a “lot” on site planning in autodesk revitaucache.autodesk.com/au2011/sessions/5199/class... ·...

A “Lot” on Site Planning in Autodesk Revit Megan Sewell – Populous Chris Meehan – Populous

AB5199 This class will cover how to properly set up your site in Revit. We will explain how to import a 3D topography drawing and establish project and survey base points. We will also discuss the definition of Revit coordinates 0, 0. We will take a look at the site tools available within Revit and as well as complementary third-party software such as Eagle Point Siteworks™ and LANDCADD™

Learning Objectives

At the end of this class, you will be able to:

Correctly set up your projects Shared Coordinates using Revit Architecture

Create a Topography within Revit Architecture

Perform grading using Revit Architecture alone or with Siteworks for Revit

Use best practices for adding additional site features such as roads, parking lots, fencing, etc.

Create Reports from your Site model

About the Speakers Megan Sewell is the BIM specialist for Populous. She been with the firm since 2006, and has contributed to projects such as: New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Miami Marlins, Natal World Cup 2012, and Mallet Event Center. For the past two years, Megan has committed to educating staff about Autodesk® Revit® and helping establish the firm’s BIM execution plan. As part of the BIM execution and support team for Populous, she assists with implementation of BIM within the firm, establishment of best practices, and project team set up and support. Some of her primary responsibilities include BIM implementation for site planning and event planning.

[email protected]

Christopher Meehan is the Applications and Technology Administrator for Populous. He has been with the firm since 2007. He has designed, developed and executed the BIM implementation plan with the help of the BIM support and IT teams for the company. He has committed himself to educating the staff, evaluating new products, and developing the procedures to implement BIM software for the company. Chris was a former Professor for the University of Central Missouri and taught courses in architecture, design, multimedia and problem solving in addition to managing the Design Technology Department as the area coordinator within the school of technology for 10 years.

[email protected]

A “Lot” on Site Planning in Autodesk Revit

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SetupSharedCoordinatesusingRevitArchitecture

Part1:PreparingyoursiteinAutoCAD

Most projects begin with a Survey sent from the Civil Engineer. This file has usually been converted from LandXML to AutoCAD

The following outlines the steps needed to prepare your Site Survey CAD file for import into Revit.

1) Clean up the CAD file in preparation to be Linked into Revit.

a. As of Revit 2011, the limitation is now 20 miles. If your site is over 20 miles, then you’ll have to reduce its limits.

b. Using Layer Manager, turn on all layers and erase unneeded linework.

c. Perform a zoom extents to check for any remaining linework.

d. From the Views toolbar, open a front view to make sure there isn’t any remaining linework that might be in the extreme Z direction(s).

2) Choose a point on the site that will be used as your Survey Point (control point). This point should be an existing point that will make sense to your firm and any consultants that will be working on your project. At our firm we use the center of the field or the back of home plate. The control point could also be a corner of an existing building on your site.

a. Draw a large circle around your control point so you can find it easily when inserted into Revit. Create a new layer for this circle so you can locate it easily within Revit and also control its visibility using Visibility Graphics.

Example of control point in ACAD.


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b. Perform a list command on the control point, if coordinates are not already noted (list the center of the circle). Copy/paste the listed coordinates to a “Notepad” document to be used later within Revit. This saves time from writing down points and prevents mistyping a coordinate.

3) Save your simplified Site Survey CAD file to your project folder.

Part2:SettinguptheRevitSitefile

1) Open Revit 2012 and choose New Project.

2) Name the project Revit Site or “Project Name” Site.

3) Open the Site Plan from your Project Browser.

4) Type VV to activate Visibility Graphics. Under the Model Categories tab scroll to Site and turn off the project base point.

a. Project base point will not be used in the Site model.

b. From the Insert tab, select Link CAD.

5) Link the Site Survey CAD file using the following options

a. Positioning: Auto - Center to Center.

b. Uncheck Orient to View.

c. Select Open.

6) In Properties, change the orientation to True North.

7) Locate the control point specified in Step 2 of “Preparing Your Site in AutoCAD.”


