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Edit a map layer

In this topic

  1. Move and scale a map layer in the Viewport
  2. Edit map layer attributes
  3. Map image data to rule attributes

After selecting a map layer in the Scene Editor, its properties are visible in the Inspector. You can edit the layer parameters such as map files, positioning bounds, and the elevation offset. In addition, an overlay color and alpha value for the map can be specified. Depending on the layer type, some options may not be available.

The mapping functions can also be edited in the Inspector. See the Edit map layer functions section below.

Move and scale a map layer in the Viewport

 If you select one or more attribute layers in the Viewport, you can use the transform or scale tool to move or scale the layer or layers.

Scaling a map layer
Scaling a map layer

Edit map layer attributes

Map layers can have their own attributes. These are defined in the Layer Attributes pane of the Inspector, with the map layer selected.

Edit map layer functions

Map layer function editing is similar to CGA shape grammar editing, but only a subset of functions are available for attribute layers and no rules or shape operations. Use Ctrl+Spacebar to see a list of available functions.

attr elevation = map_01(brightness, 1.17549435E-38, 27.620806) 
+ elevationDelta + elevationOffset

There are two predefined attributes that will be used for street generation and other generative parts of CityEngine:

  • attr elevation controls the elevation of the heightmap of a terrain layer.
  • attr obstacle controls the obstacle avoidance of the street generation.

Examples

attr elevation = sin(u * 6.3) * cos(v * 6.3) * 100

Create a terrain as a function of sine and cosine.

attr obstacle = brightness > 0.5

Define all bright parts of an image map as obstacles.

attr height = exp(u * 5)

Control the height attribute of a rule file with this exponential function.

attr selection = rand > 0.5

Define a Boolean attribute that can be used for a selection to select 50 percent of the objects randomly.

attr landuse =
	case u > 0.5:
		50%: "industrial" 
		else: "retail" 
	else:
		"residential"

Define a string attribute that can be used by a CGA shape grammar rule to control, for example, building appearance.

Layer attribute code in detail

Map layers in general define one or more attributes as a function of the location and, optionally, a mapping channel. The dimensions of the map are normalized to the interval [0..1]. Thus the lower left corner of the map has the coordinates (0, 0) and the upper right corner of the map has the coordinates (1, 1). The normalized position is available as the predefined values "u" and "v", respectively, for attribute functions. For example, the following function will control the elevation by trigonometric functions:

attr PI2 = 3.141 * 2 // approx. 2 x PI
attr elevation = sin(u * PI2) * cos(v * PI2) * 100

In addition, inside an attribute function, "red", "green", "blue", "alpha", "hue", "saturation", and "brightness" address the individual channels of the map. For each object, the attribute function is evaluated with the projection of the center of gravity (centroid) to the x-z plane.

In the following illustration, the attribute "x" is evaluated at the center of gravity (centroid) of the object which is mapped onto the standard [0..1] range for the "u" and "v" parameters. In addition, the map is sampled at the position "u,v" and its red channel is used for the calculation of "x".

attr x at center of centroid
attr x at center of centroid

Map image data to rule attributes

Map layers are a tool to control CGA shape grammar rules. Any attribute that you have defined in your CGA shape grammar rules can be mapped from an attribute layer. This allows you to guide your rules by maps. Typically, maps are used for controlling building attributes such as height or appearance, level of detail, and land-use mixes.

The image below is going to be used as a source image to control the height of a set of buildings.

Source image used to control building heights.
Source image used to control building heights.

Assume you are starting from a scene with a set of building footprints such as in the image below:

Scene with building footprints
Scene with building footprints

All shapes have a rule file assigned that extrudes the footprints to a certain height.

attr height = 30
Lot --> extrude(height)

Create the mapping layer

Create a mapping layer, choose your skyline map, set the bounds to fit your scene, and add a new attribute, skylineValue. Its range will define the range of the building heights.

Building heights before being defined by mapping layer range
Building heights before being defined by mapping layer range

Connection Editor

To connect attributes, do the following:

  1. Select all footprint shapes, and choose Connect Attribute for the rule attribute height in the Inspector to open the Connection Editor.
  2. Choose a layer attribute.
  3. Select the new Skyline map layer.
  4. Select the attribute skylineValue.

Building heights after being defined by mapping layer
Building heights after defined by mapping layer

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In this topic
  1. Move and scale a map layer in the Viewport
  2. Edit map layer attributes
  3. Map image data to rule attributes