Revit Architecture Forum
Welcome to Autodesk’s Revit Architecture Forums. Share your knowledge, ask questions, and explore popular Revit Architecture topics.
cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Following Site Contours

18 REPLIES 18
SOLVED
Reply
Message 1 of 19
LisaDrago
1822 Views, 18 Replies

Following Site Contours

So... I am working on a site plan and puttin in curbs... I want them to follow the contous of the site - I know there is a way but i can't think of it... How do i do this.

Thanks -

LD


If this helped solve your issue - remember to 'accept as solution' to help other find answers!
You can't think AutoCAD and run Revit.
Email: LisaDragoEE@gmail.com
18 REPLIES 18
Message 2 of 19
Alfredo_Medina
in reply to: LisaDrago

The only way I know is this: create profiles, load them into project. Create model lines that follow the edge that you want to convert into a curb (because you can't use "pick lines" on the site), then use "pick path" > "pick 3d edges" and select the model lines that you created, finish the path, select profile, pick a profile from the list.


Alfredo Medina _________________________________________________________________ ______
Licensed Architect (Florida) | Freelance Instructor | Autodesk Expert Elite (on Revit) | Profile on Linkedin
Message 3 of 19
OZRevit
in reply to: LisaDrago

Hi,

 

This link will get you started on editting the .pat files. You'll also find a video explaining the process.

 

Hope this helps.

Message 4 of 19
Alfredo_Medina
in reply to: OZRevit

Oops, it seems that you posted in the wrong thread? Surface patterns?


Alfredo Medina _________________________________________________________________ ______
Licensed Architect (Florida) | Freelance Instructor | Autodesk Expert Elite (on Revit) | Profile on Linkedin
Message 5 of 19
OZRevit
in reply to: Alfredo_Medina

Sorry...wrong post.

I responded to the right one !

Message 6 of 19
LisaDrago
in reply to: LisaDrago

Okay Maybe i am missing something or it is just too early to think Alfredo - but i am having trouble getting in the model line to follow the contours... Any thoughts?

LD


If this helped solve your issue - remember to 'accept as solution' to help other find answers!
You can't think AutoCAD and run Revit.
Email: LisaDragoEE@gmail.com
Message 7 of 19
Alfredo_Medina
in reply to: LisaDrago

As I said in my previous reply, "pick lines" does not work with contours, you have to create model lines on top of them, without the help of pick lines, unfortunately.


Alfredo Medina _________________________________________________________________ ______
Licensed Architect (Florida) | Freelance Instructor | Autodesk Expert Elite (on Revit) | Profile on Linkedin
Message 8 of 19
derrickmoore
in reply to: LisaDrago

I made the roadway in plan first, then edited the sub elements to roughly follow the countours, then added a sweep blend with the curb profile. Unfortunately it's a PITA and sometimes wouldn't let me create the sweep, leaving gaps in the curb.

This is my first job where I tried to model the site, if anyone has a more humane way of doing this i'm all ears.

Message 9 of 19
tbh
Enthusiast
in reply to: LisaDrago

Unfortunately this is a PAINFULLY time consuming and (IMO an embarrassment for Autodesk) process. I can't believe that a software as powerful as Revit still lacks basic site tools beyond creating topo. I'm not asking for much but a tool to create a road or curb that follows the surface shouldn't be that hard. I find it hard to believe with the resources that Autodesk has that they can't devote something towards developing some tools.

My suggestion, if you can afford it, would be to look at eagle point.

Otherwise, you might try using an adaptive family. I looked at this recently and I thought it may be possible to create a family that would allow you to adjust the elevation as you enter each point
Message 10 of 19
octavio2
in reply to: LisaDrago

Had this issue of curbs following the contours been resolved Lisa? That is, in the newer versions?

 

Message 11 of 19
Alfredo_Medina
in reply to: octavio2

There is a limitation about using "pick lines" on the topography. To overcome this limitation, we could try this: export the topography, and import or link it back. Now we should be able to create a sweep using "pick 3d edges" on the contours imported from the topography (note: be aware that using pick lines on dwg files might create some issues or inaccuracies).  If I remember correctly, that is the same technique that Marcello Sgambelluri has demonstrated in his classes on topography. If it is not, I am pretty sure he will come to this thread and help us.

