How can i use a coordinate system thats uses meters in Revit?

How can i use a coordinate system thats uses meters in Revit?

j.aukema
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Message 1 of 6

How can i use a coordinate system thats uses meters in Revit?

j.aukema
Participant
Participant

Hi,

 

I want to use geolocation within Revit. In the Netherlands we often use RD coordinate system, this system uses meters. In Revit we work with milimeters. 

 

First i tried acquiring coordintes from a Civil 3D dwg file. But when i do this the coordinates multiple by a 1000 since revit automatically changes the coordinates to mm. The coordinates are correct when i change the Revit unit from mm to meters, but this is not really a solution. 

 

If i change the civil 3D model from m to mm, the coordinates change aswel (x 1000). So this wont work either.

 

Last thing i tried is the 'Shared Reference Coordinate extension'. Here i encounter the same problem. I even tried 'lying' to Civil 3D when exporting the shared coordinates by saying that the coordinates are in mm. This way i get the correct coordinates at the Survey Point in Revit, but not at the Project base point, since it measures in mm now while it should measure the coordinates in meters.

 

Is their a way to use meters for the coordinate system and millimeters for the rest? Or is there a different approach to this?

 

 

 

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Message 2 of 6

Alfredo_Medina
Mentor
Mentor

What matters is that the .dwg file, once imported in Revit, reports the correct size. For example, that a parking spot is approximately 9 feet x 18 feet or whatever its equivalent in any other unit. Once you are sure that the .dwg file has the correct scale, you can change Revit's units to meters and then use Specify Coordinates at Point, then enter the coordinates in meters. And then change the units of the Spot Coordinates tool and Spot Elevation tool to match the units. I would not advice to change anyting in the .dwg file.


Alfredo Medina _________________________________________________________________ ______
Licensed Architect (Florida) | Freelance Instructor | Profile on Linkedin
Message 3 of 6

ToanDN
Consultant
Consultant

Set the correct Import Units to meters when you link in the DWG.

Message 4 of 6

j.aukema
Participant
Participant

Yes, but i think revit automatically creates millimeters from the imported (in meters) coordinates. This are the coordinates in C3D X = 187461.500 Y = 428825.000, and i revit i get N/S 428825250 and E/W 187461500. 

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Message 5 of 6

j.aukema
Participant
Participant

Thanks for the reply's! 

 

I think i didnt I formulated my question correctly.

 

To clarify the question: importing the coordinates (the coordinate system measures in meters) from the DWG to Revit works fine. The issue is that the coordinates are being converted to millimeters in Revit, because we work in millimeters in Revit (even if I set the DWG Import Units to meters). One potential solution would be to use 'specify coordinates' at this point and then enter the coordinates in meters so that the correct coordinates are displayed here (in meters).

 

However, this leads to the following problem: the project base point measures the distance from the survey point in millimeters, causing the coordinates to be incorrect here (because they are displayed in millimeters, rather than meters). The problem is that a coordinate system that works in meters doesn't function when working in millimeters in Revit. Is there a solution to this? Or is the only solution to use annotations to display the coordinates?

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Message 6 of 6

Simon_Weel
Advisor
Advisor

the project base point measures the distance from the survey point in millimeters

I don't get it? Whether it be meters or millimeters - just multiply / divide by 1000?

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