Superset
LAB: TECH
DIVISION: DEVELOPMENT
By Chris Landau, former Manager of Design Technology at OLIN & Tech Lab Leader
Introduction
Unique design problems may require unique tools. But more than that, landscape architecture has a unique set of design problems that are not thoroughly addressed by current architectural software offerings. Our dedication to our profession has fostered a dedication for making tools that allow us to solve custom problems and problems that are specific to the field of landscape architecture.
Auto-generated topography and light-fill documentation
Making tools is just the beginning. The successful deployment of tools requires the cultivation of competency. This means educating our staff about how these tools work and why, providing resources that make adoption and use easier, supporting day-to-day practice, and making upgrades based on the feedback of our users/designers.
Tools for making LiDAR point clouds more managable
SUPERSET is a growing set of tools that assist all OLIN project teams in Rhino, Grasshopper, Revit and Dynamo, and who's Python code-base has the capacity to migrate to other applications. SUPERSET ranges from workflows for standard 3D modeling and analysis to specialized tools for planting design and custom site features.
Custom visualization of mutualistic connections between plants and animals.
Components of SUPERSET have allowed us to build customized design workflows for design automation in large projects with many moving parts. One example is Vallco Town Center, where design changes to a 30-acre green roof would have normally been measured in months, we are able to achieve in one or two weeks. More importantly, our workflow results in fully articulated site volumes, which provide an incredible reference for coordination and pricing.
