Moving linked model / shared coordinates

[NathalieKD]

Hello, 

I need some guidance on project base point, survey point, shared coordinates etc. 

I've read so many tutorials and videos, I'm not even sure I've done it right, but my brain is fried for sure. Bear with me for a moment, I'll explain the different steps I took and I'd really appreciate if you could help me! 

Basically, I started by developing the building model (we didn't have the survey cad yet). Now that I have the cad file, I've made the site model. First, I tried following tutorials, by linking cad files, acquire coordinates etc. I determined the X,Y position of one specific corner of the site boundariesin Autocad, then changed the survey point coordinates accordingly. Same in the building model. When I tried copying grid lines from the building model to the site model (eventually I want to use this site model with topography, levels and grids as a base for other consultants), they didn't place at the correct location. I must have done something wrong with survey point or the base point. At that point I gave up.  

After that, I decided to create the site model from the building model. I deleted everything but the grids and levels. This is probably not the right way to approach site model, but frustration made me do it. 

In the site model, I did the same steps again, to aquire the coordinates from the cad file. Linked the building model, which had to be placed at the exact same spot since survey, base point and origin are identical. Then shared the site coordinates to the building model, and I'm not even sure I got it right! 

Now, I made a topography in the site model, but I need to move the linked building model up, to meet the real site. Is this something I do in the building model or just by moving the link? I would say in the model. But can you do it in the site model by moving the linked model and somehow changes the linked model automatically? 

Apologies for the messy description but I hope you can help!! 

I'm pretty confident with revit in general, but when it comes to site stuff, I'm a novice.   

[indiana_j0nes]

@NathalieKD 

mmmh this might help: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5605a932e4b0055d57211846/t/5da8d445dbc471065c032576/157134547...

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

Are you saying that you Linked your CAD Survey into a New Revit Project that would serve as your Revit Site Plan, and then Linked your Revit Building to this Revit Site Plan?  If so, you would Link the CAD Survey into the Revit Site Plan Project and Acquire Coordinates from the CAD Link. That's it.  Then you would Link your Building Model Project into the Revit Site Plan Project and in Plan View, position/orient it on the Site exactly how it will be plotted.  If your Site Plan includes a Toposurface, you would go to a Site Plan Elevation/Section View and move the Building Model to the correct Elevation as well. Afterwards, you Publish Coordinates to Building Model Link.  That's it. 

...here's an excellent read regarding Shared Coordinates:

file:///C:/Users/ProCAD/AppData/Local/Packages/Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe/TempState/Downloads/AU%202011_SharedCoord%20(1).pdf

[ToanDN]

- No need to mess with your Building model survey point or project base point. Ideally, model your building as close as possible to the original project base point, for example, use it as a corner, or as the centerpoint for your building. Since you already have the building modeled then just leave everything as is.

- Create a blank project file for the Site model, link the survey DWG in center-to-center (uncheck the box Current view only) , acquire coordinates from the DWG , save.

- Go back to your building model, link the Site model in center-to-center, move it so that the survey background matches your building location, acquire coordinates.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

@NathalieKD wrote:

I started by developing the building model... Now ... I've made the site model... I determined the X,Y position of one specific corner of the site... then changed the survey point coordinates accordingly. Same in the building model.

So far so good, I would say. It seems like you've worked it around.

---

When I tried copying grid lines from the building model to the site model (eventually I want to use this site model with topography, levels and grids as a base for other consultants), they didn't place at the correct location. I must have done something wrong with survey point or the base point.

Try linking the "building model file" into the "site model file". With that done, you can now position your building model at the position you want just moving the link object. When you get to the position desired (x,y,z), then publish the "site model" coordinates to the "building model" link file, save the file and the location/coordinates to the linked file. Now your both files will share coordinates. When you open back your building model file it will reflect that move on its project base point coordinates, including any X, Y or Z moves you've made to its linked position back in the site model file.

About coping the grids what I do is to link the file with the grid I want into a file where I want them copied to. First, make sure both files/models share coordinates. Then, in your case, the linkage would be the other way around what you did to publish the coordinates. You must link the model  site file into the building model file (the one which has the grids you need). Use the copy/monitor tool to copy your grids; you could keep monitoring or just copy them. To learn more about copy/monitor, check this link: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/EN...

[NathalieKD]

Thank you veru much! 

I didn't know about the copy/monitor tool, that's great. 

[NathalieKD]

Thank you! 

Ok so you can also acquire coordinates from a site file when you are in your bulding model, I thought common practice was to publish from the site model. 

Is there any best practice to follow? Any advantages to do one way more than the other? 

Thanks

[Anonymous]

That's correct. You can shared coordinates both ways. Publishing the
coordinate system from the host file to the linked file or acquiring the
coordinate system from the linked file to the host file.

As far as Revit concerns there are no different results nor any kind of
coordinates systems hierarchy a created mongst the publishing or acquiring
coordinates options. The results are just the same and your choice will
depend on which file of your is the one that holds the coordinate system to
be shared. If your coordinates reference it's the host file, then publish
if it's the link file then acquire it.

On a regular design workflow, however, you would preferably have the
reference coordinates system in your site model and publish it to your
building file. That would be the natural downstream flow.

[NathalieKD]

I can't see where to add an additional question to the thread, so I'll just reply to you!

Anyone knows how to reset the coordinates in the building model? Last time I tried to publish the coordinates in the site model to the linked model, Revit wouldn't let me, due to some kind of conflict with named site. 

So I'd like to scratch whatever wrong I did in the building model. 

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

@NathalieKDI suggest you open a new thread. That way you'll get more and better response from the forum.