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Modelur

Parametric urban design plugin for rapid massing and feasibility studies

SketchUp and Rhino plugin that enables parametric urban design and conceptual massing with real-time zoning compliance checks, financial estimations, and Excel integration. Architects and planners use Modelur to rapidly explore design variations, test zoning regulations, and generate early-stage feasibility analysis.

$240K (pre-seed 2020) raisedGrowth Stage
Founded 2017 · 70+ customers (AECOM, Ramboll, Gensler, City of Amsterdam) with 400+ active users; selected for Arcadis City of 2030 Accelerator (Techstars 2020)
Website →← All Tools
WHY IT EXISTS

Why This Tool Exists

The Problem

Urban planners and architects spend 10-20 hours per week manually creating urban massing studies, testing zoning compliance, and calculating built-up areas, floor area ratios (FAR), and parking requirements. Design iteration is slow as each change requires manual recalculation of metrics across spreadsheets. Zoning violations are often discovered late in the design process, requiring costly redesigns.

The Solution

Modelur automates parametric massing generation and calculates key urban metrics (FAR, parking, financial projections) in real-time as designers modify buildings. Interactive 3D Zoning technology automatically adapts designs to comply with local regulations. Excel LiveSync synchronizes all data to spreadsheets, enabling rapid scenario testing and seamless stakeholder communication.

USAGE

How You Use It

Delivery Method
PluginSaaS
Integrations
SketchUpRhino3DMicrosoft Excel (Windows - LiveSync)GIS (SHP/GeoJSON)OpenStreetMap
Disciplines
Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, Civil Engineering
Workflows
Data & Automation, Planning & Feasibility
Project Phases
Pre-Design, Schematic Design, Design Development
Project Types
Commercial, Residential, Mixed-Use, Institutional
TRANSPARENCY

Data Transparency

Exactly what this tool uses and how

Input
What it needs
Required:Project boundary/site geometry, Zoning regulations or building parameters
Optional:GIS shapefiles, OpenStreetMap building context, Financial parameters (cost per m²), Parking requirement standards, Building footprints
Formats:SketchUp models (SKP), Rhino 3D models (3DM), GeoJSON, Shapefiles (SHP), CSV data, Manual input in Modelur UI
Output
What you get
Format:Parametric 3D massing models with urban metrics dashboard
Fields:3D building geometry, Floor Area Ratio (FAR), Built-up area (m²), Number of parking spaces required, Financial estimations (investment/income per m²), Zoning compliance status, Population density estimates
Algorithm
How it works
Model:Parametric calculation engine (algorithm details not publicly specified)
Accuracy:Claimed 3-5x faster workflow; accuracy dependent on input parameter correctness and zoning rule definition
Privacy
How your data is protected
Retention:Data retained as long as users wish to receive notifications; users can request deletion via [email protected]
Training:Not used for AI/ML training purposes
Compliance:GDPR compliant, Privacy policy published (effective October 2015), No third-party data sharing, Payment processing via Braintree (tokenized)
API
Integration
Endpoint:Contact vendor for API access; Modelur User Guide available at userguide.modelur.com
Method:Not publicly documented
USE CASES

Use Cases

  • ·Rapid urban massing study and concept iteration for development feasibility
  • ·Zoning compliance testing during early design phases
  • ·Financial and density analysis for multi-use development projects
  • ·Parking requirement calculation and compliance verification
  • ·City planning and regulatory scenario testing
  • ·Stakeholder engagement with interactive 3D massing models and metrics
  • ·Site feasibility studies for real estate development
  • ·Mixed-use program optimization within zoning constraints
PRICING

Pricing

Free
Modelur Free - Full functionality with project size limitations (1 editable SKP model, reduced OSM 3D building imports - 1 tile/import vs. 9 tiles commercial)
Pro
Commercial Floating Licenses: Monthly €149/seat, Quarterly €98/seat (€294 total), Annual €74/seat (€888 total); 3-seat floating license with concurrent user limits; 7-day money-back guarantee; licenses shareable across SketchUp and Rhino versions
Enterprise
Enterprise License for organizations with 25+ Modelur activations; custom pricing available
Sources & Research NotesResearch date: 2026-02-01
Data Sources (11)
Fields Checked (26)
problem, solution, deliveryMethod, integrations, disciplines, projectPhases, projectTypes, vendor, website, fundingTotal, yearFounded, maturityStage, customerBase, input-required, input-optional, input-formats, output-format, output-fields, output-structure, algorithm-approach, privacy-retention, privacy-training, privacy-compliance, control-features, use-cases, pricing-all-tiers
Not Found (5)
api-documentation, algorithm-accuracy-metrics, privacy-location-specifics, enterprise-pricing-details, compliance-certifications-beyond-gdpr
About this research: This record summarizes the cited sources and fields checked. A research date does not establish hands-on testing. Consult the original sources for current details and limitations.
ALTERNATIVES

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