• Forma

Create a project in Forma

Create a new project, define a map area, and order data in Forma.


Step-by-step guide

Autodesk Forma helps planning and design teams deliver projects digitally from day one.

The first step in designing with Forma is to create a project.

  1. In the Forma Hub, from the Home page, select New project.

To select a map area, which defines where the model is added and where analyses are run:

  1. Enter an address, area name, or coordinates into the search field.
  2. From the area options, select the appropriate area.
    In the Forma interface, a map of the earth, a city name entered in the search field, and an area option selected for this example.

A terrain model is created, and the map automatically zooms into the selected area. This view can be toggled between the roadmap and a hybrid map.

  1. If needed, continue to perform a text search for a different area or a more precise location.
    A zoomed-in view of the now hybrid map, with a street name entered in the search field and a precise location selected.

The designated map area appears framed by a square boundary that disappears when the map is zoomed out beyond the maximum allowed area. Notice that while zooming or panning, in the Map area and terrain panel, the Selected area coordinates and area values update accordingly.

In the map, a zoomed-in view of the selected area appears framed by a square boundary, and in the Map area and terrain panel, the Selected area coordinates and values are highlighted in red.

  1. Once the map area is ready, click Confirm map area.

After loading, both the canvas and the Order data dialog box display.

  1. Choose the data to use in the project.

The data quality and availability varies by country and region. Select from buildings, terrain, roads, property boundaries, or any combination of these types of data.

  1. In this instance, the Open City Model is selected.
    The Order data dialog box, with Open City Model selected under Buildings.

This opens the Open City Model details.

  1. Review the details, and then click Order.
    A map and details of the Open City Model selected for this example, with Order selected.
  1. If the selected map area is too large, select a smaller area by using the control grips to adjust the boundary.
    A map of the area selected for this example, with the boundary being adjusted to a smaller area using the control grips.
  1. After making changes, select Order again.

In addition to ordering data from the suggested providers, data or existing models can also be imported.

To import data:

  1. In the Order data dialog box, open the Import tab.
  2. Drag and drop data files into the dialog box to import them into the project.

Supported filetypes include OBJ, IFC, DXF, and raster images.

  1. Once the data is ordered, Close the Order data dialog box.

The canvas now displays the map area and the data.

  1. To review the status of the data in the project, from the sidebar, select Library.
    On the canvas, the map area and data, and in the sidebar, Library selected and highlighted in red to show the status of the data in the project.

Here, the data orders, and any imports display as a thumbnail.