Dynamo Challenge 03: Make Anything with Dynamo as a Service (DaaS) in Forma

[achintya_bhat]

UPDATE: This Challenge is now closed and we have opened up the polling. Check out all the submissions and vote for your favorites below!

Hello Dynamites,

We are thrilled to bring back the Dynamo Challenge series and super excited about our next challenge in this series.

03- Make Anything with Dynamo as a Service (DaaS) in Forma! This exciting challenge invites you to tap into your creativity and technical skills to explore the endless possibilities of using Dynamo as a service in Forma . You can bring Dynamo geometry as native Forma elements to leverage the variety of analysis tools in Forma. Or think outside the box and surprise us - find an innovative way to use Dynamo Player Beta on the cloud. This is your chance to showcase your expertise and push the boundaries of what’s possible with DaaS.

Check out this blog post to learn how to start using DaaS in Forma Beta. Since it’s in Beta, things are still being tweaked and improved, so you might notice some changes along the way.

Check out this series of introduction videos to get started and help inspire you.

• Dynamo for Forma- Getting Started
• Dynamo for Forma - Exploring the Forma package and Sending to Forma
• Dynamo for Forma - Sun Hours Analysis using Dynamo for Forma

You’ll also find sample scripts in the Forma Extension.

In case you don’t already know Forma is included in the AEC Collection. If you do not have the collection, get your free Forma trial here. This challenge will run for 4 weeks, starting on Wednesday April 2nd, at 9am EST, running until Wednesday May 14th at 5pm EST.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

• Dynamo must be used in or part of your submission.
• If you use a Dynamo graph, your .DYN file must be attached to your submission.
• This topic will be left open for discussion - use to your heart’s content! Upon deadline of challenge, moderators will edit the post to introduce a community poll to select winners.
• We very much encourage wrong answers! Just have fun with it!

SUBMISSION OF ENTRY:

All submissions must be submitted blind via Direct Message to @solamour, @achintya_bhat , @emrullah.yildiz , @john_pierson and @jacob.small with the Challenge as your title using this link to start a handy message template. Please include all relevant files to execute the graph and reproduce your result as well as a still image(s).

PRIZES:

1st Place = “Dynamo Challenge Winner” forum badge

2nd Place = “Dynamo Challenge Runner-up” forum badge

The winners will be selected based on community voting. Some suggested ways to impress:

• Create the most practical and impactful use case for DaaS and Forma.
• Build the most complex Facade you can that still plays nicely with Forma Analysis tools
• Unleash your creativity by developing an unconventional workflow with DaaS and Forma.
• Let your imagination run wild and design the wackiest twisty tower using DaaS in Forma.

As always, we encourage you to be creative and think outside the box! Just have fun with it!

A heads-up on upcoming two challenges:

• 04- Dynamo Conductor: Orchestrating Data and Geometry with Dynamo (Tentatively May)
• 05- Dynamo Rocket Challenge: Design a spaceship using Dynamo (Tentatively June)

We are super excited to see what all of you come up with this time!

[achintya_bhat]

Hello hello, fellow Dynamo enthusiasts We hope you all had a wonderful Easter long weekend/Spring break (for those who celebrate and get the days off at least)!

We wanted to check-in and hope you’re all having a great time with the Dynamo Challenge series. We haven’t received any submissions yet for our current challenge. We know how incredibly creative you all are and the amazing ideas you have, and we can’t wait to see them!

To give you a bit more time, we’ve extended the deadline by two weeks. You now have until Wednesday, May 14th at 5pm EST to wow us with your Dynamo magic. So if you have your half finished submission, you have time to wrap it up and send them our way. If not, you have time to get started on one. Whether you’re exploring Dynamo as a service in Forma or already a pro and discovering innovative ways to use it now, we want to see it all! There is no wrong ansers here

Please don’t be shy—this is your moment to learn a new skill and also showcase your skills. And Plus, there are some fantastic badges up for grabs for the winners for some extra Dynamo forum street creds!

As you are working on them, feel free to share your questions and feedback and creations here in this thread for support and cheer from others.

[solamour]

To seed in some ideas into this thread…

The most simple way to interact with Forma is to generate any form of Geometry in Dynamo that tickles your fancy, and simply send that to Forma!

In the graph above, there are 2 Forma nodes and an optional Codeblock that dictates color Pretty simple!

Those nodes are GetSite (Which allows you to pull the current Site you are working on, and the SendGeometryToForma node which does exactly that… sends geometry! You can send it with no properties by using an empty dictionary, or send a color which is way more fun! The color simply uses a key of color and a color hex code, of which you can google your favorite

But @solamour I ran that and nothing happened!

