Rhino 3D — Modeling Pipeline
Landscape Architecture Workflow
The Modeling Pipeline
Landscape Architecture — Key Commands
Terrain & Curves
Build Topography
Build Topography
| Contours from topo image | HeightField |
| Surface from contours | Patch |
| Drape surface over pts | Drape |
| Contours from surface | Contour |
| Project curve to srf | Project |
| Pull curve to srf | Pull |
Curve Tools
Curve Tools
| Draw through points | InterpCrv |
| Offset a curve | Offset |
| Smooth a curve | Smooth |
| Rebuild curve | Rebuild |
| Join curves | Join |
| Trim / Extend | Trim / Extend |
Surface & Grading
Create Surfaces
Create Surfaces
| Loft between curves | Loft |
| Sweep along 1 path | Sweep1 |
| Surface from network | NetworkSrf |
| Extrude curve | ExtrudeCrv |
| Offset surface | OffsetSrf |
Edit & Grade
Edit & Grade
| Move control points | F10 → drag pts |
| Push/pull surface pts | MoveUVN |
| Smooth surface region | SoftEditSrf |
| Flow surface to srf | FlowAlongSrf |
| Trim surface | Trim |
Site Elements
Build Elements
Build Elements
| Wall / ramp / path | ExtrudeCrv |
| Steps / seating | ArrayLinear |
| Circular array | ArrayPolar |
| Pipe / column | Pipe |
| Duplicate element | Orient / Copy |
Boolean & Combine
Boolean & Combine
| Merge solids | BooleanUnion |
| Cut one from another | BooleanDifference |
| Shared volume | BooleanIntersection |
| Close open surface | Cap |
| Join surfaces | Join |
Output & Drawing
2D Drawing & Sections
2D Drawing & Sections
| Flatten 3D to lines | Make2D |
| Cut a section | Section |
| Contours / levels | Contour |
| Silhouette curves | Silhouette |
| Intersection curves | Intersect |
Layout & Export
Layout & Export
| Set up print sheet | Layout |
| Render viewport | Render |
| Export to AutoCAD | Export → .dwg |
| Export mesh | Export → .obj |
| Analysis: area/vol | Area / Volume |
Key Workflow Tips
Terrain from contours
Import contour lines from AutoCAD (.dwg) → use Patch or Drape to generate a surface. Then run Contour back on the surface to verify accuracy.
Sections & Make2D
Use Section to cut through your model, then Make2D to flatten everything into linework. Export as .dwg to refine in AutoCAD or Illustrator.
Or simply using Rhino plan view for 2D drafting -- actually more intuitive.
Surface vs Solid
Most landscape work stays as surfaces — terrain, paths, walls. Only close surfaces into solids (using Cap or Join) when you need Boolean operations or volume calculations.
Control point editing
Press F10 to show control points on any curve or surface. Drag points to reshape organically. Press F11 to hide. Use Rebuild to simplify a complex curve before editing.