Project origin Recap question

[michael.howardPRATB]

Has anyone an idea how to find the exact coordinates of the project project origin? The only way I can find so far is by hovering over the origin in update origin mode. It doesn't seem very accurate. I need to insert it accurately into revit.

[DEVR2098]

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@"jasonbayer7965 wrote:

if you have autocad or navisworks, bring the cloud in along with an nwc or dwg representation (export) of the revit file.

they are easier to work with the cloud and report translations. "

I haven't worked with Navisworks before but I'm pretty familiar with AutoCAD. What the heck is a nwc? I don't care if I sound like ignorant. If you don't ask you never know. 🙂

I saw that in AutoCAD the insertion point (for want of a better word) was my recap translated origin point, so that's a plus. IT kind of kills he work-flow to bring it through yet another program.

For now I am establishing a survey point which will be the origin for both Revit and Recap Data. its not perfect but I can work with it. 

For many of you, point clouds are thoroughly familiar, but for building designers like myself, we are still working out the best way to work with this fantastic new data-set.

[michael.howardPRATB]

I'm back on this job now and unfortunately due to a faulty Iphone I accepted the solution. I am still lost. Heres the situation. I have a recap model which I cannot locate in revit. When I put the point cloud into revit, I cannot see it even if I move the project origin to coordinates close to the model before importing the recap model. I have been wracking my brains on this one for weeks and I still have no solution. The project absolutely has to be in the correct place but finding it for editing is impossible. If you select a point cloud in revit you cannot get location details from it. What do I do? 

[DEVR2098]

Sounds very frustrating. Don't flame me if you've already tried these but ..

1) After inserting the cloud in Revit, go to an elevation view and make certain that the view does not have cropping turned on or a scope box (for 3d)

 perform a view extents command (just type ZA) a. If the cloud is hiding off somewhere your view will go crazy small and you will find the cloud.

2) If the view does not change then the next thing to check is Revits view overrides (VV). You might have "imported items" switched off

3)Try inserting the model into a blank Revit file.

or it may be the units in the recap file. Go back into recap and check to see if your units are the same as the project into which you are inserting it.

4) Use recaps "Update Coordinates" function to set a new origin, X Y and Z axis and re-save the rcp file

    (this becomes the new (0,0,0) point you can always rotate the cloud reference in Revit if its a bit out) Better that it needs tweaking than be lost.

5) or maybe 1) insert the cloud into AutoCAD to make sure the file is not corrupt.

That's all I got, sorry. I hope you make it work.

[michael.howardPRATB]

Thanks
1. Tired this. No view cropping.
2. First thing I checked. By default plan views show refs and point clouds.
3. Will try changing recap units again just in case. It's a new job, so always a blank revit file. (Think I'm on number50 by now :-D)
4. Can't update coordinates because I'll lose the existing coordinates which is the point of the job.
5. I'll try the ACAD insertion but I'm on v3.0 of the recap model by now. Don't really want to start another.
Apologies for the direct answers. Writing this on the worlds worst iPhone on a bus. Unfortunately I cannot try new solutions until tomorrow as I'm in GMT +2 time zone. The deadline on this is up but the future use of revit within my company depends on this. Surveying is all about real world location. You'd think Autodesk would have a simple, straightforward, way of doing this. (Inserting a point cloud in Revit at exact coordinates and viewing in plan). I get that revit was originally aimed at Architects and structural engineers but all fields need BIM now. Apologies for the mini rant! Thanks for the help

[Anonymous]

nwc is a navisworks file

[Anonymous]

update origin in recap, with all other programs that include the point cloud turned off.  save the file in recap and then re open it in revit.  see if it shows up then.  if not, its a revit issue as far as your view, try it in default 3d view.

[michael.howardPRATB]

The point cloud is already visible in Revit but in 3D view only. For some reason revit defaults 3D view to project extents but not plan views (Mad!! Why?).
I would update to origin in recap only that will send my coordinates off all over the place. I have to keep the coordinates above all else. I may as well center to center the job. I can do this no problem but that knocks my coordinates off too. I don't think it's a matter of the point cloud not working (although it could be units) it's a location issue in Revit.

[Anonymous]

check the last tab in vv in revit, I think this is the point cloud tab, make sure its on.

as far as coordinates go, you need to get your cloud in the right spot BEFORE you bring it into revit, since revit is so bad at reporting how far something has moved.

to do this, you need to change the coordinates in recap before you save the rcp to the correct location.

You may be able to find out your translations for the cloud, and then use shared coordinates, but I am not sure how to do this.

We use clouds a lot, and always locate the cloud before bringing it in.

Since you appear to have the need to leave the cloud where it is, and move it in revit, you may need to look into using shared coordinates.

[Anonymous]

you can get your transforms from survey control, total station targets, or approximating on a slice in autocad, and getting the transforms from properties.  it appears you can use these transforms to make shared coordinates.  see video in post 15.  I have only skimmed through it, but it looks like it has what you need.

[DEVR2098]

Hey Jason,

I got the gist what you said but lt looks like I ive got a lot more reading to do before I can claim any mastery. I'd mark it as solved but it was not my original question. Thanks for being patient with us cloud newbies.