Importing Plans into Revit®

Note: The following catalog of content covered in this webinar is time stamped to allow you to follow along or skip to sections of the video that are relevant to your questions. You can also search for content on this page using the FIND command in your browser (CTRL + F in Windows, Command + F in Mac OS.)

• Intro/TOC
• Why Revit
• Work Smart, Not Hard
• Insert PDF
• Insert DWG lines
• Bring in Civil Topo as Contours
• 3D Connection and Planting F/X for Revit

0:00 – 3:53: Intro/TOC

3:54 – 8:51: Why Revit

• The Goal is BIM LEVEL 3 (iBIM)
• Revit is one good option.
• Still Level 2 at this point
• But nothing is Level 3
• As close as we can get

• The architect is the lead, and they use Revit.
• You can collaborate in Revit without fully modelling.

According to Cohesive BIM Wiki:

Level 2 BIM

Managed 3D environment with data attached, but created in separate discipline-based models. These separate models are assembled to form a federated model, but do not lose their identity or integrity. Data may include construction sequencing (4D) and cost (5D) information. This is sometimes referred to as 'pBIM' (proprietary BIM).

In the UK the Government Construction Strategy published in May 2011, stated that the '...Government will require fully collaborative 3D BIM (with all project and asset information, documentation and data being electronic) as a minimum by 2016'. This represents a minimum requirement for Level 2 BIM on centrally-procured public projects.

Level 3 BIM

A single collaborative, online, project model with construction sequencing (4D), cost (5D) and project lifecycle information (6D). This is sometimes referred to as 'iBIM' (integrated BIM) and is intended to deliver better business outcomes.

8:52 – 22:23: Work Smart, Not Hard

When to just insert PDFs on Revit sheets:

• No practical tools in Revit for your discipline
• Not realistic to justify 3-10x time to draft with more errors.

When to import CAD lines and trace:

• Architect needs more accurate context around building.
• Might not need full BIM data in Revit.
• Needs lines for particular features located accurately for clash detection.

When to import contours for topo:

• Site has steep terrain that's important to the design.
• More practical to grade in other software (Civil 3D, Land F/X).

When to import Land F/X plants:

• More accurate context needed in architecture drawings.
• Clash detection – analyze the design in 3D.
• Requirement to create labels and schedules in Revit.

Glossary of terms –important Revit features (13:09)

Revit Term (CAD equivalent or explanation)

• Project/Model (Drawing File - not to be confused with Land F/X project)
• Template (Also Template, but also sometimes like a block – title block.)
• Family (Block, but also sometimes like a Civil 3D assembly)
• Properties (same as CAD properties panel - shows parameters)
• Type properties (key options on how to build a family or floor - accessed in properties)
• Parameters (key data points that you can customize - can appear on schedule and tags)
• Project Browser (like having multiple model spaces and layouts all in one palette)
• Sheets (Layouts)
• Toposurface (for ground topography that you do not intend to quantify other than cut/fill)
• Floors (enhanced groundplane hatches - limited grading ability)
• Tags (labels)
• Site Component (place a family, like a tree)

Quick intro to Revit (16:27)

Question: Are groups in Revit similar to AutoCAD groups? (18:17)

Answer: Yes they are.

22:24 – 34:46: Insert PDF

Importing a CAD drawing into Revit (22:24)

Importing a sheet of details into Revit (30:51)

Bringing your title block from CAD into Revit (32:19)

Enabling snaps (33:47)

34:47 – 49:55: Insert DWG lines

Isolating a layer in CAD (35:52)

Wblocking the isolated layer into its own file (37:01)

Ensuring the Wblocked linework is linked to the same origin location as the Revit file (37:17)

Inserting the linework DWG into Revit (37:48)

Recommended settings for inserting a DWG into Revit (38:22)

Important: Uncheck the Correct lines that are slightly off axis option. (39:27)

Tracing linework in Revit (necessary if you need to make changes to linework you've brought in from CAD (40:22)

Important: Detail lines will only show up in Site view. They will not be visible in 3D view.

Creating a floor (42:54)

Simplifying and selecting the base plan and importing it from CAD (46:16)

49:56 – 58:51: Bring in Civil Topo as Contours

Bringing a grading plan from Civil 3D into Revit (51:18)

Exploding the surface and Wblocking the resulting linework into its own drawing (52:16)

Cleaning the file with our Nuke tool (53:23)

Creating and setting up a new file in Revit (53:40)

Importing the contours (54:43)

Setting a UCS (55:51)

Creating building pads (57:09)

58:52. – end: 3D Connection and Planting F/X for Revit

Bringing in the planting plan (58:52)

Available plant symbols in the Planting F/X Revit plugin (1:00:50)