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. 

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,