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Rhino site model generator

Site context for Rhino, exported as native 3DM

Build the surrounding city from a real address, inspect it in the browser and export a native .3dm file in meters. Buildings, terrain and context are organised so you can keep modelling in Rhino instead of rebuilding the site by hand.

Native Rhino .3dmMeters · Z-up workflowSeparated context layers
3D site model for Rhino generated from real map data
Rhino workflow

Get useful context into Rhino without tracing the city

Choose the site

Search the project address and draw the context area you actually need.

Build the model

Generate buildings, terrain, roads, water, green and trees and inspect the result before exporting.

Open the 3DM

Download the native .3dm file and continue with massing, design development or a Grasshopper-connected Rhino workflow.

What survives the handoff

Architecture-friendly model structure

Meters and local origin

The export is written in meters around a local site origin, keeping coordinates manageable for architectural modelling.

Layer organisation

The Rhino file creates a MapToNap parent layer and separate context layers for the exported model content.

Context, not survey

Use it for design and presentation. Heights can be estimated and the terrain source is regional rather than survey-grade.

More than a base model

Use the same address for analysis

39 site diagrams

Generate site-analysis drawings from the same location instead of rebuilding a second data workflow.

3D presentation tools

Use exploded city, program stack and analysis-stack tools in the browser before or alongside the Rhino handoff.

Import your proposal

The 3D Site workspace can bring in a saved MapToNap floorplan model so context and proposal can be viewed together.

Frequently asked questions

What to know before you export

Does MapToNap export native Rhino 3DM?

Yes. The 3D Site exporter can create a native .3dm file in meters.

Are model layers separated in Rhino?

Yes. The 3DM writer creates a MapToNap parent layer and separate model layers so context can be isolated more easily.

Can I use the file with Grasshopper?

The export is a normal Rhino 3DM file, so you can open it in Rhino and reference or process its geometry in your own Rhino and Grasshopper workflow.

How accurate are the building heights?

Where map height or floor-count data is missing, heights may be estimated. Treat the result as architectural context, not verified survey geometry.

What area can I export?

The current 3D file exporter supports up to 4 km². With MAX, up to 1 km² includes three exports per 24 hours; 1–4 km² is €2 per export.

Related workflows

Keep working from the same site