Food4Rhino

Meerkat is a set of tools to generate Grasshopper geometry from GIS shape files. GIS shape files can be batch 'geolocated and cropped' in a Google Maps browser.

Import Shapefile

This component opens the map browser interface and allows for organization of the shapefiles and relevant views.

Parse .mkgis

This component parses the resultant .mkgis files that are created with the Import Shapefile component.  It exposes data about the source shapefile and allows for full access to the field values and geometry of each item.

The components can be found in GH under Extra > Meerkat. I have tested this project, but it is an early release and might contain bugs. Please use it "as is", it does not come with warranties. 

See demo video below. Here's an Additional video that explains address lookup functionality, etc.

To install:

• In Grasshopper, choose File > Special Folders > Components folder. Save the gha file and DLLs there.
• Right-click the files > Properties > make sure there is no "blocked" text and/or that the DLLs and GHA files are unblocked.
• Restart Rhino and Grasshopper

PLEASE UNBLOCK THE .GHA AND .DLL FILES PRIOR TO USE! YOU CAN EITHER UNBLOCK THE ZIP FILE BEFORE EXTRACTING OR YOU WILL HAVE TO RIGHT CLICK ON EACH FILE (ONE AT A TIME) AND UNBLOCK THEM.   IF YOU HAVE NOT DONE THIS, PLEASE DO NOT FILE A CRASH REPORT WITH MCNEEL.

- Nathan Lowe