Far out: SketchUp display problems due to distance

Have you ever imported a 3D model (or CAD information) into SketchUp only to find that the geometry has gone crazy?

Uh-oh: your 3D model is having an identity crisis. What do you do!?

 

The geometry shakes and shimmers while orbiting, it splinters and unwanted sections appear as you navigate through your model.

These types of display problems most often occur when geometry has been placed extremely far from the model origin. How far is “far”? Well, if the imported information was derived from survey or GIS data, we’ve seen models come in hundreds and even thousands of miles from the origin. SketchUp’s display technology was developed more for distances in Feet or Meters, so extreme distances can cause havoc on how geometry is brought to screen.

Luckily, there is a quick fix to this: relocate the geometry closer to the model origin. Here is a Skill Builder video reviewing this problem and various techniques for fixing it.

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