In order to further our understanding of how Grasshopper components can be used to create parameters for our models. To begin, we used the following:

This allowed us to better understand the logic behind simple scale, vectors, and rotational values assigned to various curves. Next we played with the ability to add objects along the surface of curves, using the Divide component to clarify which curves should be added to what, and at what interval. 

Finally, we created a variety of curves and surfaces to explore how the Divide component and its variants can work to create similar results. Here is the coding for all of these, each annotated for clarity as to my process. 

I will likely be playing around with a number of tutorial files I found on Parametric House now that I have a better understanding of some of Grasshopper and Rhino’s logic. In particular, I want to see how well I can use Grasshopper to make a parameter to create the most recently discovered Platonic Solid, the scutoid. It has some interesting architectural implications, maybe even landscape ones. I’ll need to investigate if it’s possible to add in scutoid creation into the primitives as a tool. 

This was a fast assignment, so I’ll be brief. I used Grasshopper to manipulate a torus primitive with a number slider, hooking it up to the T, S, and D2 values. This allowed for some unique shapes to be generated. I plan to play around with a number of Grasshopper tutorials and extensions I have downloaded through Food4Rhino and Parameter House, which look to be informative and very useful. Here is what I made. 

To begin today’s lesson, we used Iowa Geo-data to gather data on a landscape that we are working on for another class. I have been working on a construction document for a proposed landscape for the southern corner of Reiman Gardens, so I chose this location. I found the Geo-data for Story County and downloaded it for use in ArcGIS Pro, which I then used to crop out the site for export into a DWG file. This was imported into Rhino, which gave accurate topography for the model at correct spacing and heights. 

At first I attempted to convert the topography into a surface by selecting the points of the curve, and then Patching it. This led to a rather warped model, so I was inclined to use Rhino Terrain. This made a much cleaner model that could be easily exported to scale as a 3DS file, which I then imported into Lumion (Note to self, always center model to coordinates 0,0,0). 

Once in Lumion, I converted the model into terrain, and molded it best I could to Lumion’s base. I then added foliage, mostly trees, into the model to reflect the site as it is. Lastly, I inserted fences that marked out the boundaries. I will need to eventually learn how to add in roadways, though I believe that will likely be done by projecting and overlaying a thin surface layer onto the topographic surface. Here is a poster of my process.