❓Frequently Asked Questions
Site-Specifics
How can I change the terrain category?
In the location tab of a site, you can manually update the terrain category as well as the orography factor by selecting Edit wind profile and making your changes.
Can I elevate the tower above ground level?
Yes, you can set the base elevation of the tower shaft.
You can either specify this directly or choose to calculate this value based on the selected foundation.
Loading
Which force coefficient is used for linear ancillaries?
By default, we use
1.2 for feeders
2.0 for access ladders
You can manually override the force coefficient when editing your linear ancillaries.
Can I adjust the load combination coefficients?
Yes. You can manually set the SLS partial coefficients, either per site or as a default for your organization.
Which ancillary types do you support?
We support a wide range of ancillaries. We're continuously expanding, and as of 18.07.25, we support
GSM antenna
MW Dish with shroud
MW Dish without shroud
MW Dish as grid
MW Dish with radome
Omni antennna
GPS device
Yagi antenna
Dipole antenna
RRU module
ODU
FTTA box
PTTA box
TMA device
MHA device
Obstruction light
Lightning rod
Working platform
Helix antenna
Ice shield
Combiner
Grid antenna
In addition, you can the custom ancillary types to create and model any ancillary type.
We support multiple ways of calculating force coefficients for antennas, have a look at the deep dive into How Ancillary EPA is Calculated.
How are wind loads applied to the structure?
Have a look at our deep dive How Wind Loads Are Applied To The Structure.
Does Shapemaker support ice loading?
Yes, Shapemaker supports adding icing to the structure and ancillaries according to Annex NA.C of DIN EN 1993-3-1 (German Standard). The user can input the ice density and thickness.
Is it possible to change the reliability class?
Yes. This setting is available in the structure tab after enabling advanced settings for your users. You can enable advanced settings by clicking at your profile in the top right corner.
Does Shapemaker support patch loading?
Yes, Shapemaker support patch loading both for guyed masts and self supported structures, as according to the tower Eurocode.
How is ancillary EPA calculated?
Have a look at our deep dive here: How Ancillary EPA is Calculated.
How are forces from an antenna distributed over the legs?
Have a look at Wind forces on discrete ancillaries.
Can I see the detailed loading of the load cases and load combinations?
Yes! In addition to the full report, you can use the FEA viewer located in the results tab to inspect both input & output to the FEA solver.
How is the cscd factor calculated?
The structural factor cscd is determined in accordance with Chapter 6.3 and Annex B, and Annex F (logarithmic damping decrement only) of EN 1991-1-4 for each wind direction.
Tower Family Modelling
Which panel types do you support?
The TowerBuilder is continuously in development, but as of 18.07.25, we support a wide range of typically use panel types. See the photo for an extract.
Shapemaker is happy to onboard new panel types on request and as needed by our customers.
Can you add a custom panel type?
As of 18.07.25, we do not support having users creating new geometries of panels.
This feature is on our roadmap, but without a set timeline.
Shapemaker is happy to add panel types needed for you tower families.
Do you support built-up members/reinforced members?
Shapemaker supports a variety of built up members. A non-exhaustive list
Back-to-back angular members
Star angular members
Various combinations of angular + circular members
More
Design Checks
Which foundations does Shapemaker support?
As of 23.09.25, Shapemaker supports the modelling and capacity checks of
Raft foundation without columns
Raft foundation with single column
Raft foundation with multiple columns
Multiple piers anchored in rock
Single pier anchorerd in rock
Hold-down bolts
Piers on circular pad
Do you calculate the criteria for equivalent static method?
Yes. You can see the result and the intermediate values used in the calculation in the full report.
Which design checks does Shapemaker do?
Check out Which design checks does Shapemaker do?.
Analysis
Which tower types does Shapemaker support?
As of 18.07.25, Shapemaker supports full static analysis of
Three and four legged self supported lattice stuctures
Steel monopoles
Hybrids: mono + lattice or lattice + mono
Guyed masts
Standardised rooftops - onboarded as agreement with client.
How can Shapemaker perform a structural analysis so fast?
As Shapemaker is telecom-only, it has enable us to optimise the force calculations and capacity checks to the structure types we support.
Even if we're evaluation hundreds of load cases, you'll experience that the analysis could finish in just seconds. Thanks to parallelisation of FEA runs, we're able to analyse 100+ meters guyed masts with non-linear analysis in just minutes.
Can I edit limits for capacity checks, deformation or natural frequency?
Yes. You can edit the limits for checks, deformation and natural frequency both on a company level and on each specific site.
Import & Export
Can Shapemaker be imported into a BIM software such as Revit or Robot?
Our API is available for all our users, and it's possible to extract all information used by Shapemaker through our API.
Through that, it's possible to extract the information needed to be inputted into a BIM software.
For our enterprise clients, we're happy to look into creating custom export functionality, or API integrations, to facilitate a good workflow between software.
Can Shapemaker towers be exported into a CAD software such as AutoCAD?
Our API is available for all our users, and it's possible to extract all information used by Shapemaker through our API.
Through that, it's possible to extract the information needed to be inputted into a CAD software.
For our enterprise clients, we're happy to look into creating custom export functionality, or API integrations, to facilitate a good workflow between software.
Note that Shapemaker automatically produces drawings that could replace typical use-cases for CAD drawings, such as constructions drawings. See Can you create construction drawings in Shapemaker?.
Can Shapemaker integrate with other software?
Shapemaker is API first, and all functionality in Shapemaker is possible to perform through the API.
Thus, Shapemaker is flexible and easy to integrate with.
We're already collaborating with several asset management systems, and are happy to extend to support your current architecture.
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