3D industrial area (modular)

Project Duration:  3 weeks

Team: solo

Software: Maya, Unreal Engine 4, Substance Painter

Theme: industrial area in 3d from real world reference

Main Feature(s): modular set of meshes (~20 individual ones) allowing for different set-ups

Workflow: gathering references, modelling, UV-mapping, texturing, importing and arranging in UE4

 

Summary

The goal for this project was to build a modular industrial pipeline construction in Maya, texture it and import it into Unreal Engine 4 to make a sample arrangement. The pipeline-construction is based on a real-world model and uses only around twenty individual assets. I also tried to keep the poly-count as low as possible, as the final 3d-assets should be usable for game development. 

  • pipe-support arrangement
  • construction in UE4 from the top
  • metal platform pieces
  • construction in UE4 from the ground
  • final set of individual meshes

Workflow

First I visited the location and made photos for reference.

Then I started to model these elements.

Before importing the meshes I just roughly edited the UV maps and made simple placeholder textures for them, as this wasn't the focus of this exercise. 

I looked for recurring elements. In this case, metal pipes and support bars. Other notable details were metal ladders, platforms and valve wheels.

Afterwards I arranged them to create more complex structures and make reusable set-pieces.

Finally I imported the textured meshes into Unreal and made a sample arrangement in a grey box environment.


Outcome