Optimal Building Elevation Based on Existing Topography

[MadoreJacob]

I have a building pad drawn in Revit and I have a toposolid from a site survey that was completed where the building is being erected. I'm trying to determine the optimal elevation of this building in order to minimize ground work and reduce fill. There are no good posts outlining how this can be done with Revit 2024. Any ideas?

[vitorbortoncello]

Civil 3D has the tool you're describing and might work better. In Revit 2025 you can do this using the excavate tool:

[HVAC-Novice]

This is more a Civil engineering question. And you have to meet other requirements than just balancing fill. The building needs to be high enough for ground to slope away around it. You also need to connect to driveway, sidewalk etc below a certain slope.  Some buildings don't accept stairs (ADA) or stairs are just inconvenient compared to a ramp. So, it needs to be low enough. A basement with windows changes things again. 

Too many buildings are too low and end up with reverse-slope around the perimeter and basement windows that turn into fish-tanks. 

[MadoreJacob]

With all due respect, we don't need a lesson on sloping ground away from a building so it doesn't get inundated, that is quite obvious.

The question was pertaining to choosing an optimal elevation to minimize required fill, we will deal with water management and roadways accordingly, and these are of secondary importance.

Do you have any input to offer on the Revit side of this issue?

[MadoreJacob]

We're using Revit 2024, is there a simple tool for this in 2024? We would prefer to stain contained in one software.

[vitorbortoncello]

topography tools in revit 2024 are just not good. You need to use voids and cuts to manually calculate the difference:
https://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-B7B5057A-46DC-4BD6-8ECB-BFFA220D2B1D

[barthbradley]

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@MadoreJacob wrote:

With all due respect, we don't need a lesson on sloping ground away from a building so it doesn't get inundated, that is quite obvious.

The question was pertaining to choosing an optimal elevation to minimize required fill, we will deal with water management and roadways accordingly, and these are of secondary importance.

Do you have any input to offer on the Revit side of this issue?

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I'm kind of gun shy to weigh in considering this response to @HVAC-Novice.  But here goes:  what the heck do you mean by "choosing an optimal elevation to minimize required fill"? 

[MadoreJacob]

We are erecting a large building in an area with quite the varying topography. That said, we do not want to erect the building at the highest point in the area, as we will be required to backfill all the low spots. Rather, we would like to pick an elevation that will allow us to cut all of the high areas on the site and fill the low areas, minimizing the removal or addition of fill. In essence, we would ideally not have to bring in any fill, or discard of any existing soil.

I have the topography modelled as a toposolid in Revit, and I have the building floor modeled and located (N-S & E-W). I was hoping Revit had an easy tool to choose an elevation for the floor that would be optimal for fill use etc.

Hopefully this clarifies.

[barthbradley]

Generative Design. Google it. There's a boatload of information on-line.  Start here:  

 https://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-492527AD-AAB9-4BAA-82AE-9B95B6C3E5FE

[ToanDN]

Create a topo schedule to get cut and fill value. Then manually adjust the elevation of your building pad until the balance is 0 or close to it.