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8) Move the Survey Point (blue triangle) directly over your control point “clipped”.

a. Use “snaps” for accuracy.

9) Once the Survey Point is placed, unclip the paper clip icon on the Survey Point so that a red line appears over it. (Do not enter coordinate values yet)

10) Under the “Manage” Tab within the “Project Location” panel click the drop down under coordinates. Navigate to the Specify Coordinates at Point.

a. Hover over the Survey Point until a purple marker displays.

b. Enter in the coordinates from your notepad file acquired from your control point from the Site Survey CAD file.

i. The East/West Coordinates = X in your AutoCAD list file

ii. North/South Coordinates =Y in your AutoCAD list file.

iii. Elevation Coordinates=Z in your AutoCAD list file.


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11) ReClip the Survey Point

Save your project.

Part3:SettingupaLinkedModeltoPushSharedCoordinates

1) Link in your Revit Architectural Building Project

a. On “Insert” tab, in the “Link” panel choose “Link Revit”.

b. Navigate to the main Revit Building file of your Architectural Model.

i. Use the following Options:

1. Positioning: Choose Center to Center.

2. Uncheck Orient to View.

3. Select Open.

2) Open an elevation view. Due to the view range settings, the linked file might not be visible in the Site view.

a. By default, Levels display project elevation, as opposed to true elevation. Select any level marker in the elevation View.

b. Click Edit type and change Elevation Base to read “Shared”.

d. Select a Level at the correct height within the Site Model, or draw a new one at known height. (I usually use the first floor elevation). Select your linked model.

e. Select the align tool from your ribbon or type “AL” for the shortcut.

f. Pick the Level that you just created.

g. Then choose a point on your model that would appear at that elevation. (Your architectural model and site model should align to the same elevation points that you selected.)

3) Return to the site plan view.


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4) Once your Architectural Model is loaded into the Site file, use the move tool to move your linked Revit building model to align with your Site and Control point that we set-up in Part 2

Pictured: Architectural Revit Model in blue, being moved from the center of field to the Control Point in the Revit Site Model

5) Use the Rotate Tool rotate your model (angle to True North).


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NOTE: Make sure you move the axis of your rotation to the center of your control point or you will be rotating around an incorrect point as seen above.

Part4:PushingSharedCoordinatestothetheLinkedModels

1) Select the linked Architectural model.

a. In the Properties dialog box, select the button next to “Shared Site” (By default it reads <Not Shared>).


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2) In the Shared Coordinates dialogue box, choose the “Change” button.


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3) Pick the “Duplicate” button to create a new saved location for the linked file you have selected.

Tip: Give a name that clearly identifies what model you are referring to. This step is used for orientation and position of the project on the site and in relation to other buildings. There may be many Shared Sites defined in one project. Plus, proper naming will help with communication among your project team.


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4) Pick “OK” . Choose “Make Current” in the “Location Weather and Site” dialogue box.

5) Last step: Select Reconcile.

6) You have now pushed the coordinates from the Site model to the Architectural model.

a. To insure the coordinates are correct, open the Revit Architectural model you linked into the Site model and open the Site view.

b. Change the angle to True North within your Properties dialogue box. Once changed you will see your model rotate to the angle set up in the site model.


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Note: The project Base Point in the Architectural Model is now at the center of field. This is what we would expect after pushing the coordinates to the architectural model.

The Survey Point is intended to be used in the Site model. The Project Base Point is intended to be used in the Architectural Model.

PushingtheCoordinatestoStructural,MEPandothermodels

All models will be set-up in the Site Model. The Site Model becomes the control model to push coordinates to all other models. Once coordinates are pushed to the other models they can be linked together using the shared coordinates method under positioning in the LINK Revit dialog box. (I.e. once the Architectural and Structural model have the shared coordinates pushed to them from within the Site Model, the Architectural and Structural Models can later be linked together in the Architectural model by using Link Revit under the insert tab. But, we can now use the shared coordinates option because both models have the same coordinates assigned to them and will line up perfectly within the architectural model.)

