This document provides a 20-step process for transferring an architectural model created in Rhino into Ecotect for lighting analysis. It begins with preparing the Rhino model by ensuring clean geometry organized by layers that specify materials. The model is then exported as a DXF file and imported into a new Ecotect scheme. Zones are created for each Rhino layer and materials are assigned. Once complete, the model is ready for lighting analysis in Ecotect.

1. New York City
College of Technology
The City University of New York
From Rhino to Ecotect
Architectural technology department
written by Nicole Seekely
revised March 24, 2010 1:25 PM

2. Notes:
page 2 of 10
From Rhino to Ecotect
Step One:
Make sure your model has
clean geometry. For lighting,
Ecotect can handle detailed
geometry - the more detailed
it is, the better results you will
get. However, it is important
for your model to be clean for
the best results.
Step Two:
Make sure all your elements
are placed in layers that spec-
ify the object’s material. This
will make assigning material in
Ecotect much easier. Again,
the more specific, the better.

3. Notes:
page 3 of 10
From Rhino to Ecotect
Step Three:
File - Save As
Step Four:
Save your file as an AutoCAD
(*.dxf). Be sure to remember
the location you saved your
file.

4. Notes: You’ll want to create a new scheme so that the surfaces are read correctly when
brought into Ecotect.
page 4 of 10
From Rhino to Ecotect
Step Five:
Click on “Edit Schemes”
Step Six:
Click on “New”

5. Notes:
page 5 of 10
From Rhino to Ecotect
Step Seven:
Rename your new scheme
and click OK.
Step Eight:
Set your settings to look like
the menu here. You want
to make sure Surfaces and
Meshes are written as Mesh-
es, not Curves.
Step Nine:
Click Close and OK when the
Export File Dialog Box pops
up.

6. Notes: It’s important to remember that the more polygons in your geometry, the heavi-
er the file will be.
page 6 of 10
From Rhino to Ecotect
Step Ten:
Unless very detailed and ac-
curate geometry is needed,
move the slider all the way to
the left.
If your model has complex ge-
ometry that will be necessary
for precise lighting analysis,
then move the slider to the
right accordingly.
You can hit Preview to see how
your geometry will be export-
ed.
Step Eleven:
Click OK.

7. Notes: To check what units your model was in in Rhino, type in Options into the Rhino
command and click on the Units option. Your model units will be displayed there. Once
your model is imported, you can change the units in Ecotect to Feet & Inches by going to
File - User Preferences - Localisation
page 7 of 10
From Rhino to Ecotect
Step Twelve:
File - Import - 3d CAD/Geom-
etry
Step Thirteen:
Make sure File Type is .DXF.
Choose your file. The only
thing checked should be Re-
move Duplicate Faces.
Step Fourteen:
Since Ecotect is in mm, you’ll
need to scale your model.
Rhino Units Scale Factor By
ft 304.8
in 25.4

8. Notes:
page 8 of 10
From Rhino to Ecotect
Step Fifteen:
Click on Zone - “Select All.”
Then with all the zones select-
ed, click on Zone again, and
select “By Item Name.” This
will create a separate zone in
Ecotect for each layer in Rhi-
no.
Step Sixteen:
You can then assign the Mate-
rial of each zone here, or you
can do this later.

9. Notes:
page 9 of 10
From Rhino to Ecotect
Step Seventeen:
To assign a material, click on
the layer and then click Mate-
rial - Select Material
Step Eighteen:
From the pop-up menu, select
the category of the object, and
then select the material from
the list.
Step Nineteen:
Once all your zones have ma-
terials applied, or if you want
to do this later, click “Open As
New”

10. Notes: You may need to click on 3d Editor tab on the left hand side to view your model.
To view the model in shaded mode, click on the Visualize tab.
page 10 of 10
From Rhino to Ecotect
Step Twenty:
To clean up the geometry, se-
lect all your objects and click
on Modify - Merge Coincident
Triangles. This should reduce
the number of surface subdi-
visions.
Et voila! You should have a
model ready to be used in
Ecotect.