Urban Scale Mapping and Site Planning with SketchUp

Creating accurate large-scale urban models is essential for planners, architects, and designers, yet translating raw survey data into clean 3D environments can feel overwhelming. This comprehensive text-based course simplifies the process, guiding you through the exact workflows needed to turn spatial data into structured urban layouts. You will transition from understanding basic urban planning terminology to constructing organized, scalable urban contexts. By learning how to clean external CAD files, import spatial data, and build efficient 3D models, you will gain the confidence to tackle large-scale site planning projects. What you'll learn: - Understand foundational urban mapping concepts, scale relationships, and spatial coordinate systems. - Prepare and clean structured CAD drawings for seamless import into 3D modeling environments. - Build clean, organized 3D urban massing models using SketchUp groups, components, and tags. - Integrate open-source map data and digital elevation models to establish accurate site contexts. - Apply systematic naming conventions and layering strategies to manage complex, large-scale projects. - Analyze urban density, circulation, and spatial relationships using structured 3D views. This course begins with core definitions of urban mapping and spatial data formats before guiding you step-by-step through drawing preparation, importing workflows, and building structured 3D contexts. It is designed for beginner urban planners, architects, and design students who want to master large-scale site modeling without needing advanced prior experience. Start building structured and accurate urban models today.