Civil 3D surface to Revit

[Kundertk]

We're having trouble sharing data with another consultant who wants to bring in a Civil 3D surface into Revit.  I have tried to simply export the surfaces to XML, and I have also tried to show the surface as triangles and export to plain CAD (which left me with 3D Faces).  Apparently neither of these options is working for them.  Is there another method to attempt, or something I may have done incorrectly? 

[Dan_Donovan]

How to import a Civil toposurface in Revit

Issue:

You would like to know the process to import a Civil toposurface in Revit.

Solution:

Revit is not able to read Civil surfaces directly. You will have to export your Civil 3D drawing to standard AutoCAD format (EXPORTTOAUTOCAD) in order to do this.

It is recommended to simplify a copy of the original Civil drawing before exporting it to AutoCAD with only the minimum objects required to bring into Revit.

Once you have done the Export from Civil 3D, link the DWG file in Revit then apply create the Toposurface:

1. Go to a 3d View
2. From the "Massing and Site" ribbon tab choose "Toposurface"
3. From the "Modify | Edit Surface" ribbon tab choose "Create from Import > Select Import Instance"
4. Now select the linked DWG file
5. When the layer list appears click on "Check None" then select only the layer(s) containing the toposurface you wish to import - Note that if you have multiple toposurfaces it is recommended to import one by one by repeating the process and choosing every time a single layer containing the surface
6. Click OK when done then click on the "Finish Surface" button in the Edit Surface ribbon tab to complete the creation of your toposurface.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/H...

[Kundertk]

I don't have Revit so I'll have to leave it to the other consultant to use this method to try to bring it in.  Not having access to this program, I have no way of knowing whether it is operator error on their part or if there was a problem with the files I sent them.  I tested the XML file by importing into a blank drawing and it worked for me.  And the plain CAD drawing was only 3D faces, as I mentioned, so I don't see how there can be an issue on my end.

[KirkWM]

As another option, our sub consultants typically ask for us to export the surface to 3D solids (Command:EXPORTSURFACETOSOLID) and give that to them and I think they put it into a revit family for their uses. I've found 1 caveat, before making the solids, all surface hide boundaries must be set to "destructive".

[Kundertk · Accepted solution]

That's an option I haven't tried, thanks!  It turned out that the consultant actually used the incorrect file and could make use of the plain triangles/3dfaces afterall, but I have to export something for them again so will consider this as another option which may be of more use for their task.

[MikeEvansUK]

Revit surfaces are definitely not the right method unless you have detailed a very flat site with no breaklines, banking, kerbs etc. If you use this method it will not produce the desired surface but create a complete mess and waste of time.

The best method is to provide the following:

In Civil3d:

Extract the faces from the surface then copy to a new file. Convert to Regions and save on a new layer.

paste the original triangles back in so the file contains Two data sets (faces & regions).

Next insert the architectural / site or structural grids and create a box on a different layer 0.5m at one of the intersections, rotate to align to the grid positively and set the elevation to FFL (known Datum) and extrude.

Now you have the information it can be imported into Revit.

The Regions are great for sectioning in Revit as they will create a simple line profile where cut but they cannot be annotated.

Faces can be annotated but create poor sections due to the clip depth (shows back faces & detail, looks really poor).

The box enables coordination in Revit without relying on the Shared coordinates, also when imported as a generic mass family. The coordinates do not exist so a workaround is needed - Hence the box.

So in revit we will create a new Generic Mass family and import the 3d file in the correct units.

Use the solid box to insert & align the family to the Revit model.

Use the faces for annotating levels or gradients and regions for sectioning.

The same priciple applies for drainage although a better method is to use IFC.

[Kundertk]

Thanks for the insight.  This particular site is predominantly flat and has several large industrial "lots", but there are portions with some significant relief.  I can't do the endgame work myself since I don't have Revit, but can forward this potential solution to the others to see if this helps improve their output.  I've given them the 3d faces, and assume they can monkey around with converting them to regions in plain CAD if it will help.

[BrianHailey]

Install Civil 3D 2019.1 and Revit 2019.1. Upload your surface to BIM 360. Create a topo in Revit from the topo in BIM 360.

[Kundertk]

Thanks for that.  I'm glad to see that they made it easier to collaborate in the new version.  This should help me sometime in 2022 when my company finally adopts this version of software.  😛 

I'm not sure how many other companies out there delay in adopting newer versions of Civil 3D until the bugs get worked out, but mine has been doing this for a long time and even today we still seem to skip every second version since way back when AutoCAD had a run of terrible versions in a row (version 11, 13, 2000, etc.)