Pyroduct: A novel parametric software for the simulation of terrestrial, lunar, and Martian lava tubes

Lava tubes, also known as“pyroducts”, are caves found on terrestrial volcanoes and on analogue terrains on the Moon and Mars. Their morphometry is the expression of genetic parameters, which are often not well understood, like lava effusion rates and rheology, and cooling rates. Lunar and Martian tubes could offer protection from radiation, micrometeorites, and extreme temperatures, making them promising candidates for future extraterrestrial habitats. Models used in planetary geology and space architectural studies rely on a few terrestrial examples and notional geometries. This paper introduces Pyroduct, the first fully parametric 3D lava tube generator, developed as a free plug-in for Grasshopper in Rhinoceros 3D. Based on a wide catalog of terrestrial lava tube cross-sections, Pyroduct enables the simulation of realistic cave environments for planetary research. It also supports terrestrial applications, offering a cost-effective method for reconstructing lava tubes' 3D geometries for the evaluation of volcanic hazard and creation of VR models.