1. You Have Much To Learn Grasshopper
You Have Much To Learn Grasshopper! Advanced Parametric and Procedural Modelling.
Tim Riefenberg
NELSON/3RD CANVAS

2. NELSON – BIM specialist + Visual Director
Tim Riefenberg
NELSON – BIM specialist + Visual Director
3rd Canvas - Developer
SCAD 2005 Arch + VSFX

3. Parametric and Procedural Modelling
INDEX SOFTWARE USED
REVIT 2012
VASARI ( Piloted program Available in Autodesk’s LABS)
DYNAMO( Visual Scripting plug-in for Revit )
PYTHON ( Scripting Language )
HOUDINI (PROCEDURAL Base Modeller)
RHINO ( 3d modeller NURBS Modeller)
GRASSHOPPER ( Visual Scripting plug-in for Rhino )
LEARN THE BASIC’S
Learn the foundation of a procedure. The principles of tools!
Don’t get isolated by one software. Focus on the idea
of How the software works!
FUTURE OF SOFTWARE IS MORE DATA!
Equals more coding
Streamlined Processes + THERES GOT TO BE AN EASIER WAY!

4. Parametric and Procedural Modelling
Why parametric and procedural Modelling?
Workflows
Creating an controlled Design
Organic and free-form design
Creating DATA
Numbers behind the Design
Data can be organized and extracted
Forward workflows
NO SKETCHUP!
Formulas and Scripting can control design as well
extract the data out to the raw-format.

5. Parametric and Procedural Modelling
WORK SMARTER NOT HARDER
FORWARD workflows REVIT – 3D - REVIT

6. Parametric Modelling What is Parametric?
An object having constraints controlled by an value
REVIT – Parameters control these values
Parameters can be User Created or
Using default values
Creating Parameters
Choose Family or Shared
Follow a Naming Standard (underscores)
Choose the correct Type
Type or Instance?

7. Parametric Modelling Type of Parameter Text Integer Number Length Area
Volume
Angle
Slope
Currency
URL
Material
Yes/No
Parameters Carry on
Integer ( Many software packages uses)

8. Parametric Modelling Building Relationships with Object’s in REVIT
Create correct Reference Lines or Planes
Set the appropriate origin
Attach objects to the Reference Lines
Adding new parameters to dimensions

9. Parametric Modelling

10. Parametric Modelling Embedded Family Parameters
Develop A plan of action
Limit amount of parameters needed
Build your model with the right amount of objects with the appropriate parameters for that object
Follow a naming standard
Are Formulas needed?

11. Parametric Modelling Formulas Keep it simple Take your time
Check your naming conventions

12. LEARN IT NOW INSTEAD OF LATER
Parametric Modelling
UNDERSTAND Formulas + Conditional Operators
< Less Than
< Greater Than
= Equal to
/ Divide By
AND Both statements are true
OR One of the statements are true
NOT Statement is false
FUTURE OF SOFTWARE IS MORE DATA! =
MORE CODING
LEARN IT NOW INSTEAD OF LATER

13. Parametric Modelling Formulas Its simple Math Swap names For Numbers!
Length / Column_Array = 20’ / 5
Length / max_spacing = 20’ / 4’
Columns total = 5

14. Parametric Modelling Line-Based Parametric Array
Develop the correct parameters per family component
Add the right formulas in the right place
Test your family first before inserting into project

15. Parametric Modelling Visual Slider Controls For Parameters
Several add-ins are available online- as well at Autodesk’s Lab’s

16. Parametric Modelling Panel Based Array Column Array Parametric Windows
Parametric Concrete Cut Patterns

17. Parametric Modelling

18. Parametric Modelling

19. Parametric Modelling Conceptual Mass Modelling In Vasari
Project Vasari 2.5 – Available on Autodesk Lab’s currently
Develop Parametric Profiles to define Shape
Control splines of Mass Model
Divide Surfaces
Reference points
Build Levels
Set Parameters to
Points and Levels

20. Parametric Modelling Reference Points and Planes
Vasari is limited on Design know its limits
Use what you’ve learned so far
Place as many or as little parameters as needed
Reference Points and Planes
Rotation values control Mid profile
Length controls reference points controlling spline of extrusion

21. Parametric Modelling Parametric Surface Modelling
Start with Conceptual Mass
Develop Reference lines and points
Divide surface by using standard pattern
Determine What Curtain panel shape you prefer
Develop Parameters for object control
Determine whether or not you need an adaptive component shape?

