getting along: coordinating architectural and structural ... · useful tips • use structural...

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Getting Along: Coordinating Architectural and Structural Design with Autodesk® Revit® Structure

Whether you work in an architecture or structural engineering firm, come learn how you can streamline the building design workflow between architects, engineers, and drafters for ultimate project coordination.

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About the Speaker:

Marie Olivares - Autodesk

Marie joined Autodesk in 2005 as the technical marketing manager Structural Solutions in the Building Solutions division. She is responsible for supporting the worldwide launch and market entry for Autodesk Revit Structure, the first Autodesk product for the structural engineering market. Marie has a Master's degree in Structural Engineering and over ten years of experience designing structures, and marketing and selling structural engineering software. She has trained and taught hundreds of engineers on structural analysis and design [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Coordinating architectural and structural design with Autodesk® Revit® Structure

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Interoperability with AutoCAD

Import/Link DWG architectural 2D background

When you import a drawing into Revit Structure, you are importing all the elements, such as blocks and xrefs fromthe drawing. They are all contained inside a Revit Structure element called the import symbol.Partial explode lets you explode the import symbol into its next highest level elements: nested import symbols.Full explode is when you explode the import symbol immediately into Revit Structure text, curves, lines, and filledregions.You can keep doing partial explode until all import symbols are converted to Revit Structure elements.

Note that linked files cannot be exploded.

Query allows you to list properties of imported entities, permanently delete layers, or hide entities for the currentview.

If imported drawing contains too much information, you can delete some layers.


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You can also use visibility graphics to turn off some layers.

Use pick tool to convert into Revit Structure objects: grids, walls, etc…


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Export 2D structural views and drawings in DWG format

Use DWG export settings.You can load your company exportlayers-dwg-aia.txt file.

Export file courtesy of Brandow and Johnston, Consultant Engineers, CA

Note: if you use the AIA layering system as company standard, one export file is not sufficient.You need three export files, one each for plans, sections, and elevations. For example:

In plan view, cut or projection of a wall is S-WALL-CONCIn section view, cut or projection is S-SECT-CCUT or S-SECT-CBND

Object-based interoperability with Architectural Desktop

Import/Link 2D ADT files

Note to the architects sending DWG files:

1. Save the DWG files with proxy graphics set to 1


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2. If linked files were used, bind all external references files to make the entire architectural data visible tothe engineer after export.

Use pick tool to convert into Revit Structure objects: grids, walls, etc…

Import 3D ADT models

Use the Query tool.Note: Only 2D data can be exploded

Export 2D structural views and drawings to ADT

Same as for AutoCAD using DWG export settings.

Export 3D structural model to ADT

Because Architectural Desktop does not support non-extruded structural members (coped elements, cutbacks,cuts, holes), you have 2 options:


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1. create simplified ADT object, loosing some geometry accuracy but keeping the structural properties2. preserve the exact shape of objects but loose the structural properties

This choice is set in the export options, when a 3D view in Revit Structure is current.“ADT objects” option preserves structural properties.“Geometry” option preserves geometry accuracy

The same export parameter can be set-up directly in the family category.Open the family editor for beams and columns and decide whether you want to preserve geometry versus structural propertieswhen exporting 3D model to Revit Structure.


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Export result in ADT when structural properties are preserved: you loose the coping in beams but still read the W shape:

Export result in ADT when geometry is preserved: you keep the coped beam but loose the W properties

Structural components in Revit Structure that are not of a type supported in Architectural Desktop (slabs, footings, and wallswith structural characteristics) and non-uniform profiles are exported to Architectural Desktop as mass elements.


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Note: If architect does not want to deal with the entire 3D model, you can set-up multiple 3D views using scopeboxes. The model will be split into floors like ADT for the architect’s review.Another alternative is for the Architect to use Project Navigator in ADT and define the Revit Structure export as aconstruct file and assign the appropriate levels and divisions to it. This way the cut plane for elements will becorrect for the level of the project being viewed.

Shared database with Revit Building

Model Linking

Make sure you use a structural template.Import/Link the Revit Building model.

Note: in Revit Structure structural plan, you see supporting elements below floor level: columns you see in Level 2are going down to Level 1.


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You can turn on/off linked objects with visibility graphics.