Repeat steps in Part 3 and Part 4 for each linked file that will be included in your model. Use the Site Model as your control model for every file that needs coordinates pushed to them.

PositioningExplained–RevitLinkOptions

What happened to 0, 0? (Exploring the difference between “positioning” options in the Link dialogue box)


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Instead of trial and error, let’s take a look at what the real difference between “positioning” options really are:

Positioning Definitions (As defined by Autodesk)

1) Auto – Center to Center (expanded demo)

a. When linking a file “auto-center to center” Revit looks at the linked file as a box. Revit makes the center of that box, the insertion point. In most cases, you will never use this option unless you plan on moving the linked file, as we did when setting up shared coordinates.

b. The following image has the center of the circle drawn at 0, 0 in AutoCAD. The centerlines are drawn at asymmetrical lengths to demonstrate how Revit translates this drawing when linked “auto-center to center”


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c. Link into Revit Auto-Center to Center

d. The file result is as seen below:


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Notice the center of the circle is not aligned with Revit’s default “origin” (project base point & survey point). Revit looked at the linked files limits or extents. The Revit origin point is placed at the center point of the linked files extents”.

2) Auto – Origin to Origin

a. When inserted Auto – Origin to Origin, Revit will align the linked file’s 0, 0 point to Revit’s origin point.


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When linking the same AutoCAD file into Revit as Auto – Origin to Origin, the result is as seen below:

Revit aligned the center of the circle (drawn at 0, 0 in AutoCAD) to Revit’s origin point.

3) Shared Coordinates: Revit uses the coordinates we set-up in the above exercise to align 2 or more linked files. You will be using shared coordinates when linking Structural, MEP and other Consultants Models into your Architectural Model once you push the shared coordinates to them using the Site Drawing as your control model to push and update coordinates.


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CreatingaRevitTopographySite.

We will explore two Methods to create a Revit topography Site:

1. Exploring Site tools within Revit

2. Using Siteworks and LANDCADD for Revit (by Eaglepoint)

Creating a Revit Topography (using only tools provided by Revit Architecture)

Most projects begin with a Survey sent from the Civil Engineer. This file has usually been converted from LandXML to AutoCAD. You can take the LANDXML data and import it into Revit to create a Toposurface in Revit.

There are two ways to create a toposurface in Revit without the use of third party software:

1) Create with points


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As mentioned previously, most surveys are provided by a Civil Engineer. For this reason, the “Create From Import” option for creating a toposurface will give you the most accurate results while also requiring the least amount of steps to complete.

2) Create from Import

As explained below, you can generate a toposurface based on 3D contour data imported in DWG, DXF, or DGN formats. It is important to review your files before importing to Revit.

a. Open your Survey file (*file to be imported into Revit to create the toposurface) in the format it was sent to you (CAD, DXF, or DGN).

b. View the file in a 3D view or a Front View


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c. Examine the 3D contour data to make sure the Z plane values are set to the proper elevations.

i. Insure those points are correct before importing to Revit.

ii. Blocks, Circles, Contours, and polylines must also exist at appropriate elevations.

Creating a Revit Topography (using Eaglepoint Siteworks Add-In for Revit)

http://eaglepoint.com/

Siteworks for Revit enables architects, designers and planners to shape the terrain for their building sites using grading tools to model pads, parking lots, streets, sidewalks and retaining walls. Siteworks uses native Revit families, components and toposurfaces, so designs become part of the overall Building Information Model without the need to transfer between design systems.

LandXML files provide a way to exchange engineering and survey data between professionals on the BIM team that are using different software applications. LandXML files typically may include surfaces, road and street alignments, parcels and survey data. These files can easily be created by the engineers or consultants on your team using applications such as AutoCAD Civil 3D.

Siteworks uses the surface information in the LandXML file to create Revit toposurfaces. Alignments are placed in the project using Revit model lines.

Siteworks will appear as an Add-in tab as seen below:


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ImportLandXML

1) Select the Siteworks tab on your ribbon. Choose Import LandXML from the Import/Export panel.