Well fear not Dynamo-Forma explorer - you may have what I have in my site… elevation to contend with! Even a flat site may be above sea level, and in Forma, terrain is appropriately set. So have a look underneath the ground

Hurrah - we found it our golden crown

And that’s it! Simple enough to explore, play with and push all kinds of funky geometry into Forma

DynamoForma_TSpline_Crown.dyn (45.6 KB)

But maybe you wanted your geometry to, you know, not be hidden underneath the ground. While the Dwarven halls in Lord of the Rings are epic, most of us live above ground. So how do we do that?

You can either put a z-value slider on your graph and play with it that way, or use the Terrain.ElevationAt node to put it correctly on the ground plane. We’ll be taking the latter path, which requires you to add a couple more nodes to your graph.

We have now added the GetTerrain node that allows us to pull the Terrain from Forma, and the Terrain.ElevationAt node that allows us to query the terrain height at those X and Y locations. We’ve also then made the executive decision to buffer up 10m more (Noting Forma works in meters today) and translate our Golden Crown upwards by those values

Now our awesome golden crown is above the terrain! Sort of… you’ll notice that we didn’t pick the highest elevation, but rather the center of the crown, so some of it is still underground. This illustrates an interesting point to navigate should you be working on steep slopes; the need to design around them!

DynamoForma_TSpline_Crown_ByElevation.dyn (55.9 KB)

But what if you wanted to pick where the crown manifested? Or pick a couple of points? Say… the top of a building?

We need to add in a handful of more nodes now - it’s getting a little complex after all!

This removes our approach in above, and adds in a new one. We add the SelectElements node, allowing us to use the Dynamo Player UI in Forma to pick something (Like a building!), followed by an Element.VolumeMesh node that allows us to get the geometries vertices and indices. We then use a swathe of Dynamo nodes to get the top vertices only, prune duplicates, generate a polygon and then pick that polygon’s center from them. After we have that point, we can generate a CoordinateSystem from it to transform our golden crown too

We can also learn that all DynamoForma nodes are set to isInput or isOutput by default… so if something is going wrong, check you didn’t autopilot turning those off! It’s the yin to our yang’s default where they are off in Dynamo

So we can then select a building in Forma and … voila! We have a floating flying crown-lien spaceship?

DynamoForma_TSpline_Crown_SelectBuilding.dyn (69.2 KB)

[Aaron_Coffman2]

Since it is a blind submission, will posting questions (with images) of our project to the forum disqualify our submission in any way? Figured I would ask to be safe!

[Aaron_Coffman2]

Great tips, @solamour. Thanks!

[solamour]

If you have questions - you can feel free to DM them to us and we’ll endeavor to answer them

[Aaron_Coffman2]

Thanks for clarifying!

[jacob.small]

I put this post together which might inspire others:

Placing a "standard" building in Forma

Since I’ve had a few people reach out with questions on the topic in the last few days, and because the Dynamo hackathon is coming up, I wanted to share a graph with a workflow that you can leverage to place standard building designs on a site. The nice thing about this is the same workflow can be used in Dynamo for Revit, Dynamo for Civil, Dynamo for Alias… Really any Dynamo flavor. Before I begin, here’s a little animation of the process in action using Dynamo as a Service in Forma: [Place S…

[emrullah.yildiz]

Another workflow from me:

I would like to share a script I created that uses sun analysis data to help identify different zones on a site and choose the right types of trees based on how much sunlight they need. It also filters out areas that aren’t usable due to obstacles by applying a tolerance value, and it works with detailed data to be as accurate as possible.

Steps for the script:

1. It starts by retrieving the sun hours data from the grid that Forma generates.
2. Then, it gets the bounding box to create a reference surface using a grid system defined by the user. It uses paneling nodes to decide the grid size.
3. It eliminates areas that aren’t usable based on the sunlight data and the given tolerance.
4. It recreates the Forma grid system inside Dynamo based on how the sun hours data is structured.
5. It finds the overlapping areas between the Forma grid and the custom user grid.
6. Finally, it filters the sun hours data for those intersecting areas and calculates the average sun exposure on each sub-surface from the user grid.

Outcomes:

• It lets me easily identify which parts of the site are best suited for different types of trees based on their light requirements.
• I can also use it to figure out where to place trees that will provide shade, which helps with planning and communication during the construction phase thanks to zoning approach.
• Because the script removes unusable zones early on, it avoids wasting time and computing power on irrelevant data.
• I can even turn the results into 3D bar diagrams by calculating the average solar hours on the zone (those raised cuboids you see in the image) to use in presentations.
• Overall, it helps create a healing BIM project cycle with the next steps by eliminating uncomfortable zones for pedestrian activities right on the site.

