SPIRIT incorporates a unique
technology called ZAC, which stands for Zone-based Architectural
Construction. What ZAC does is control the heights of the relevant building
zones. Zones could simply be explained as building levels such as the lower
floor and upper floor of a typical double story structure. It could however
also apply to separate functions within a structure that are divided into zones
that have similar or varying heights. It then organizes the building components
that are drawn within these zones, such as walls, doors, windows and other
structural elements.
To create a very simple concept model you could use
the generic walls, doors, windows, etc provided by the ZAC system, or for a
more dtailed model you select the ZAC components fromt he respective component
browsers. If the component you want to insert into your model does not exist,
you can use the new window or door designer to create them or you can model
them yourself in SPIRIT and simply import them into the component Browser. Add
dimensions dynamically with ZAC's powerful dimensioning tool. Insert or delete
openings and the dimensions are automatically updated. You can still use the
standard associative dimensions if you so wish - the flexibility of a hybrid
system like SPIRIT. Now construct Roofs and Stairs with the ZAC Roof and Stair
generators, that simultaneously generate the 2D and 3D data associated to the
parameters you specify. These parameters can be dynamically edited at any time
and the resultant 2D and 3D data is automatically updated.
Finally take
your mnodel in SPIRIT-VIS. Here you can experiment with the shodow casting
feature that will allow any location to be entered at any specified time of
day. Experiment with "lighting" at night by dragging and dropping preset
lighting fixtures into your model. Drag and drop colors, materials, textures
and VIS objects directly onto your model and produce high quality "raytraced"
renderings for output to print or produce AVI animations of real time
walkthrough's.
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