2) Select the LandXML file to Import


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3) If you toggle on the Import toposurfaces found in LandXML file option on the Import LandXML Dialog Box, you are prompted to select the surface(s) to import.

a. Choose OK

4) After selecting the surface(s) to import, you are able to choose between adding the surface as a new toposurface in the Revit model and the phase in which it will be created, or overwriting an existing toposurface in the model.

a. In most cases you will want the phase created to be existing because as you add features to your site, a new surface will be created for each of those modifications.


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*Notice the Toposurface Information allows you to see how many points that will make up the surface.

b. Choose OK

5) If you do not see your imported surface after being prompted that the import is complete, try going to a 3D view. Change the visual style to shaded to view the contours of your Revit toposurface.


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a. You may also want to open a default Elevation View to determine the elevation in which your surface was imported. You may need to adjust your level heights accordingly.

GradeyourSite

GradeaToposurface‐Revit

*Grading in civil engineering and construction is the work of ensuring a level base, or one with a specified slope, for a construction work such as a foundation, the base course for a road or a railway, or landscape and garden improvements, or surface drainage. The earthworks created for such a purpose are often called the sub-grade or finished contouring.

1) From the Massing & Site tab, choose Graded Region.


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a. Choose either to create a new toposurface exactly like the existing one or to create a new toposurface based on perimeter points only. I usually chose to create a new toposurface exactly like the existing one. This way I can always go back a step to see what has changed.

You can use the tools from the Modify|Edit Surface Tab to place addition points, create from import, or to simplify your surface (change the accuracy of your points. The default is set to a 3” accuracy).

b. Choose finish .

GradeaToposurface‐Siteworks

1) After importing your LandXML file, select the “Set Base Toposurface” button from your ribbon.


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2) The next step is to identify where your building will be located. Use detail lines to draw a boundary around where your building site will be as seen below.

3) Select the “Soft Terrain” button from your “Locate” panel on the Siteworks tab.


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4) Locate the Mass Grading family using the load family button

a. Select your terrain type. For this example I chose 1-to-1 slopes.

b. Choose whether you want a relative elevation from the toposurface or a constant elevation. For this example I chose Constant Elevation with a known height of 584’.

c. Make sure Chain is checked.

d. Select Insert

5) Select the linework you used to designate your building site.

6) You will be prompted if you want your project slopes on the inside. In most cases you will choose “no”.


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Siteworks calculates the elevation of the points on your host line, projects slopes to tie to the base toposurface and builds a new proposed toposurface for you representing the building pad elevation and controlled slope ties to the proposed toposurface.

7) After the grading is complete, your result will look similar to the results shown below (section view):

Another option is to create a building pad first, which will include grading. When you are in the Locate Soft Terrain Dialogue box, choose Building pads from the Soft Terrain family list.


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A result of creating the Building Pad will look similar to the image below:

As you can see, Siteworks is more user friendly and provides more options for Grading a site.


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Revit does provide a Building Pad Tool, found on the Massing and Site tab.

When you select Building Pad, you will be entered into sketch mode.

After sketching your boundary, choose Finish.

Your Result will look similar to the image below:

Notice the site did not automatically grade around the building pad.

Use the Graded Region or Edit the points on your toposurface to grade around the building pad


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Streets,ParkingLots,andadditionalsiteinformation

Hands down, Siteworks site features are more intuitive as to how site features and the site behave together. There are fewer steps involved, providing a more efficient workflow. However, Revit can still be an effective tool to site development, there will just be more time involved.

Streets‐Siteworks:

Spot Elevations can be a helpful tool when adding site components. You will need to know either a constant elevation at which to place your streets or a relative elevation from your toposurface.

1) Use Detail Lines from the Annotate tab to sketch a path of the street.

a. Place spot elevations along the path of your sketch to get a good idea of the elevation your street will assigned to.


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2) Select Street tool from the Locate panel on the Siteworks tab.

