Pyroduct software

A lava tube generator for Grasshopper, built on real cave geometry.

Pyroduct turns cross-sections from the Pyroduct Digital Catalog into continuous 3D lava tubes. It is meant for planetary research and space architecture, and works just as well for terrestrial caves: reconstructing their geometry for volcanic hazard studies or building VR models.

Download version 2.0 from Zenodo

Demo video

Modelling a lava tube below the Marius Hills Pit on the Moon. Output models can be exported to Unity, Twinmotion or Unreal Engine for VR experiences.

Possible lava tube scenarios below the Marius Hills Pit on the Moon, modelled with Pyroduct. Pit model reconstructed by F. A. P. Romio from Wagner & Robinson (2022); music by F. A. P. Romio.

What it does

Generator
Builds the tube by interpolating catalogued cross-sections, with controls for interpolation, surface detail (LOD) and custom remapping ranges.
Planetary body
Terrestrial, Martian overcrusted, Martian inflated, Lunar or Custom, available across several components.
Sections Importer
Brings in your own cross-sections, for example from a cave you surveyed.
Catalog Exporter
Writes sections to .txt in the same format as the Catalog.
LiDAR data
Includes sections from LiDAR surveys of Grotta di Monte Intraleo (Etna), Ship Cave and Skull Cave (California).

Install

You need Rhinoceros 3D with Grasshopper.

  1. Download Pyroduct v2.zip from Zenodo and unzip it.
  2. Open your User Objects folder. In Grasshopper choose File, Special Folders, User Object Folder.
  3. Copy the contents of the User Objects folder from the download into it.
  4. Restart Rhino. The Pyroduct components appear in their own tab in Grasshopper.
  5. Open an example file from the download to see each component at work.

Tutorials

Step-by-step videos on YouTube, from installing Pyroduct to modelling lava tubes on the Moon and Mars.

The first tutorials are in preparation: installing the plug-in, generating a tube, choosing the planetary body, importing your own sections. They will appear here as they are published.

What's new in 2.0

  • Planetary body options: Terrestrial, Martian overcrusted and inflated, Lunar and Custom.
  • Interpolation controls, surface detail (LOD) and custom remapping ranges in the Generator.
  • Sections Importer for your own cross-sections and a Catalog .txt Exporter.
  • New LiDAR sections: Grotta di Monte Intraleo 2, Ship Cave and Skull Cave.
Rendered view from inside an ice-filled lava tube towards its entrance, with three people in safety gear standing on the snow
Grotta del Gelo (IT.SIC.05, Etna, Sicily), modelled with Pyroduct and rendered.
The Pyroduct definition in Grasshopper, grouped into inputs, lava tube selection, path creation and scaling, 3D model generation and output
The complete example workflow in Grasshopper, from the inputs to the 3D model.
A row of white meandering lava tube models on a dark background
Lava tube scenarios generated from the same definition.
Grey mesh surface seen from inside a lava tube, with its wireframe visible
Interior view of a lava tube mesh.

Help and feedback

Found a bug or need a feature? Open an issue on Codeberg, or use the contact form.

Pyroduct is free to use. It is distributed on Zenodo under CC BY 4.0. Please cite it when you use it.