Revit 2024 Toposolid Contours Don't Match Points

[springerarchi]

First time using the new tools - is there a reason why the contour points created from the Toposolid don't match the points generating the Toposolid? In the attached screenshots, the red lines are the contour lines from the civil engineer, which are relatively accurately followed by the points, but the resultant contour lines are way off, even though I can use spot elevations/contour labels to confirm that the actual geometry matches the points properly.

Am I doing something wrong, or is this now how they are expected to work?

Thanks in advance!

[Alfredo_Medina]

Try to use a list of points to generate the toposolid. If you don't have it, you can request that from your civil consultant. That creates a more accurate result. Also, try to increase the number of contour lines to see if you get a better result. It could be that the spacing is too far apart. 

[springerarchi]

Unfortunately the civil engineer is very old-school still does everything by hand, so all I get are PDF scans. Topo intervals have to be at 1' for most of our jurisdictions, so any smaller and they will kick it back.

I'm just going back to CAD days and manually showing the contours, turning off the toposolid contours and just using it to generate the spot elevations I need. Such a shame, the new tools are great for modeling but they really missed the mark on translating that to documentation.

[Alfredo_Medina]

So, how were you trying to do your toposolid using a PDF file?

[springerarchi]

Manually adding the points along each contour line.

[Alfredo_Medina]

That is weird. Even though Toposolids have some issues, it will not make a result so off from the intention, as you show. You probably have a different issue, such as wrong elevation of points, or view range. Try adding your points again, while looking at multiple views, plan, section, and 3d. 

[springerarchi]

I've recreated it several times, even tried adding the points all at 0' then elevating them afterwards, still the same results. Its displaying these contours the same way everywhere, so it's not a view range issue, and the points are all correct.

The contour settings for this toposolid type are offset by 3" so the contour labels will report correctly (survey point is -102'-3"). But even removing that offset, and setting the survey point back to 0, still the same output for the contour lines.

Just for kicks, I also tried recreating it in a new clean file from the default imperial tempalte - also same results.

[Alfredo_Medina]

Check also the relation between the elevation of the contours and the settings in the dialog box. Please refer to this thread: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/revit-architecture-forum/contours-in-toposolid-revit-2024-not-showing...

[springerarchi]

Thanks, unfortunately no luck there, either. My contours go from 98' to 102' and contour settings range is -150' to +150'

I also tested doing it with a toposurface in 2022 then upgrading/converting...in 2022 the representation is much more aligned to the contours (although there is still some of the same "shortcutting" between some of the curves, albeit much less). Then, after upgrading and converting to a toposolid, it maintains the same contour representation as the toposurface. 

[Mike.FORM · Accepted solution]

You are getting the issue because of how windy the contours are. You can see in the points image you have several flat areas because the points are so close together that the triangulation connects earlier than you want (outlined in Purple in attached).

You need to add a few additional points (red dots in attached) within those areas that are slightly higher or lower to get the contour to extend around the flat spot.

The elevations only need to vary by like 1/4" +/-.

Updated Points.png

 

[springerarchi]

Brilliant - that did the trick perfectly, thank you @Mike.FORM !

[mmille22N8Q3B]

Is there a way to avoid this issue? a contour tool or something? I have imported a dwg contour lines at the correct z height but revit topo solid tool seems to only generate points at nodes in the lines creating this same issue. Even if you add more points lines along the contour lines it still has this issue (which is annoying with a large site with multiple tight curves like this. Any advice would be appreciated (and I also don't have a CSV set from Civil) just want to make sure its not just me and there's no other solution.  

Seems like there should be a topo line tool where you could define the topo solid and topo lines. (should be able to define the number of node points along a line etc...)

[ctm_mka]

@mmille22N8Q3B check with your civil people, ask how they are generating the surface, i typically ask for dwg with TIN lines(provided they are using Civil3D), rather than rely on contours or points files.