# Is there a way to reduce topography tin to more coarse grid?

**URL:** <https://forums.sketchup.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-reduce-topography-tin-to-more-coarse-grid/29559>\
**Category:** SketchUp\
**Tags:** terrain, mesh, tin, topography\
**Created:** [August 26, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-reduce-topography-tin-to-more-coarse-grid/29559 "2016-08-26T20:51:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MichalS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ed8c4c/32.png) [@MichalS](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/MichalS)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-reduce-topography-tin-to-more-coarse-grid/29559/1 "2016-08-26T20:51:33Z")

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I have a very detailed tin of an existing topography, very fine grid. I don’t need it to be so detailed and would like to reduce it to more coarse grid to reduce file size. Is this possible in SU?

 ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/3X/b/f/bfa1fa5fd145aa5fd7a3e7c9c9751bc823247f14.jpg)

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**Author:** ![DanRathbun](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/danrathbun/32/500_2.png) [@DanRathbun](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DanRathbun)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 8:55pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-reduce-topography-tin-to-more-coarse-grid/29559/2 "2016-08-26T20:55:16Z")

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**Likely with an extension.**

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The SketchUp Team has an extension:  
[**Simplify Contours Tool**](http://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/simplify-contours-tool)

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Also, the **Sandbox Tools** extension comes installed with SketchUp.

> [Extension | SketchUp Extension Warehouse](http://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/sandbox-tools) _says:_

The Sandbox Tools extension implements the concept of a sandbox which refers to a surface that can be generated and manipulated using sandbox tools. A sandbox in SketchUp (and in other 3D modeling tools) is commonly referred to as a triangulated irregular network or **TIN** in terrain Modeling terminology.

Switch on it’s toolbar via, menu: **View** \> **Toolbars…** dialog. Dock it where you will. Open the **Instructor** window to see tool help.

Refer to the online User Guide chapter: [Modeling Terrain and Other Rounded Shapes](http://help.sketchup.com/en/article/3000130)

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Search **Extension Warehouse** for other extensions, “mesh” or “terrain” etc.

[http://extensions.sketchup.com/en/search/site/mesh](http://extensions.sketchup.com/en/search/site/mesh)  
[http://extensions.sketchup.com/en/search/site/terrain](http://extensions.sketchup.com/en/search/site/terrain)

… _etc_, …

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Cotty](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/cotty/32/251290_2.png) [@Cotty](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Cotty)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 7:27am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-reduce-topography-tin-to-more-coarse-grid/29559/3 "2016-08-27T07:27:23Z")

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I would try to reduce the topography in an external program (Meshlab e.g.) before the SketchUp import…