Revit Coordinate System and project site setup

[Dylan_Lysaght]

Can anybody explain to me why a revit model will not locate properly in a site, even when using the coordinate location 'properly'

It continually appears in the wrong position, and the site (which is set correctly to true North) is at a bizarre apparently arbitrary angle?

[chrisplyler · Accepted solution]

Can I assume that your pictures represent one file containing the site setup and topo, and a separate file for the building which has been linked in?

If so...

The reason the building is in the wrong place is because whoever made the building file didn't set up the coordinates exactly the same as the site file and model it properly around those coordinates. Then you've linked it into your site file using the Auto - Origin to Origin option.

Take the building and move/rotate it into the desired location, including in an elevation view, until you have it located correctly. Then use the Manage > Project Location > Coordinates > Publish Coordinates tool, clicking on the linked building, and giving that location a unique name.

Now the building file knows where it belongs on the site. If for some reason you ever need to remove the link and later put it back in again, use the Auto - Shared Coordinates option.

[Dylan_Lysaght]

Thanks for the reply. It seems likely that those are the reasons for the file being in the wrong position when linked into revit. But it doesn't really explain why the site file is at the wrong angle when it is linked into the building model. Both files are set up to be at true North, the site file displays perfectly at true north on its own. when it is linked into the building file, to produce site specific drawings, it is way off. 

Any further advice would be great.

Thanks again. 

[ToanDN]

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@Dylan_Lysaght wrote:

Thanks for the reply. It seems likely that those are the reasons for the file being in the wrong position when linked into revit. But it doesn't really explain why the site file is at the wrong angle when it is linked into the building model. Both files are set up to be at true North, the site file displays perfectly at true north on its own. when it is linked into the building file, to produce site specific drawings, it is way off. 

Any further advice would be great.

Thanks again. 

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What does that statement mean?  Do you mean the views are set to True North?  If so, it does not guarantee anything.  The reason the orientations don't match could be the True North or Project North of one or both files is (are) rotated.

Nevertheless, site and model files do not need to orient the same and that's the beauty of Shared Coordinates.  You can just re-orient the site link in your model to correctly match the building.  Then establish and publish the shared coordinates back to the site file.

[Dylan_Lysaght]

I resolved this easily, it's a rooky mistake. I insert the revit linked topography file with the option Auto - use shared coordinates.

Thanks for the help.