Creating Linkable Site Elevation From USGS Data

[Anonymous]

I am new to Revit and would like to know the best way to create elevation data for the site elevation for a house plan.   I would like to get the data from USGS.  I have Revit 2017 but no other Autodesk software.  What is the best way to achieve this?  

Thank you.

[BIMAbhi]

You can follow the below steps to create the site topo surface with import points.

1. Go to Massing & Site Tab
2. Then click on Toposurface Tool >  Click on Create from Import Drop Down Option > Specify Points file and select the file [CSV or TXT]
3. That's it

Hope you can create the toposurface in Revit interface.

Useful link:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-architecture-forum/toposurface-from-txt-file/td-p/5026482

Or go to help [F1] file and search with Toposurface and you can get more details on that.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Thank you for your kind reply, RNDPIS.

I do know how to do that, I was looking for how to import actual USGS data not having surveyor data, just for early draft purposes. I could not get the USGS data in a format that Revit could use (it may be possible, but I was not able to locate a supported file type on the USGS interactive elevation download site.  AutoCad will provide some conversions but I don't have the AutoCad suite).  So I kept looking for a way to get some actual elevation data to work with.  Google Earth is less accurate than USGS so they say, but still, it is actual data which what was needed.

I found a great YouTube video that shows how to use the free SketchUp application to import Google Earth rectangle, or meshed multiple rectangles elevation data with image layer. Command is File > Geo-location> add location which will allow you to find a specific location on Google Earth. You can then bring the file into Revit.   Rhino not needed even though the presenter uses Rhino in the YouTube.  Took me two minutes. 

[video]

YouTube link to Topography from Google Earth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk_sQun48X0&t=316s

[matthewburr20]

As of May 22, 2017 Sketchup Make 2017 no longer allows you to import Google Maps terrain.  This feature is now only available in Sketchup Pro.  This is a huge disappointment for me as this was the best free way to import topographic info into Revit, when you dont yet have a surveyed topographic cad file.    What is everyone else doing?  Is there a free way to import USGS topographic data into Revit?  Thanks,

https://help.sketchup.com/en/geodatachange

matt

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Matt, this is beyond frustrating.  This is true even if you use SketchUp Make 2016.  They urge you to upgrade to paid SketchUp if you want the location Service. 

[matthewburr20]

Is anyone else able to import USGS topographic info into Revit for free without using Sketchup Pro?  Importing from Sketchup/ Google to Revit was my  process on single family projects before getting an actual topographic survey from the client.  Thanks,