u/Expensive_Bad_7819

Hi everyone,

I’m an architecture studen, and I’ve been building a small tool called Archshaper because I kept running into the same problem: making clean site maps and context maps can take a lot of time, especially in the early phase of a project.

The tool turns open map/GIS data into layered site maps with buildings, roads, green areas, water, labels, scale, paper sizes and export options like PDF, SVG and DXF. The goal is not to replace proper site analysis, but to make the first base map faster and nicer to work from.

I’m still shaping the tool, and I would really appreciate input from people who actually work with landscape architecture and site planning.

What would you need from a tool like this for it to be useful in your workflow?

For example:

• Which layers matter most to you?
• Do you care more about editable exports, visual quality, accuracy, speed, or something else?
• What do you usually spend too much time cleaning up when making site maps?
• Are there any specific landscape layers or analysis features you wish existed?

Feel very free to be critical. I’m mainly looking for practical advice and tips based on your own needs, so I can make it genuinely useful rather than just another map export tool.

Thanks a lot.

Hi r/rhino,

I’m building a tool that exports architectural site context directly to Rhino from an address/selected area.

It generates buildings, terrain, roads, water, green areas, contours, bridges, site boundary, etc. as separated Rhino layers, mainly for early-stage architecture and urban design work.

I’d love feedback from Rhino users:

What would make this actually useful in your workflow?

What layer structure or geometry quality would you expect?

Do you prefer lightweight simplified models, or more detailed context even if files get heavier?

What usually annoys you about imported context/city models in Rhino?

The screenshot shows the current preview/interface. I’m not trying to replace survey/GIS data — just make early context modelling much faster.

Would appreciate honest critique.