Survey Point and Linked Survey CAD File

[hliS658H]

I have linked a survey CAD file to a newly started Revit model using the below setting. Now, I have symbols of project base point and survey point overlapped in the model, which comes from the template, the survey point has nothing to do with the survey. So what should I do now?  I assume that I need to move the survey point to some point (0,0,0) in the linked survey file?  I was told to use "acquire coordinate", but once I did it, the survey point symbol disappeared, only project base point symbol was left. Is it because the survey point out of scope?

[Yien_Chao]

hi

your process is right. you just have to change the survey point manually if its going to 0,0,0. 

Or better, before acquiring coordinates make sure the survey is unclip.

[ToanDN · Accepted solution]

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@hliS658H wrote:

I have linked a survey CAD file to a newly started Revit model using the below setting. Now, I have symbols of project base point and survey point overlapped in the model, which comes from the template, the survey point has nothing to do with the survey. So what should I do now?  I assume that I need to move the survey point to some point (0,0,0) in the linked survey file?  I was told to use "acquire coordinate", but once I did it, the survey point symbol disappeared, only project base point symbol was left. Is it because the survey point out of scope?

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Here is the workflow:

- Link DWG in an uncropped Site plan view, project North orientation, Auto center to center

- Rotate the linked DWG so the building you are going to model is upright, not at an odd angle like what you show

- Acquire coordinates

That is it.  Now you can start modeling.

p/s:

- You can move Project Base Point as you see fit.  

- If you need to move Survey Point then you must unclip it or the shared coordinates will be messed up.

[barthbradley]

Clearly, you are working with GIS Coordinates.  Here's the proper workflow: 

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2018/ENU/Revit-M...

Note this reference in above link: 

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2018/ENU/Revit-M...

[hliS658H]

Good resources. However, I have to figure out how to bring the window of Edit Drawing Setting when I open the survey CAD file with autodesk civil 3D, never used it before. I need quick solution to make sure the survey CAD file I linked to revit model is at the right position. So I won't have issue in the future when I linked civil drawing, structural & MEP models.

[hliS658H]

After I use " acquire coordinate", the survey point is gone, I assume it has gone to the the (0,0,0) which is out of the limit of my model? Based on what I read, the survey point should go to where it is supposed to be automatically, I don't have to move it manually after I initiated "acquire coordinate"? Do you agree?

Help | Acquire Coordinates | Autodesk

[barthbradley]

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@hliS658H wrote:

I need quick solution to make sure the survey CAD file I linked to revit model is at the right position.

The solution is to position the CAD Survey where it belongs in relationship to the Revit building model and then Acquire Coordinates.  If you don't want the Survey Point to move, then UNCLIP it before Acquiring Coordinates.  

Alternatively, you could Link the CAD Survey into a brand new Project (maybe call it "Site.rvt") and Link the building model project into this Site.rvt and position the building where it belongs in relationship to the Site.  Once positioned, Publish Coordinates of the site to the building project.  

[barthbradley]

Post a screenshot of your Location Site dialog box.  

[ToanDN]

The survey point relocated very far away after acquiring coordinates from a geolocated dwg is normal.  You can always unclip it and move it closer or on top of the project base point if you want, without losing the actual coordinates.  The reason is when you unclip and move it, you are moving its symbol, not its coordinates.

[hliS658H]

Okay I found out, it is because I didn't unclip it the first time. Now, it did acquire coordinates.  However, the survey point symbol still stays where it was.  It doesn't matter?  What is exactly a survey point?  I thought when we were in CAD era, we use the origin (0,0), doesn't the survey point need to go to origin?

 

[hliS658H]

Does survey point always go to (0,0,0)?

[ToanDN]

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@hliS658H wrote:

Okay I found out, it is because I didn't unclip it the first time. Now, it did acquire coordinates.  However, the survey point symbol still stays where it was.  It doesn't matter?  What is exactly a survey point?  I thought when we were in CAD era, we use the origin (0,0), doesn't the survey point need to go to origin?

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The survey point symbol stay where it is, but the coordinates changed.  If you change the coordinates of the survey point symbol to 0,0 while it is unclip, it will move the the actual 0,0 of the shared coordinates, which is very far away. 

To answer your questions:

- Yes what you see there is normal.

- A survey point is the 0,0 of the shared coordinates.  It is the key to guarantee all linked models using the same coordinates, not just in Revit, but other programs such as Navisworks.

- Not sure what origin you are talking about?  Internal origin? 

[hliS658H]

• Do you mean, ideally, survey point stays at (0,0), just because it we insist it to stay at (0,0), it might be out of the view limit. So we can leave it as a spot it doesn't have the coordinates (0,0)
• By origin, I mean (0,0) of the World Coordinate System.
• My another question, is the shared coordinate system is same as the world coordinate system in Autocad?

[ToanDN]

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@hliS658H wrote:

• Do you mean, ideally, survey point stays at (0,0), just because it we insist it to stay at (0,0), it might be out of the view limit. So we can leave it as a spot it doesn't have the coordinates (0,0)
  Yes.
• By origin, I mean (0,0) of the World Coordinate System.
• My another question, is the shared coordinate system is same as the world coordinate system in Autocad?
  Yes and no.  Within Revit, a survey point is an UCS, you can change from one UCS to another UCS by switching among different shared sites under Location > Site.  However when you link a DWG and acquire coordinates, the WCS 0,0,0 is the survey point 0,0,0.

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[hliS658H]

I think we should acquire coordinate first. then rotate the linked drawing to set up project north.  What I am having now is true north. It is not really rotate the drawing, but input an angle to True North.

[ToanDN]

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@hliS658H wrote:

I think we should acquire coordinate first. then rotate the linked drawing to set up project north.  What I am having now is true north. It is not really rotate the drawing, but input an angle to True North.

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No absolutely not. 

You should link the DWG in a Project North View > rotate the link DWG > then acquired.  When done your True North will be correctly matching the DWG True North - duplicate the view and change to True North orientation the you can see. 

Do not alter this workflow.

[hliS658H]

It looks like I might have messed up the model while setting up the project north. I didn't move the survey point, but its coordinates have changed. I would like to know the correct steps, please let me know if I did the right thing.

The project template has set up the orientation of site view as project north by default, I didn't change it to true north before I linked the survey plan, I changed it to true north after that. I assume this is wrong. I will need to redo it, right?

[ToanDN]

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@hliS658H wrote:

It looks like I might have messed up the model while setting up the project north. I didn't move the survey point, but its coordinates have changed. I would like to know the correct steps, please let me know if I did the right thing.

The project template has set up the orientation of site view as project north by default, I didn't change it to true north before I linked the survey plan, I changed it to true north after that. I assume this is wrong. I will need to redo it, right?

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I posted the correct steps in the the very first reply.  Here it is again, I added one more step to reset your shared coordinates to give you a clean blank slate:

- Go to Manage > Coordinates > Reset Coordinates

- Link DWG in an uncropped Site plan view, Project North orientation, Auto center to center

- Rotate the linked DWG so the building you are going to model is upright, not at an odd angle like what you show

- Acquire coordinates

[hliS658H]

Just to verify, when you say to rotate the dwg file, is by inputting an angle through project base point rather really rotate the file through the modify tool

[ToanDN]

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@hliS658H wrote:

Just to verify, when you say to rotate the dwg file, is by inputting an angle through project base point rather really rotate the file through the modify tool

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No.  Rotate it using Rotate tool so that the building you are going to model will be upright.

For example: 

- before rotate

after rotate: