Documentation

Get Started

Welcome to our DraftInsights We're excited to have you on board and can't wait to see what you'll create with it.

To help you get started, we've put together this documentation that will guide you through the setup process and provide you with all the information you need to start using our product with ease.

From installation instructions to troubleshooting tips, we've got you covered. Let's dive in and get started!

To use DraftInsights, the following is required:

Rhinoceros 7.20 or later
Windows 10 or later

Get License Key

To get started, simply check your email for a 16 character key we've sent you. If you don't have one, click here to get a Trial

Add License to Rhino Cloud

Log into Rhino3d.com, go to 'Manage Licenses', and add your license key under your personal or team account to activate your Rhino3d license.

Install DraftInsights

To download the latest version, click Here and run the .msi file.

Start DraftInsights

To access DraftInsights, simply open Rhino and type 'DraftInsights' in the command line.

How to Start a project

If you're new to DraftInsights, don't worry - we've made it easy to get started. In just a few simple steps, you can set up your first project and start exploring the powerful design tools and analysis capabilities that DraftInsights has to offer. Follow the guide below to learn how to create a new project in under 30 seconds.

New Project

Ready to start your next project with DraftInsights? Great!

When you open a new project, you'll be greeted with a welcome screen. Before you can get started, we'll need a bit more information from you.
Simply click the 'Start New Project' button to begin and we'll guide you through the process step-by-step.
Let's get started!

Select Location

Let's get started on selecting the location for your project!

The first step is to choose the site where your project will be located.
Simply click on the map to pinpoint the location.
To navigate the map, hold down the left mouse button to pan, and scroll in/out to zoom.
Alternatively, you can search for a specific location using the search bar and hitting enter. The location you select will be set as the center of your Rhino file (0,0).

Context

Want to add surrounding context to your project?

We can do that for you! If you prefer not to, simply click 'Skip'. The rectangle on the map represents the area to be built upon.

You can drag the rectangle by holding down the left mouse button or resize it by dragging on the lower right corner. Our software can generate the surrounding buildings and roads, along with their data.

The amount of available information may vary depending on your location.

If no building height data is available, you can set the default height for the neighborhood.

Weather Data

Let's get your project's climate data set up!"

Simply select one of the three nearest weather stations and choose the time period you want to include in your project.

Keep in mind that the nearest weather station might not always be the most accurate representation of your project's climate.

It's important to take into account the surrounding context, such as proximity to the ocean, mountains, water bodies, and city density.

For the best results, choose a weather station that is most similar to your project's location.

DraftInsights Objects

DraftInsights offers a seamless integration with Rhino, allowing you to design in the same familiar way. All objects created within DraftInsights are dynamic and attached to Rhino Geometry, which means that any changes you make to your design will be reflected across all DraftInsights objects. For example, if you change a simple polyline into a parking lot, DraftInsights will automatically adjust the parking lot to fit the new shape, giving you the flexibility you need to iterate and refine your designs quickly and easily.

Building

Geometry input:

Extrusion
Brep

Data:

Name/Adresse

Settings:

Height
Floor Height
Facade modules
Is Context
Colors

Buildings are one of the main objects you can create.
To get started, simply select your Brep or Extrusions, which will serve as the shape of your building.
Once you have done this, click on the new Building Icon.

Buildings can consist of multiple shapes, which can be merged together. This is done by either constructing a new building mass or dragging one onto an existing mass.

Once your building is created, you can start working on the various elements that make up the building, such as facades, roofs, and floors.

Each building element can be selected and edited to fit your project's specific needs. In addition, each element can also be used for analysis, which can provide valuable insights into how the building will perform. For example, the facade of a building consist of multiple facade modules, each of which can be edited or analyzed separately.

Road

Geometry input:

Polyline

Data:

Name/Adresse

RoadType

Vehicle Count

Vehicle Speed

Settings:

Creating a road is easy. Simply select a polyline and click on the new Road icon.

By default, the road will be categorized as a Small Main Road. However, if this is not accurate, you can change it to the appropriate category. The number of vehicles and their speed will automatically adjust based on the road type, following EU standards.

If you have more precise information about the road, such as its width or number of lanes, you can also enter this data to ensure greater accuracy. Overall, creating a road in our software is a simple process that allows you to easily incorporate roads into your project and obtain accurate information about their properties.

Analysis Grid

Geometry input:

Surface

Data:

Name

Settings:

Grid Distance

The analysis grid is a powerful tool that allows you to run various analyses on a selected surface. To create an analysis grid, simply select the surface you want to analyze and click on the "Create Analysis Grid" icon. Once the analysis grid is created, you can customize it by adjusting the grid distance.

With the analysis grid in place, you can run a variety of built-in analyses such as solar radiation, noise and view analysis. The results of the analyses are displayed visually on the grid, allowing you to quickly and easily understand the impact of various factors on your project.

Parking

Geometry input:

Closed Polyline

Data:

Settings:

Booth Width
Booth Length
Booth Angle
Maneuvering length
Divider Type
Divider Width

To create a Parkinglot, first, select a closed polyline and click on the Create New Parking Lot icon. Our software will dynamically generate parking spaces that fit the shape of the polyline.

It is worth noting that the parking lot can be easily adjusted to fit many different use cases beyond car parking. For example, the width, length, and maneuvering size can be adjusted to represent bicycle parking, supermarket aisles, or any other standard array solutions.

Additionally, each plot can be selected and changed into a different booth type, such as handicap or electric vehicle charging stations.

Analysis

The Analysis Toolbox is a powerful feature in DraftInsights that allows you to quickly assess how your design decisions impact the performance of the building and its surroundings. With almost real-time feedback, you can adjust your design on the fly and see how it affects various aspects such as Noise, Sunlight access, and View. This enables you to make informed decisions and create designs that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and sustainable.

Area

Accuracy:
Extremely Precise

Unit:

m2 or Adjustable

Description is Missing

Weather statistics are a crucial aspect of designing a sustainable building.

With DraftInsights, you can get detailed weather statistics for your project site, enabling you to make informed design decisions before even starting to draw any geometry. This powerful tool allows you to understand your environment and establish design guidelines that align with your project goals.

Wind

Understanding Wind Patterns

The Wind Statistics feature provides information on the most common wind directions and speeds for the site. Additionally, it can display wind patterns for specific time periods, such as winter, summer, hot or warm periods, and when it's suitable for natural ventilation. This information can help inform design decisions, such as the placement of windows and orientation of buildings, to maximize natural ventilation and energy efficiency.

Climate Designer

My name is Alexa Young

The Climate Designer tool is a powerful feature, which allows you to see how different design decisions can affect the microclimate of your project before you even start drawing.

The Climate Designer shows the Universal Thermal Comfort Index (UTCI), which takes into account factors such as direct sunlight, wind, and clothing to determine the felt temperature rather than just the air temperature. With this information, you can make informed decisions about how to design for sun or shade, and which direction to block the site in order to create the most comfortable environment for your building occupants.

Explore the different options for blocking or allowing sunlight and

adjusting wind exposure. Use the UTCI data to guide your design decisions and create a comfortable, healthy environment for your context.