This kind of modular approach can also be adapted for other goals, like determining vegetation zones that could help reduce a building’s energy use.

[TreeComponent.dyn|attachment]

(upload://s6QosJtOumW2qJwRg1lRxoelmvh.dyn) (179.2 KB)

[achintya_bhat]

Hello Dynamo enthusiasts!
We have less than 48 hours left on this challenge. We haven’t received many submissions this time.

We can understand how DaaS in Forma is new for everyone and it might take some time to get up-to-speed on things and also April-May is a busy time of the year for a lot of us (spring break/spring cleaning ).

We are doing a final call to check if anyone is working on their submissions still. If you need one more weekend to tie a bow on it and submit, please respond to this thread and we will extend the challenge till May 19th (Monday).

If not, the challenge ends tomorrow as planned on May 14th, 5PM EST. This thread will stay open for any feedback and questions on DaaS workflow challenges. As always, we love to hear from you all on what works and what doesn’t work for you!

[Aaron_Coffman2]

My submission is just about wrapped up. I have enough to submit now but could always use a week to button it up. Count me in with the majority

[Alien]

Not being a forma user… I did look at forma but decided it was too much to learn that and then to code something at the moment sadly.
I’m looking forward to seeing what others have done though

[achintya_bhat]

@Aaron_Coffman2 As there have been no requests for extension, we will end the challenge as planned tomorrow.

[achintya_bhat]

3…2…1…and this challenge is closed!
Thanks to all participants and those who used this as an opportunity to open DaaS and play with it. We hope you got to learn something from this challenge. I will post the submissions and open up the voting tomorrow. Stay tuned!

[achintya_bhat]

Hello Dynamites!

This Challenge is now over! A huge thanks to all those who participated! We understand this one was more challenging as DaaS in Forma is new to a lot of you. We hope everyone who tried and participated learnt something and had some fun playing with it and is excited for what’s to come in the future.

Now, its polling time! We have lesser number of entries this time, but each one is packaged with some much creativity! Come shower some love to all the creations from the fellow community members. We can’t wait to see who the community votes in as winner and runner-up! We will keep the poll open for the one week and announce our winners on May 23rd!

All graphs are present in this thread, so that you can inspect each DYN file to help you choose your favorite!
You can vote based on creativity, wow factor, innovative use of DaaS in their workflow, or complexity of the problem solved.
As a reminder, we gave the below suggestions for workflows:

• Create the most practical and impactful use case for DaaS and Forma.
• Build the most complex Facade you can that still plays nicely with Forma Analysis tools
• Unleash your creativity by developing an unconventional workflow with DaaS and Forma.
• Let your imagination run wild and design the wackiest twisty tower using DaaS in Forma.

Each member can vote for their top 1 favorite entry only.

• Entry 1: Moving Facade with Forma
• Entry 2: Autodesk Tower in San Francisco
• Entry 3: Generative Chaos

See all the submissions in all their full glory below to vote. All submissions are anonymized to avoid bias and pick a true objective winner

Entry 1: Moving Facade with Forma

With this code you can get moved facades. The density on the facade can be adjusted.
Forma_Facade.dyn (109.8 KB)

Entry 2: Autodesk Tower in San Francisco

Title: Autodesk Tower in San Francisco
Description: Autodesk Tower is a conceptual sample project located in San Francisco , near Autodesk’s current headquarters. The design is a simplified massing inspired by the Autodesk logo , developed using Revit and Dynamo , with the geometry exported to Autodesk Forma via Dynamo for further environmental and spatial analysis.
This simple model is especially valuable for educational purposes, offering a hands-on way to explore essential design workflows and early-stage simulations such as Sun Hours , Microclimate , and particularly plan generation and Area Metrics .
From the first floor upward, the plans remain consistent, echoing the logo’s form. As the tower rises, it gradually bends at the top, allowing the logo to emerge on the façade, turning the structure into a bold, symbolic architectural statement. Autodesk Forma accurately generates the unique upper-level plans based on this geometric transformation.
Autodesk Tower.dyn (40.3 KB)

Entry 3: Generative Chaos

Title: - Generative Choas
Description: - This project explores creating choas out of simplicity. Show what effects can be created when simple geometry is subjected to repeated transformations. This tower is generated by only 4 circles. These circles are manipulated, then lofted to create a main building surface. The surface is then split at each level, creating a module at each building level. These levels, and host floor slabs, are manipulated again in various ways. The units and slabs can be rotated either gradually, or randomly. Leading to endless configurations.
Note: There is an input list and quick description in PDF.
GenerativeChaos_DaaS-GFAunits.dyn (6.8 MB)
GenerativeChoas.dyn (6.7 MB)
GenerativeChaos-DescriptionAndInputs.pdf (128.2 KB)

Original post collapsed below

In case you are curious....

