Rh 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.