About Models

Models are collections of information, styles, and data. Two elements make up a model on your system: the database (*.sqlite) and a data folder. Each model has certain properties assigned to it, such as the database and UCS coordinate systems, model extents, and default terrain style.

You can create, open, duplicate, delete, or interact with your models from InfraWorks Home, which displays when you launch InfraWorks 360. To redisplay InfraWorks Home after opening or creating a model, click from the Intelligent Tools strip.

About Creating Models

There are two ways to create a model in InfraWorks 360.
  1. Create a model with Model Builder.

    Model Builder finds and acquires high-resolution data layers and then builds models for the area of interest you specify.

  2. Create a model manually.
    3. Note: Models that are connected to design groups are stored and published in the cloud. Local models can be stored on your local system or a mapped network drive. To keep display time fast, a tile cache is created on your local drive when you create a new model on a network drive. You can set the location of the tile cache in Application Options. The status of each of your InfraWorks models (Local, Cloud, or Connected) is displayed in model tiles on InfraWorks Home.

Once you create a model in this release of InfraWorks 360, that model will fully support the new database schema and style definitions. You can change some of the properties of the model later, but you cannot change the model location or the schema on which it is based after it is created. You will not be able to open that model in previous versions of InfraWorks 360.

A single model can span all UTM zones, while maintaining accuracy in measurement and representation. The tile cache is actually a globe. If you create a very large model, parts of the globe will be covered. If you do not bring in data for the entire globe (for example, the publicly available SRTM terrain data), there will be large gaps in the model, making it difficult to navigate.

About Surface Layers

In an InfraWorks model, the terrain (elevation data) represents the land upon which the model is built. Surface layers are draped to the terrain. When importing data, you can specify "Don't Drape" for features that you don't want to drape to the terrain.

Data Layer(s) Example Notes
Terrain (Elevation)

Raster-based data (grids) or vector-based data (TIN or contour files) are supported for terrain data.

Terrain and Water areas
Water areas are represented by coverages and draped on the terrain.
  • You can sketch or import coverages.
  • Closed polyline coverages represent moving water bodies such as rivers, creeks, and streams.
  • Polygonal coverages represent more static bodies of water like oceans, seas, and lakes.
Terrain and Aerial Imagery (Orthography)

Aerial imagery is draped on the terrain.

Terrain and Transportation Data (Roads and Railways)
Roads and railways are draped on the terrain.
  • You can sketch or import roads and railways.
  • Imported roads and railways are represented in InfraWorks as planning roads and railways, which only support basic geometry. This is also true for models that were created by the Model Builder.
  • With Roadway Design for InfraWorks 360, you can convert planning roads to design roads and work with more advanced road and railway geometry.
Terrain and Building Data

Buildings are draped on the terrain.

  • You can sketch or import buildings.
  • Configure imported buildings data to specify desired settings such as roof height, roof material, building facade, and base color.
3D Model Data
You can add 3D models such as solar arrays, vehicles, trees, barriers, street decorations, and so forth to your designs. You can also add animated 3D models to your model.
  • You can sketch or import 3D models.
  • Sketch 3D models through the Style Palette.
  • Import 3D model data for different feature class types.
  • Edit a style to add 3D model decorations to that style.
  • Import or sketch animated 3D objects.
Terrain, Water Areas, Aerial Imagery, Transportation Data, Building Data, and 3D models (City Furniture, Trees, and so forth.)

Use the Model Explorer to control the visibility, display, and selectability of different model data.

Additional information

InfraWorks 360 comes with a sample model of the city of Fremont, California, as well as a Tutorial model.
  • Use the sample model to experiment with InfraWorks 360 before creating your own models.
  • Complete tutorial exercises to learn more about working with models. See About the Autodesk InfraWorks 360 Tutorials for more information.

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