22. Parametric Modelling
Parametric Surface Modelling

23. Parametric Modelling
Parametric Surface Modelling

24. Parametric Modelling Parametric Surface Modelling Adaptive component
Create parametric controlled object

26. Procedural Modelling WHO USES PYTHON?
What is Python? Scripting language that gives you the eyes to Revit’s API
Why Python?
It’s free (open source code)
What is its use?
Energy analysis
Available RAW data of surfaces or objects
Currently available with REVIT 2012 and VASARI 2.5
Python Shell

27. Parametric Modelling
Parametric Surface Modelling Using Python

28. Parametric Modelling
Parametric Surface Modelling Using Python

29. Parametric Modelling Parametric Surface Modelling
Nucleus Modelling In Vasari
Create Dynamically controlled surfaces
Uses physics rules to manipulate form
Adding constraints to lock points
Using colliders to interact with the appropriate surface for the desired design

30. Parametric Modelling Parametric Surface Modelling
Nucleus Modelling In Vasari

31. Parametric Modelling Parametric Surface Modelling
Nucleus Modelling In Vasari Organic Modeller

32. Procedural Based Modelling
Procedural Modelling using Visual Scripting
Procedural Modeller HOUDINI <VSFX NURBS MODELER
Node based modelling
Workflow Tree
Edit one edit all

33. Procedural Based Modelling
Procedural Modelling using Visual Scripting
Procedural Modeller HOUDINI <VSFX NURBS MODELER

34. Procedural Based Modelling
Procedural Modelling using Visual Scripting
Procedural Modeller HOUDINI <VSFX NURBS MODELER

35. Procedural Based Modelling
Procedural Modelling using Visual Scripting
Procedural Modeller HOUDINI <VSFX

36. Procedural Based Modelling
Procedural Modelling using Visual Scripting
Visual scripting comes from Procedural Modellers of the Past. Like Houdini
Using Vasari with Dynamo one can control form based on Node Scripting

37. Procedural Based Modelling
Procedural Modelling using Visual Scripting
Dynamo is and plug-in available in the Autodesk’s labs currently
Available Nodes (ex. Plane , Line , Integer , XYZ )
Change and mass population with loading available families

38. Procedural Based Modelling
Procedural Modelling using Visual Scripting
Grasshopper is an Plug-In available for RHINO
Rhino Is a 3d Modelling Software very similar to 3D Studio Max
Rhino’s Lighting and available plug-ins are easier to accomplished as compared to 3D’s
Exporting geometry from Rhino to Revit
Formats
.dwg
.dxf
.3ds
.fbx
.sat

39. Procedural Based Modelling
Exporting Geometry from Rhino to REVIT
Bake Geometry
Optimize geometry and limit control points for functionality.
Acis/SAT only recognizes solids. Extruded forms have issues
Test your objects.
Brought into 3ds Check normals and triangulation
Revit Might have to explode objects to manipulate

40. Procedural Based Modelling
Procedural Modelling GRASSHOPPER
Operators In Grasshopper
Each Operator or Node is organized by Category
Parameters , Surface , Mesh etc.
Parameters – Integers (INPUTS)
Add expressions or variables
Multiply / Divide /Subtract / Add

41. Procedural Based Modelling
Procedural Modelling GRASSHOPPER NODES

42. Procedural Based Modelling
Procedural Modelling GRASSHOPPER NODES

43. Procedural Based Modelling
Procedural Modelling using Visual Scripting
Grasshopper Node based scripting
Start with define the over shape(nurbs based modeling)
Build your network small before going large
Operators
Surface
X,Y

44. Procedural Based Modelling
Procedural Modelling using Visual Scripting
Grasshopper Parametric controlled attractors can manipulate geometry
Array pattern Width opening controlled by Diameter

45. Procedural Based Modelling
Procedural Modelling using Visual Scripting
Grasshopper Parametric controlled attractors + UV NODES + COMIBINED

46. Procedural Based Modelling
Procedural Modelling using Visual Scripting
Grasshopper Node based script to create organic forms.
Organic forms
Add attractors to define voids in geometry
Create operators to reshape the characteristics
Of how the form JOINS.
Bake Geometry
Export to Revit ?

47. Procedural Based Modelling
Procedural Modelling using Visual Scripting
Either Spline based array
Organic forms
Limitations beyond the curve
Mess of geometry
Available of .ghx files on request

48. Procedural Based Modelling
Procedural Modelling using Visual Scripting
Procedural Modeller’s similarity
HOUDINI
DYNAMO
GRASSHOPPER
UNITY (JAVASCRIPT)
= CODE IS THE BACKBONE

50.
Tim Riefenberg
NELSON/ 3rd Canvas