Digital Harvest tool (Part 1: walls)
an open source tool created by Frangiscos Hinoporos @CSALT
Introduction
Digital Harvest is a tool that uses Grasshopper to draw on a PDF of an existing building plan to "harvest" the volume of building materials used to help with understanding the potential of existing building materials, with an aim to divert demolition material from landfill, and foster design using existing materials.
Using the Tool (Step #1)
After importing plans into Rhino [.cad, .pdf, .jpeg], trace a line in Rhino model-space along the inside of the exterior wall. Then, press the UPDATE button in Grasshopper.
Change Parameters (Step #2)
Now you can adjust the various parameters of the wall, including the sizes of the base plate, Top Plates, Studs, Blocking and Insulation to match the as-found building. The material volumes change as you UPDATE, and can be exported to an Excel file to understand embodied energy and carbon impact of the material as well as the potential volume of material for use in a new design. The Openings, Doorways, Floor Plates and Foundation elements will be released in the future.
Download Instructions:
​
-
You must have Rhino and Grasshopper installed on your computer
-
Also install the plugin Elefront from Food4Rhino
-
Note: there needs to be a layer in Rhino called "INPUT CURVES" in order for this tool to detect the lines and update them.
-
​The button below will allow you to download the Grasshopper script for "Digital Harvest" created by Frank Hinoporos at CSALT.
-
DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT PROFESSIONAL SOFTWARE, IT IS A GRASSHOPPER SCRIPT THAT IS MEANT TO ENABLE USING PARAMETRIC DESIGN TOOLS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS. IT MAY HAVE GLITCHES :) WE WELCOME YOU TO FIX THEM, ADD TO THIS AND ALTER THIS FOR YOUR OWN NEEDS.
