book allows you to create settings for your creations. SketchUp provides a "sandbox", an interface with tools that create organic geometry. In other words, you can push and pull "terrain" around to create hills and valleys. Then using other tools create streets, sidewalks, and planters. Place the buildings you've created on the terrain, and add vegetation around them - suddenly you have a world! This is a solid book, with good start-to-finish instructions in creating 3D objects, whether a bench or a cathedral." (eJournal of the Tucson Computer Society, December 2009)

"This book illustrates a holistic approach to SketchUp, how it works and more importantly, what to do with it." (San Francisco Book Review, November 2009)

Google SketchUp for Site Design

A Guide to Modeling Site Plans, Terrain and Architecture

The design professional?s guide to harnessing the power of Google SketchUp

Site design professionals can now use the powerful tools of Google SketchUp for their own practices. This clear and focused illustrated guide explains how site professionals can use the SketchUp tools and functions to construct expressive models of exterior spaces and architecture.

Utilizing the methodology known as SketchUp Process Modeling, the guide takes you step by step from the basics to more advanced methods that incorporate terrain, AutoCAD, and the creation of complex forms. Covering drafting, modeling order, and organization, you will learn how to:

• Use the SketchUp Sandbox Tools to design conceptual grading, terrain, and elevation

• Design and model a variety of custom components including architectural detail, pedestrian lights, benches, and other site elements

• Integrate AutoCAD and SketchUp to easily create 3D-articulated models

With helpful tutorials and useful tips for both beginners and advanced SketchUp users, Google SketchUp for Site Design: A Guide to Modeling Site Plans, Terrain and Architecture will quickly have you creating models that are highly detailed and organized, easy to work with, and optimized for computer performance.

Included with the book are Web links to free SketchUp exercises, models, and YouTube tutorials that expand on book concepts.

Daniel Tal, ASLA, is a practicing landscape architect in Denver, Colorado, and a SketchUp specialist who conducts workshops and seminars on SketchUp for landscape architects and architects. Daniel also consults on SketchUp tools and future SketchUp developments to meet the needs of landscape architects and architects, and helps Beta test SketchUp releases.