3) In the Locate Street dialogue box, select the street family you wish to use. Select if you wish to use a relative elevation from toposurface or a constant elevation. In this example, I entered in a constant elevation of 594’-0 because I know from my two spot elevations that I will see the entire street at this height. After inputting all the information, select Insert.

4) Select the detail lines you drew to indicate the path of your street.

5) You will be prompted with an Information Dialogue box. Choose Show Mass only in currently active view. Choose OK.


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Siteworks will first place the street mass and grade the existing toposurface. Your result will look similar to the image below:


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As you are working, remember to set your phase filter to show “New”. Otherwise you will see your new surfaces on top of old surfaces.

RoadsandTerrain

ExtensionsManager‐Revit2012

Use the Roads and Terrain extension to define a 3D model of the roads and terrain in Revit with one of the following:

a. Import an XML file with the previously defined road and terrain parameters.

b. Insert user-defined road and terrain parameters directly in the extension.


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ParkingLots‐Siteworks

1) Sketch the boundary of your parking lot using detail lines from the Annotate tab.

2) Select Parking Lot from the Locate panel on the Siteworks tab.

3) In the Locate Parking Lot dialogue box, select the Parking Lot family and parking lot type you wish to use.

a. Name your parking lot accordingly. Ex: Parking Lot C.

b. Choose Use an Existing Host Line.

c. Pick Insert.

4) Select the one of the detail lines that makes up the boundary of your parking lot.


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*Notice the wedge found in the corner of the building pad. Revit automatically and internally decides what the boundary points will be for any surface. Unfortunately, this is also true for Siteworks. What that means to you is that with parking area geometry like the one in your screen capture, Revit will define the toposurface boundary from the lower most left corner to the left most lower corner - you may have already noticed that. What we recommend here is to disregard that as you go through your initial design stages. Once you are ready for visual or other documents, if you need to clean up that wedge, use the Revit split surface command to remove it. By the way, the wedge doesn't affect the Siteworks area and volume report for the parking area because Siteworks uses the host lines for the calculation not the Revit model. (Eaglepoint Support)


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ParkingLots‐Revit

1) To create a parking lot in Revit Architecture, I would recommend using the Floor tool from the Build panel on the Home tab.

2) After creating your floor, you can choose to make a new floor type that you can assign your parking lot to.

a. Select the floor you created for your parking lot.

b. Choose Edit Type from the Properties Dialogue Box.

c. Choose Duplicate next to Type. Name the new floor type “Parking Lot”.


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3) If you choose to assign a new material to the “Parking Lot” floor type, Select Edit next to Structure.


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4) Select the Material column for Structure [1], to edit the material type.


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AdditionalSiteFeatures–Revit

1) Revit offers a good selection of Site components that can be found with the “Site Component” tool from the Model Site panel on your ribbon.

a. The Selection includes various trees and shrubs. But other site component families can be created or downloaded at your discretion.

b. The Parking Component tool allows you to lay out parking places along your parking lot. The parking component tool provides families for accessible parking spaces, center island, concrete bumpers, standard parking, and angled parking spaces.

Additional Site Features – LANDCADD

1) LANDCADD by Eaglepoint is another add-in for Revit that will provide you with many additional site components that will not be found within Revit Architecture.


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All the tools found within LANDCADD (ribbon shown above) follow the topography in your site drawing.

I recommend to always use detail lines before using the LANDCADD or Siteworks tool to layout your boundaries. Most tools ask you to select a first and last point and by using your endpoints of linework, you are able to maintain consistency.

The following shows some of the tools from LANDCADD that have been added to my Revit site. (Trees, parking lot striping, fencing).


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CreateReportsfromyoursitedrawing

Siteworks

1) Select the Reports button from the Reports panel on the Siteworks tab.

a. Select a file path to export your report.

b. The report, including earthwork quantities, will be exported to Excel in a format similar to below:


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Revit

1) Revit gives you several options for scheduling site material, seen below:

2) The Topography schedule also gives the capability to schedule the earthwork quantities.

a “lot” on site planning in autodesk revitaucache.autodesk.com/au2011/sessions/5199/class... ·...

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