When working with multiple stakeholders on a Revit project, the internal and external teams should know how to use Revit to coordinate their models between disciplines. This blog will help you understand the tools and workflow for Revit model coordination.
Premise: A multi-use building was created for a development company. The company has hired an architect to create the design, and the architect has hired structural and MEP engineers to join the project. The main host model will be the architecture model. The MEP and structural models will be linked in and coordinated against the architectural model.
Tools:
There are multiple tools to work with when understanding how to coordinate models within Revit. We will cover each one during the workflow.
- Link Revit Model Command
- Positioning of the model when inserting
- Manage Links Command
- Copy/Monitor Commands
- Coordination Review command
- Interference Check/Run Interference Check Command
Workflow:
1. Create your Revit Architecture, Structure, and MEP models independent of each other
2. Open the host (Architecture Model) and link in the Structure and MEP models
3. Ensure positioning is correct when inserting models
4. If needed, use Copy/Monitor to create/monitor your model elements between discipline models
5. Run interference checks periodically
6. Create interference reports regularly for record sake
7. Revise the models accordingly based on the discrepancies found
8. Repeat steps 5 - 7 on a bi-weekly basis or at regular set intervals agreed upon
Step 1: When creating your A/S/MEP models, depending on your relationships and the timing of information and design requirements, you will most likely create your models at different times. A typical flow is as follows:
- Architect creates architecture Revit model based upon initial design intent with owner discussions
- Structural model is created after the architect hands over the initial Revit model design
- MEP model is created after the Architecture and Structure models are created.
This flow is typical but not always the case. Ensuring the best workflow for the initial design/coordination is critical for everyone to understand how to proceed with their work within Revit. Once established, the tools above (some/all) may be used in the coordination process.
Completed Models:
Step 2: To link your Structure/MEP models into your Architecture model, use the "Link Revit" Command in the Insert Tab, Link Panel within the Ribbon. In the "Import/Link RVT window," browse to your Structure/MEP models. Select the model via "single click" to ensure you can choose the Positioning option before completing the command. The "position" of the linked model should typically be "Auto - Internal Origin to Internal Origin." Use the "Manage Links" command in the Insert tab, the Ribbon Link Panel, to control various aspects of the linked model data. The Manage Links dialog box allows you to reload the models from a different location, unload them, add more, and remove existing linked Revit models.
Step 3: The Copy/Monitor Commands can help you coordinate your 3D model elements and create your data faster. Depending on your workflow and approach, you may use the Copy or the Monitor commands. These commands are in the Collaborate Tab, Coordinate Panel of the Ribbon.
Copy Command: This command allows you to copy 3D elements from the linked model into your host model for immediate creation and monitoring.
Monitor Command: This command allows you to monitor 3D elements from the linked model against 3D objects already created in your host model.
Within the Copy/Monitor Command Contextual Window, you have several choices for working with the command: Options, Copy, Monitor, Coordination Settings, Batch Copy, Finish, and Cancel. If necessary, ensure you work with each one to complete the command properly.
Step 4: Running Interference checks on the models is a must for coordination. This tool lets you see the issues firsthand and know where your models conflict. It also allows you to generate reports for record purposes and, if used properly, will ensure your 3D elements are not clashing. The "Interference Checking" tool is located in the Collaborate Tab, Coordinate Panel of the Ribbon.
Once you run your check, you will find several errors (hopefully not too many) within the "Interference Report" dialog box. In this box, you can use the "Show, Export, and Refresh" commands to find your clashes, see them easier with other views, export the errors as an HTML report, and refresh the report once you correct your errors.
As you improve on this workflow and work with it more, you will be able to coordinate your Revit models more easily over time. It is not a hard process, albeit a necessary one. Just be diligent about creating your 3D content and communicate well with everyone in your internal and external teams to ensure fewer coordination clashes as the project matures. Hopefully, this blog has given you some decent insight into coordinating your Revit models from within the Revit application.