But that turns on/off the entire category (all the walls, even if you want to keep some visible).

Visibility issues with linked files using worksetsTo maintain control over the architect worksets in a linked Revit Building model (and vice versa), use the “openand close” worksets option.When linking the workshared file for the first time or when “reloading from” under Manage Links dialog, selectOpen Worksets: “Specify” option in File Open dialog and then use Worksets dialog to indicate which worksetsshould be opened or closed with this link.

Coordination Monitor

Before you can start monitoring the architectural model into Revit Structure, you need to select/copy what youwant to monitor.

Copy levelsGo to elevation view.Tools >> Copy/Monitor >> Select Link

Before you copy levels, you can change the offset value in Options.


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This is because you set structural levels at the top of the steel or concrete and architects usually set levels at thetop of finish floor.This offset value removes the architectural finish thickness from the Revit Building levels and let you havestructural levels slightly lower at top of structural elements.

Copy levels. Use Multiple.


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After copying levels, eyeballs display next to copied levels to confirm relationship between the structural andarchitectural level.

Once levels have been copied, create corresponding structural floor plans.

Copy gridsGo to the structural floor plan you want to work on.Go Tools >> Copy/Monitor >> Select Link.Use Options to change the name of the grid you copy.

Select the grids from the architectural model that you intent to keep as structural grids as well.

After copying grids, eyeballs display next to copied grids to confirm relationship between the structural andarchitectural object.Complete with additional structural grids you need.


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Copy columns

Remember level difference between columns defined in Revit Structure and in Revit Building.

In each structural floor plan, still using Tools >> Copy/Monitor >> Select Link, select the architectural columns thatcan be used as structural column as well.

All columns not necessary on grids can be copy/monitor.

By default, structural sections are assigned to the columns the architects designed (included structural ones)when they are copied.Modify desired sections in the Options box.Also specify if you want columns to split by levels or not

Copy the columns from the architectural model that you intent to keep as structural columns.

After copying columns, eyeballs display next to copied grids to confirm relationship between the structural andarchitectural object.


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Complete with additional structural columns manually if necessary.

Coordination Review

Now that you have levels, grids and columns copied to monitor, you can run the coordination review tool eachtime:

- you reload an updated model from the architect- you have made some design changes compare to the original model- you want to make a decision on a past coordination issue which was not solved

Messages appear when:• An original monitored element changed/was deleted in the linked project.• A copied element in the host project changed/was deleted.• Both the original monitored element and the copied element changed/were deleted.

Element deletion in the linked file:- postpone = do nothing- reject = you tell the other party the object needs to stay like you set in the structural design- suppress = agree to delete your copied element- accept difference = acknowledge change between architectural and structural design, agree you do not

have any element and they do

Element change in the linked file:- postpone = do nothing- reject = you tell the other part the object needs to stay like you set in the structural design- modify, rename, move = agree to change your copied element according to the original one- accept difference = acknowledge change between architectural and structural design, maintain your

choice


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The coordination monitor tool is also available for the architect, in order to monitor changes made by theengineering team.

Interference checking

It works for both architectural and structural categories in one current project (single file) or between 2 linked files.Note: Interference Checking only works with native Revit elements. It does not work for example with importedsolids from AutoCAD.

Single multi-discipline model

For A/E firms or when architect and engineers share the same network.Need to use worksets tools to separate architecture from structure design.Coordination monitor tool works on a single shared model.

Useful tips

• Use structural templates• Set-up levels first• When you want to unlink an already imported model/file, go to manage link, click on Import and it will

delete the link (so that you can explode dwg if needed)• Exporting from AutoCAD tips

o For 2D Plans: all elements should be set to zero elevation. Otherwise, elements from the filelocated below zero will not appear in Revit Structure unless the view range depth is modified.

• Exporting from Architectural Desktop tipso For 2D or 3D, display configuration mode should be set to the lowest acceptable level of detail

first prior to exporting to AutoCAD dwg format• Importing from Architectural Desktop tips

o Display configurations are ignored from ADTo All ADT objects are shown in full

• Importing from Revit Building Tipso Set Structural Usage of walls correctly; all are visible within Revit Structure by default with the

exception of non-bearing, unless Discipline is set to Coordination

getting along: coordinating architectural and structural ... · useful tips • use structural...

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