Modelur
Modelur is a parametric urban design software that integrates directly with SketchUp to provide real-time calculation of key urban indicators like floor area ratio and required parking spaces.
SideFX Houdini
Houdini is a 3D procedural software providing advanced modeling, animation, and visual effects tools for artists and studios to create high-quality cinematic content and complex dynamic simulations.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Modelur | SideFX Houdini |
|---|---|---|
| Website | modelur.com | sidefx.com |
| Pricing Model | Subscription | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $49/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✓ 30 days free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2012 | 1987 |
| Headquarters | Ljubljana, Slovenia | Toronto, Canada |
Overview
Modelur
Modelur is a specialized parametric tool designed to streamline your urban planning and design workflows within SketchUp. Instead of manually calculating complex zoning numbers, you can create 3D building masses that automatically update their data as you scale or move them. It helps you stay compliant with local regulations by providing instant feedback on land use, building heights, and density requirements.
You can quickly generate multiple design iterations and compare their financial or environmental impacts through live data syncing. This eliminates the need for tedious spreadsheets and manual area tracking, allowing you to focus on the creative aspects of city planning. Whether you are designing a small neighborhood or a large-scale master plan, it ensures your 3D models remain data-rich and technically accurate throughout the entire design process.
SideFX Houdini
Houdini is a powerful 3D procedural workstation that changes how you create digital content. Unlike traditional tools that rely on manual sculpting, you build networks of nodes that define a recipe for your work. This procedural nature means you can make changes deep in your project history and see the results flow through to the final output instantly. You can generate massive environments, complex crowds, and intricate destruction sequences with total control over every detail.
You can solve the most demanding production challenges using its industry-standard simulation tools for fire, fluids, and cloth. Whether you are a solo artist working on a game or part of a massive film studio pipeline, you can automate repetitive tasks and build custom tools to speed up your creative process. It scales with your needs, offering a free version for learning and professional tiers for commercial production.
Overview
Modelur Features
- Parametric Building Blocks Create and modify building masses that automatically adjust their floor counts and areas based on your specific design parameters.
- Real-time Indicators Monitor key metrics like Floor Area Ratio (FAR), site coverage, and total gross floor area instantly as you edit your model.
- Zoning Compliance Alerts Set specific land-use constraints and receive immediate visual warnings if your design exceeds local height or density limits.
- Parking Requirement Calculator Automatically calculate the number of required parking spaces based on your building's programmed use and total floor area.
- GIS Data Import Import existing city data and terrain directly into your workspace to ensure your project sits accurately within its real-world context.
- Live Sync to Excel Export your model data to Excel with a single click to generate detailed reports for stakeholders and city officials.
SideFX Houdini Features
- Node-Based Workflow. Build your projects as a series of connected nodes so you can go back and change any step without starting over.
- Pyro FX Simulations. Create realistic fire, smoke, and explosions with high-performance solvers that give you cinematic results in less time.
- Fluid Dynamics. Simulate realistic water, oceans, and viscous liquids with advanced tools that handle everything from small splashes to massive waves.
- Procedural Modeling. Generate complex geometry and environments quickly by defining rules and parameters rather than manual vertex editing.
- Crowd Simulations. Manage thousands of characters at once with built-in tools for pathfinding, collision avoidance, and varied character behaviors.
- Solaris Look Dev. Layout your scenes and manage lighting in a dedicated USD-based environment for faster look development and rendering.
- Vellum Constraints. Handle cloth, hair, and soft bodies in a single unified solver to create complex physical interactions easily.
- Houdini Engine. Package your procedural assets and use them directly inside other tools like Unreal Engine, Unity, or Maya.
Pricing Comparison
Modelur Pricing
- Full parametric modeling
- Real-time urban indicators
- Zoning compliance checks
- Excel data export
- Standard email support
- Everything in Personal, plus:
- Priority technical support
- Floating license options
- Advanced GIS integration
- Team collaboration tools
SideFX Houdini Pricing
- Free for non-commercial use
- Access to all major features
- Render with Houdini Mantra
- Limited render resolution
- Proprietary file format
- Learning-only license
- Everything in Apprentice, plus:
- Full commercial usage rights
- Limited to $100K annual revenue
- Standard file formats (FBX, OBJ)
- Unlimited render resolution
- Includes 1 Engine license
Pros & Cons
Modelur
Pros
- Significant time savings on manual area calculations
- Seamless integration with existing SketchUp workflows
- Easy to learn for current 3D modelers
- Highly accurate data for preliminary site studies
- Responsive support team for technical issues
Cons
- Requires a separate SketchUp license to operate
- Limited functionality outside of urban massing
- Performance can slow down with massive city models
SideFX Houdini
Pros
- Unmatched flexibility for making late-stage project changes
- Industry-standard tools for high-end visual effects
- Procedural systems save hours on repetitive tasks
- Active community and extensive learning documentation
- Affordable entry point for independent game developers
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical artists
- Requires strong understanding of math and logic
- High hardware requirements for complex simulations