Graph networks

CityEngine offers a suite of intuitive tools that allow you to create and edit graph networks. You can do the following with these tools:

  • Create graph networks with street creation tools.
  • Use the selection tool to select street nodes and edges. The selection displays in the Inspector, in which you can edit the attributes.
  • Modify graph segments and nodes using the transform tools.
  • See Street Parameters for more information.

Tip:

  • To use the CityEngine tools, ensure the Tool Options window Tool options is open by clicking Window > Tool Options in the main menu.
  • Not all CityEngine tools have options under Tool Options.

Draw a polygonal street

To draw a polygonal street, click the Polygonal Street Creation tool Polygonal Street Creation tool or press G. You can also click Graph > Polygonal Street Creation in the main menu.

Click to create the first vertex and click again to place additional vertices. To finish the street, double-click or press Enter.

The Polygonal Street Creation tool Polygonal Street Creation tool snaps to shape vertices and edges. Additionally, you can snap to guides and align segments parallel and perpendicular to them.

Polygonal Street Creation Tool options

The Tool options Polygonal Street Creation tool options window includes the following options:

Tool options Polygonal Street Creation
Segment Length (m)

The length of the current street segment in meters.

  • Enter a value before or while drawing to lock the length. Press Enter to apply the value.
  • Lock and unlock the length by clicking either the lock Lock length or the unlock buttons Unlock length.

Re-use settings from neighbors

If enabled, settings are copied from neighbor streets, if available. If an existing street is extended, settings are typically copied from that segment.

Street width

The street width.

Left sidewalk width

The left sidewalk width.

Right sidewalk width

The right sidewalk width.

Rule file

The rule file is assigned to all new street shapes.

Apply rule-based model generation

If enabled, model generation is automatically triggered.

Align terrain

Aligns the street with the terrain.

Draw a street freehand

To draw a street freehand, click the Polygonal Street Creation tool Polygonal Street Creation tool and then click the Freehand Street Creation tool Freehand street creation tool in the Tool options Tool Options window. You can also press Shift+G or click Graph > Freehand Street Creation in the main menu.

Click and drag to start drawing a street and release when finished.

Freehand Street Creation Tool options

The Tool options Freehand Street Creation tool options window includes the following options:

Tool options Freehand Street Creation

Re-use settings from neighbors

If enabled, settings are copied from neighbor streets, if available. If an existing street is extended, settings are typically copied from that segment.

Street width

The street width.

Left sidewalk width

The left sidewalk width.

Right sidewalk width

The right sidewalk width.

Rule file

If set, this rule file is assigned to all new street shapes.

Apply rule-based model generation

If enabled, model generation is automatically triggered.

Align terrain

Aligns the street with the terrain.

Additional graph tools

CityEngine also includes additional tools to help with creating and editing streets, such as the Edit streets and curves, Cleanup streets, and Align streets to terrain tools.