Mastering CadMapper to Rhino

In the architecture industry, an efficient tool is always helpful, and might well be a game-changer. In this post, we're going to talk about a versatile tool with impressive capabilities - Cadmapper. 

We can use this tool to import terrain with existing buildings from any location in the world.

We will dive into the intricacies of Cadmapper to Rhino workflow and show how we can use it to optimize our architectural projects. 

Cadmapper Possibilities

As I have noted above, Cadmapper offers the possibilities to access CAD files for any location on the planet. By integrating data from NASA, USGS and Open Street Map, Cadmapper helps the creation of 3D files. 

This is a valuable resources for professionals. Furthermore, it is accessible to everyone as the maps up to one square kilometer are free to use.

How Does CAD Mapper work?

Firstly, go to the Cadmapper website and sign up for a free account. It's a very straightforward process from there. Simply define the area you're interested in, get your file and use it in the software. 

One of the awesome features is the possibility to integrate Cadmapper to Rhino. This allows us to export open street data of any city into Rhino. After you sign in, you can choose the format in which you want to export the file - it can be either Rhino, Sketchup, Illustrator, DXF file or AutoCAD, whichever you prefer. 

Additionally, the level of details we're able to control is stunning. For instance, if you choose to include topography in your file, you can play around with the width of major and minor roads, highways and even paths. 

Getting Started With Cadmapper

Now we'll walk you through the process of using a map. In our case, we decided to go with Manhattan, New York. After we define the area, we need to click on "create file". This way we will get our map. We can further adjust the file, if for example we don't want it to be square. 

Once we do all the required changes, we'll click on "preview file" to see what it looks like and then download it. 

Using the File in Rhino

After we download the file, we need to import it into Rhino. You will notice that the layers are already applied. The layers include all the elements - major and minor roads, paths, railways, parks, water, topography and its contours. 

If we want to change the look of the overall model, we can adjust the appearance of each layer as necessary. 

For instance, if your project involves a particular building, you can select the areas of the building, then group them and create a new layer for the project.

Enhancing Visual Appeal

We can use visual styles to easily create a diagram or a graphical presentation of our model, without modifying the existing file. To do this, we will navigate to Arctic mode, which gives us a clean white aesthetic. Also, we can modify Arctic mode as well, to create a visual style we need. 

Another thing we can do is create custom styles. Go to Options and change the display mode. This will allow us to highlight specific parts of the model - project building, for example, by giving it a different color.

Exporting the File

Once we're happy with the visual style of the model, we can export it for printing. Type "View Capture to File" in the command box. 

Set up the resolution of the image, save it and you're done with the export.

Final Thoughts

Cadmapper simplifies the design process, and hence it is an invaluable and efficient tool for architects. With the ability to use Cadmapper to Rhino workflow, it is definitely worth exploring. 

If you want to learn more, and dive into in-depth tutorials regarding Cadmapper and Rhino, you may want to consider becoming a member of How to Rhino Patreon, where we cover various topics, including parametric modeling with Grasshopper.