Generative design of landforms

with Dynamo in Civil 3D

Andreas Luka
Consultant | www.luka-consult.de
Introduction
About the speaker

Andreas Luka
25 Years as Landscape Designer for RLSA Rainer Schmidt
Landschaftsarchitekten, Munich & RLSA & GTL Gnüchtel
Triebswetter Landschaftsarchitekten Beijing, THUPDI Beijing
now Consultant in San Jose, CA & Next Generation Landscape
Design, Beijing
http://www.luka-consult.de/about.html

LX Stair, Revit trees

 Introduction

PARAMETRIC, COMPUTATIONAL AND GENERATIVE DESIGN

The evolution from parametric to computational and generative design.

DYNAMO FOR CIVIL 3D , DESIGNSCRIPT, PYTHON AND ZERO TOUCH NODES

Introduction to programming options in Civil 3D

LAND FORMS (ART – LANDSCAPE DESIGN – CIVIL ENGINEERING)

Land forms as art objects (Land Art), are essential part of landscape design (site engineering) and Civil
engineering (roads, dams, subdivisions, land fills)
Evolution of generative design
Generative design is a design exploration process. Designers or engineers input design goals into the generative
design software, along with parameters such as performance or spatial requirements, materials, manufacturing
methods, and cost constraints. The software explores all the possible permutations of a solution, quickly
generating design alternatives. It tests and learns from each iteration what works and what doesn’t.(Autodesk)
Programming in Civil 3D
C#
Python
ZTN
Simplicity vs. Speed vs. Encapsulation

• Dynamo visual programming Design

Script
• DesignScript
• Python
• ZTN

Capabilities
Dynamo

Speed
Land forms
Grading and terrain modeling is a key part of site engineering, landscape design and land art.
Shaping the Earth’s surface must not only developing the aesthetic potential but also requires ecological
sensitivity and profound technical competency.
NURBS and ruled surfaces as
TIN definitions
Demo
Getting NURBS or ruled surfaces (parametric objects) into TIN definition
Connecting NURBS and ruled surfaces
to TIN definitions RUN

MODIFY, RUN & ANALYZE

CALCULATE 
Import CSV file

Analyse the surface

Modify
CONNECT THE DOTS
INPUT 
Run your Script Again

Install my ZTN Zero Touch
Node for Surfaces
NURBS & RULED SURFACES 
Export to CSV file

OUTPUT 
NURBS and ruled surfaces
as parametric objects

Accessing AutoCAD/Civil
TINS IN CIVIL 3D
3D objects from Dynamo
Definition by

Points

Break lines

Boundaries
Computational design of land
forms
Demo
Create and art work with repetitive elements, export it as COGO point group, create TIN and adjust TIN inside Civil
3D for Cut/Fill balance
Creating forms by algorithm RUN

ANALYZE, MODIFY, ADJUST

CALCULATE 
Run

Analyse the surface
(cut/fill)
BUILD THE FORMS
INPUT 
Optimize in Civil 3D

Single Cogo Point (Peak of
one cone)
DESIGN AREA 
Array of points (Bottom of

OUTPUT 
Get and access area
one cone)

(circle) and elevation at


Move the cone

center 
Array of cones
TINS IN CIVIL 3D

Parameters for design 
Place on destinated area
Approximated forms by adjustments of maximum

Cogo Point Group radius and height of cones
and spiral
Mountain design from subway
excavation material
Demo
Geomorphic design for a mountain/hill from subway tunnel excavation material.
Mountain design from subway
excavation material (generative REFINE
design)
ANALYZE, MODIFY, ADJUST

METRICS 
Random solutions

Cross products

Filtering
EVALUATION
OBJECTIVES 
Optimize

Fill goal archived

Slopes and Catchment
DESIGN GOALS areas

3D MODEL 
Archive fill volume

Ranking visual apperiance


Stability and avoid
Erosion
POLYSURFACE MESH

Natural appearance of
Understand the approach
form
Import base model
Model in Dynamo with
attractors
OUTLOOK
Algorithmic path finding
Demo
Geomorphic design of landfills and mines
Demo
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