 

All of us agree that Autodesk should come up with a specific tool to do this in a simple way. There are already some third party tools to make these curbs. I have seen them in conferences.

 

If it helps, here's a link to a video I did in April 2012, that could still be an alternative. The points in the video go around a curvy shape, which is flat, but since the points are adaptive, they could have different elevations as well. This is a family that is created with the generic model adaptive template, with a profile that was made with a flat generic model family :

 

http://youtu.be/GsJNn0pi994


Alfredo Medina _________________________________________________________________ ______
Licensed Architect (Florida) | Freelance Instructor | Autodesk Expert Elite (on Revit) | Profile on Linkedin
Message 12 of 19
marcellojs
in reply to: Alfredo_Medina

Its not hard at all IMHO

 

Watch this class I taught at AU in 2013. It will explain the basis of how to make any hardscape follow any site topo..

 

If you have questions please post them here and I will explain further.

 

 

topofollow.png

Message 13 of 19
tbh
Enthusiast
in reply to: marcellojs

Alfredo, Marcello,

 

Thank you both for your responses.

 

Alfredo:

 

I saw your video a while back, very informative, thanks. I started working with the adaptive families but have gotten away from them. I think it's time to go back and revisit.

 

Marcello, fantastic job! Unfortunately I haven't been able to attend AU in several years so I was not able to attend your class. This should lower my frustration level significantly. Perhaps Autodesk will incorporate some of your processes into Revit.

 

A couple of questions/issues.

 

1. When I import the drawing back in to Revit the spline will not allow me to pick the points on the DWG to set the nodes. I do not have much familiarity with massing as we don't have a great deal of need for it other than very simple shapes. So I know it's something I'm missing. I appears to be drawing the spline in on whatever plane is being used as a reference. It will allow me to pick the edges of the drawing but nothing else. I also tried it with the sample file you provided to see if it was something I had set wrong in my project but had the same result.

 

The beam method should work for now until I get the spline issue figured out.

 

2. What is your feeling on parking lots. I've used various methods. Typically I create a flat area, using either a floor or building pad and adjust the site but sometimes this takes a fair amount of manipulation as the parking lot slopes from one side of the building to the other. The issue isn't really the parking lot itself but the stripping that becomes an issue. I've even gone as far as subdividing the topo and for the stripping but this is EXTREMELY tedious and only used when I have no other choice.

 

3. Any ideas on the lousy text editor?

Message 14 of 19
tbh
Enthusiast
in reply to: tbh

Update.

 

I created a mass and imported the DWG. I then created a second mass and was able toy use the first mass to pick the points for the spline. That may have been the process you used but I missed that. Works nicely after I figured that one out. The only problem I had was Revit kept telling me there was a serious error and wanting me to save a recovery file. That eventually went away. I'm not sure if it was a graphics issue.

 

One other question, when you used the splines to generate the fence along the side, did you copy those original splines for use later? It appears that when you create the form to use for the road it deletes the original splines. I'm assuming you made a copy but I wasn't sure if there was a setting that would keep the original defining edges.

Message 15 of 19
marcellojs
in reply to: tbh

Change the spline to a reference line then it will not disappear when you use it for form creation
Message 16 of 19
tbh
Enthusiast
in reply to: marcellojs

That was it. Thanks again.

Message 17 of 19
tbh
Enthusiast
in reply to: marcellojs

Marcello,

 

I can't tell you how much I appreciate the information you provided. It's already proved to be invaluable. Using your techniques i was able to come up with parking striping that follows the contour.

 

Thanks again.

Message 18 of 19
tbh
Enthusiast
in reply to: tbh

Marcello,

 

Thought this might interest you. Here's a macro for creating model lines from the topo edges.

 

http://boostyourbim.wordpress.com/category/site/

 

Message 19 of 19
garypyles
in reply to: marcellojs

The link does not go to the video.  So I did not find this useful.  I would like to learn this procedure.

Can't find what you're looking for? Ask the community or share your knowledge.

Post to forums  

Rail Community


Autodesk Design & Make Report