Import OpenStreetMap
Download map sections from OpenStreetMap and use them as site context for the building model - including converting OSM buildings into shading objects
Overview
VICUS Buildings downloads map sections from OpenStreetMap (OSM) directly and displays them as site context beneath and around the building model: neighboring buildings (optionally as extruded 3D bodies), streets, water bodies and other surfaces. The OSM data are a pure reference representation - they are not simulated. For the shading calculation, however, selected OSM neighboring buildings can be converted into real shading objects.
Access
- Menu Import > OpenStreetMap (OSM) …
- alternatively the button
OSM in the Import area of the Add geometry panel (tooltip Import section from OpenStreetMaps)
Import dialog
The Import OpenStreetMap (OSM) dialog shows an interactive world map. With the mouse wheel you zoom into the target area, and while holding down the mouse button you move the section.
| Option | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Import 3D buildings | Enabled by default. Building footprints are extruded into 3D bodies based on their height information; without this option, buildings appear as flat footprints. |
| Download selection… | Downloads the OSM data for the visible map section from the server (internet connection required). |
| Import from file… | Reads an existing dataset from an *.osm or *.vicosm file - useful for working without an internet connection or for sharing within the project team. |
Limits and messages:
- From a section diagonal of about 10 km, the dialog warns of long download times; from a diagonal of 50 km, the download is refused (”… since the maximum permissible diagonal distance is 50 km”).
- If an OSM dataset already exists in the project, the dialog asks: “Replace existing OpenStreetMap data?” - only one OSM dataset can ever be present in the project.
- Progress and messages (download, reading, “Generating geometry…”) appear in the log area; completion is confirmed with “The geometry was imported successfully.”.
Result in the project
The imported OSM data appear as their own entry in the navigation tree; individual categories (buildings, streets, water bodies, …) can be shown and hidden there via the visibility icons. When the project is saved, the OSM data are stored in a separate file <ProjectName>.vicosm next to the project file.
The chosen map section simultaneously sets the geographic reference of the project (world coordinate origin with UTM zone). The latitude and longitude of the location for the simulation are set independently of this in the simulation area, see Climate & location.
Convert OSM buildings into shading objects
Neighboring development from OSM can be adopted directly as shading geometry for the shading factor calculation:
- Select the OSM buildings in the scene.
- In the Add geometry panel, Shading area, click the button
OSM to shading (tooltip Convert selected OpenStreetMap building into a shading object; active as soon as at least one OSM building is selected). - The building shells are adopted into the project as shading objects and taken into account in the shading calculation.
Details on working with shading objects are described in Shading geometry.
Important in practice:
OpenStreetMap building heights are often only estimated or missing entirely - in that case a default height is extruded. Before converting into shading objects, check whether the height of the relevant neighboring buildings is plausible: a neighboring building set too low underestimates the shading of the lower storeys and thus the summer solar gains of your model.