CUBIZEN: Global Mapper, CityEngine & Creative Tech

Part 1: CityEngine Navigator Panel (Resource Management)

Let's start by exploring the CityEngine Navigator panel.

When you create a new Project in CityEngine, the software automatically generates eight default subfolders. This folder structure is designed to help users conveniently categorize the various types of files needed for procedural modeling.

[img 1 : Navigator panel showing the default project folder structure including assets, data, images, maps, models, rules, scenes, and scripts]

While these are pre-made, you are completely free to add, delete, or rename folders as you see fit. The directory structure you see here exactly mirrors the physical folder structure inside your Workspace directory in Windows File Explorer.

To use external files (like textures, 3D models, or SHP files), you must move them into these project subfolders. You can choose to physically Copy the files into the workspace, or simply Link them. If the original files are frequently updated, linking is better; otherwise, copying is safer to prevent broken paths.

Search, Filter, and Preview

When you need to find a specific file, use the Search box at the top of the Navigator. You can filter results by clicking the All types dropdown menu to restrict the search to Scenes, Rules, Images, 3D Models, or Python Scripts.

[img 2 : Using the search bar and file type filter dropdown in the Navigator panel]

If you double-click a 2D image or a 3D file, it will open in the Preview window. You can freely rotate, zoom, and pan around the 3D object inside this preview window to inspect it before using it in your scene.

[img 3 : Previewing a 3D barrier object inside the CityEngine Preview window]

Here is an incredibly useful feature: if you select a .cga rule file while the Preview window is open, the Preview window will actually render a test geometry generated by that CGA code.

[img 4 : Previewing the visual result of a selected CGA rule file]

Managing Multiple Workspaces

If you handle dozens of projects across different regions, keeping them all inside a single Workspace folder becomes chaotic.

In such cases, it is best practice to create separate Workspaces for different regions or clients. You can easily jump between these environments by going to File -> Switch Workspace -> Other...

[img 5 : Switching workspaces using the CityEngine Launcher dialog box]

Ultimately, the Navigator is just a specialized File Explorer built into CityEngine. As long as you keep your files neatly organized, you won't have any issues. Now, let's move to the main stage.

Part 2: CityEngine 3D Viewport (Visualizing the City)

The 3D View is your primary workspace. Compared to other 3D modeling programs, its interface is wonderfully uncluttered.

[img 6 : Overview of the 3D Viewport interface in CityEngine]

There are four main tool menus located at the top right of the 3D View.

1. Visibility Settings

This menu allows you to toggle the visibility of specific layer types on and off. You can quickly hide Map Layers (F9), Graph Networks (F10), Shapes (F11), and Models (F12) using shortcuts. If you need a refresher on what these layer types are, revisit [010] CityEngine Layer Types Explained (Graph, Shape, Map & More).

[img 7 : Visibility settings menu showing Isolate Selection and layer toggles]

The Isolate Selection (I) tool is incredibly handy. It temporarily hides everything in the scene except the object you currently have selected, allowing you to focus on detailing a specific building without visual clutter.

2. View Settings (Camera and Render Modes)

This menu controls how your camera behaves and how the geometry is rendered.

You can select various standard camera lenses. The 50mm standard lens (39° FOV) is the most commonly used setting for landscape and visual impact simulations, as it closely mimics human vision.

[img 8 : View settings menu displaying camera lenses, parallel projection, and render modes]

Parallel Projection View (D, P) removes all perspective (orthographic view). This is essential when you need to evaluate the pure skyline or perform precise elevation checks without perspective distortion.

You can also change the render style between Wireframe (4), Shaded (5), and Textured (6).

3. Information Display

By checking Information display in the View Settings, a transparent bar appears at the bottom of your 3D View.

[img 9 : Information display bar showing coordinates, elevation, and grid size]

This bar provides real-time data: the coordinates of the location you click, the grid size, the coordinate system, and the number of polygons currently visible on screen.

Part 3: CityEngine Camera Bookmarks (Crucial for Simulations)

In landscape simulations and urban planning, you must often evaluate the scene from multiple, highly specific viewpoints. The Bookmark menu saves these camera positions. (This ties directly into the analysis workflows we learned in [007] Viewshed Analysis (Viewshed Creation)).

[img 10-1 : Creating a new bookmark to save the current camera view]

[img 10-2 : Creating a new bookmark to save the current camera view]

Navigate to your desired viewpoint, click the Bookmark icon, and select New Bookmark.... Give it a descriptive name.

[img 11 : Selecting Edit Bookmarks from the dropdown menu]

To ensure engineering accuracy, you must input the exact coordinates. Click Edit Bookmarks... to open the Preferences window.

[img 12 : Editing bookmark parameters including Position X/Y/Z, Tilt, and Heading]

Here, you can perfectly align your camera by typing in the exact Position X/Y/Z, Tilt (up/down angle), and Heading (left/right angle).

Note: When inputting the Position Z (Latitude) coordinate from external GIS data, you usually have to input it as a negative value in CityEngine.

You can also enable Custom Clipping Planes here. This feature hides objects that are too close to the camera (Near Plane) or too far away (Far Plane), which helps remove visual obstructions directly in front of the lens.

Part 4: Customizing Layouts and Controls

From the top menu bar, selecting Window -> Layout offers various multi-pane splits. You can arrange the Top, Front, Side, and 3D views to fit your workflow, then click Save Perspective As to lock in your custom UI arrangement.

[img 13 : Window Layout menu showing options for multi-viewport arrangements]

Lastly, if you are accustomed to other 3D software and find CityEngine's default camera navigation confusing, you can change it!

[img 14 : Preferences window for changing Navigation Devices and Mouse Schemes]

Navigate to Edit -> Preferences -> General -> Navigation Devices. Under Current Mouse Scheme, you can select presets that mimic the controls of Maya, SketchUp, Blender, 3ds Max, and more. Set it to whatever feels most natural to your muscle memory.

Next Steps

Now that we have covered the interface, layers, resources, and the viewport, it's time to start working with actual buildings.

In Lecture [013], we will explore the powerful, code-free Facade Wizard to quickly texture building exteriors.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment. Let's solve them together!