Hi All—

In the spirit of sharing, I’m posting the parametric topo script that we use to teach our first year landscape architecture students @ University of Pennsylvanian digital topography.

Using simple curve profile modeling, the students can quickly explore, measure, and test a range of topographic design options. Essentially the process is analogous to gestural sketching or clay molding but with the benefit of precise analysis. Besides mesh generation, the script will also estimate cut/fill, cut contour sections, and calculate slope percentages (listed numerically & visualized via “hachures”).  With the addition of components by others, it will also simulate surface drainage & automatically generate laser cutsheets w/ labels for the easy production of scaled contour models.

The file requires Element & Sonic to be fully functional. Download Element here: http://www.food4rhino.com/project/element?ufh. Sonic here: http://www.food4rhino.com/project/sonic?ufh.

I welcome any comments, suggestions, amendments, or criticisms that you may have. Hope it’s of benefit to our (digital) landscape community!