In case you are curious…
Hello Dynamites,

We are thrilled to bring back the Dynamo Challenge series and super excited about our next challenge in this series.

03- Make Anything with Dynamo as a Service (DaaS) in Forma! This exciting challenge invites you to tap into your creativity and technical skills to explore the endless possibilities of using Dynamo as a service in Forma . You can bring Dynamo geometry as native Forma elements to leverage the variety of analysis tools in Forma. Or think outside the box and surprise us - find an innovative way to use Dynamo Player Beta on the cloud. This is your chance to showcase your expertise and push the boundaries of what’s possible with DaaS.

Check out this blog post to learn how to start using DaaS in Forma Beta. Since it’s in Beta, things are still being tweaked and improved, so you might notice some changes along the way.

Check out this series of introduction videos to get started and help inspire you.

• Dynamo for Forma- Getting Started
• Dynamo for Forma - Exploring the Forma package and Sending to Forma
• Dynamo for Forma - Sun Hours Analysis using Dynamo for Forma

You’ll also find sample scripts in the Forma Extension.

In case you don’t already know Forma is included in the AEC Collection. If you do not have the collection, get your free Forma trial here. This challenge will run for 4 weeks, starting on Wednesday April 2nd, at 9am EST, running until Wednesday May 14th at 5pm EST.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

• Dynamo must be used in or part of your submission.
• If you use a Dynamo graph, your .DYN file must be attached to your submission.
• This topic will be left open for discussion - use to your heart’s content! Upon deadline of challenge, moderators will edit the post to introduce a community poll to select winners.
• We very much encourage wrong answers! Just have fun with it!

SUBMISSION OF ENTRY:

All submissions must be submitted blind via Direct Message to @solamour, @achintya_bhat , @emrullah.yildiz , @john_pierson and @jacob.small with the Challenge as your title using this link to start a handy message template. Please include all relevant files to execute the graph and reproduce your result as well as a still image(s).

PRIZES:

1st Place = “Dynamo Challenge Winner” forum badge

2nd Place = “Dynamo Challenge Runner-up” forum badge

The winners will be selected based on community voting. Some suggested ways to impress:

• Create the most practical and impactful use case for DaaS and Forma.
• Build the most complex Facade you can that still plays nicely with Forma Analysis tools
• Unleash your creativity by developing an unconventional workflow with DaaS and Forma.
• Let your imagination run wild and design the wackiest twisty tower using DaaS in Forma.

As always, we encourage you to be creative and think outside the box! Just have fun with it!

A heads-up on upcoming two challenges:

• 04- Dynamo Conductor: Orchestrating Data and Geometry with Dynamo (Tentatively May)
• 05- Dynamo Rocket Challenge: Design a spaceship using Dynamo (Tentatively June)

We are super excited to see what all of you come up with this time!

[Alien]

I feel totally unqualified to vote on this one… But I did anyway
Good luck to all three of you!

[sovitek]

Hello @Alien you should have been on Hackathon in Amsterdam ;9 , where many teams use it, and at least give me some great inspiration for what the tool can be used for, PS it was first time i have used it…thanks to my team and specielly @Sean_Fruin you the man we won the "most fun categori ..where we use forma and it was funny

[achintya_bhat]

Drumrollll…………Poll is closed and we have our winners!
So sorry for the delay, as I was travelling for the conference and community meetups, lost track of time!
In the First Place, we have @Aaron_Coffman2 with his submission of Generative Chaos. Congratulations and please enjoy your swanky new forum badge “Dynamo Challenge Winner”, now settable through your profile.

In Runner-up, we have @ARTsBIM with their submission of the Autodesk Tower in San Francisco. Congratulations and please enjoy your swanky new forum badge “Dynamo Challenge Runner-up”, now settable through your profile.

A giant thank you to @yaseminV2XL5 for their Moving Facade with Forma submission and a huge shout-out to everyone who took this’d opportunity to explore DaaS.

Check submissions here Make anything in Forma Challenge submissions.

We received incredible submissions for the first challenge, although we observed a decrease in the number of participants over time in this series. We would love to hear your feedback.

• Do you need more time, or are there particular times of the year that are busier for you?
• What topics resonate more with you?

We are excited to see what y’ll come up with for the next challenge.

[ARTsBIM]

Congratulations to @Aaron_Coffman2 for winning 1st place and sharing a great Dynamo sample in Forma, along with a Veras presentation that will be a big help in early-stage design!