I had a structural client ask me this week the best way to model a wall foundation if the walls were being modeled by the Architect. I had two suggestions one of which made me think of this post. In this case we can use slab edges, but instead of hosting them to a slab they can be hosted to model lines. I have used this tip many times since slab edged can’t be hosted to the sloped side of a slab but they can be hosted to sloping lines. Oh the added bonus is that they can also be hosted to curved lines in elevation. Slab edge hosted to model lines shown below in elevation.
I also wanted to point out that Roof Fascias and gutters can be hosted to model lines as well. Although gutters can only host to flat and not sloping or curved lines.
I have used this trick to do more than the intention. Since all of these tools are just profiles being swept along a path the profile can be anything you want; for example curbs, gutters and sidewalks in a parking lot. Now this isn’t going to follow topography but it does work well for schematic.
I am using this method for footings in a project currently since I am not modeling the walls or the slabs. It was one of a few options I considered – the others were to model the footings as concrete beams, or model a very thin wall under the Arch wall to which I could host my footings, or model a slab the thickness of my strip footings. I think the model line approach is generally quick to model and to edit, but clean-up and joining issues took a little consideration. One other downside is that I can’t tag slab edges; although I can schedule them. It is not perfect, but certainly an option, and so far at least as good as, if not better than, any of the others options.