CUBIZEN: Global Mapper, CityEngine & Creative Tech

Learn the fundamental differences between local and object coordinate systems to achieve consistent procedural results. This tutorial explains how to differentiate between local selectors and object-based selectors in CityEngine CGA. By understanding the hierarchy of coordinate systems—World, Object, and Local—you will be able to reliably target specific building facades regardless of how complex your procedural rule tree becomes. I was planning to move on to creating forms using indices, but then I remembered that I skipped an explanation of object.front, object.right, object.left, object.back, and similar selectors when I previously covered comp(). img 1 : ESRI CityEngine CGA comp() Reference If you look at the reference above, front and back belong to the "local coordinate system," while selectors starting with object. belong to the "object coordinate system." So what exactly is the di...

Apply world coordinate selectors like world.south to maintain consistent rule orientations (e.g., south-facing windows) regardless of building rotation. This lesson explores the fundamental difference between world and local coordinate systems in CityEngine. By understanding world coordinate selectors, you can ensure that specific architectural elements—such as solar panels or climate-specific windows—always face the correct compass direction, even when the building footprint itself is rotated or modified. Introduction to World Coordinate Selectors Today, we will cover world.south | world.north | world.west | world.east | world.up | world.down | world.side among the comp() selectors. The word "world" is used here. As the name suggests, it means the selection is based on the World Coordinate System. This was the final image from the previous lecture, and the standard for "world" is indicated ...

Learn the fundamental concepts of dividing shapes into exact architectural dimensions and relative ratios using CityEngine's most essential command. This tutorial covers everything from the basic syntax of the split command to advanced techniques like repeating splits, nested divisions, and relative ratio splitting ( ~ ). By the end of this guide, you will understand how to precisely control the subdivision of your procedural models to prepare them for detailed architectural detailing. Understanding the Basics of the Split Command In CGA, creating form begins with effective subdivision. Whether it’s recessed areas, protruding elements, decorative inserts, door placements, or color zones—it is all about defining regions so that everything is positioned at the desired size in the planned location. This is where the split command comes into play. If you look at the CGA reference, there are two additional commands...

Let's Start Learning CGA in Esri CityEngine Designing the rules of generation rather than modeling individual results. This tutorial marks the beginning of our deep dive into CGA (Computer Generated Architecture). We shift our perspective from traditional manual 3D modeling to a rule-based procedural system. You will learn the fundamental logic of how CityEngine decomposes complex structures and get an overview of the core curriculum, including essential commands like extrude, split, and comp. Finally, we are starting CGA!!! Most 3D modeling software focuses on creating a single finished result called a building. You directly create the desired shape, modify it, and add detailed elements to complete the final model. However, CGA is a bit different. In CGA, you don't create the building itself; you design the rules by which the building is created. In other words, it can be said to be a method of creating the...

Understand the hierarchical logic of CityEngine menus to simplify complex CGA coding. In this tutorial, we take a short break from technical configuration to discuss the "why" behind the "how." Many beginners struggle with CGA because they jump into the code without understanding the procedural flow. We will bridge the gap between the CityEngine interface and the logic of rule-based modeling. For those wondering when the actual CGA coding begins, I wanted to share two realizations I had while learning and understanding Esri CityEngine . 1. Why CityEngine Menus Help You Understand CGA Workflow The menus in CityEngine are not just for manual editing; they are designed to help you understand the procedural logic required for coding. If you don't grasp how the software handles shapes and models through the UI first, the code will feel abstract and frustrating. If I jump straight int...