Understanding true north vs project north

[vanderloo5]

This Seems like it should be easy to figure out but Im stumped.

If I set my site plan to true north, and the north arrow is straight up as it should be. Then I start drawing the floor plan in project north, I’m not getting the desired result and not sure how to change this.

My actual building is 14 degrees NE. But when I open the site plan, my building is parallel with North? Or facing exactly North.

what do I need to do to draw the structure in project north parallel to ortho but  have it angled 14 degrees in true north?

[RDAOU · Accepted solution]

@vanderloo5

did you set the angle to true north? 

1. in site plan set view to project north >>
2. select project base point and input the angle to true north -14 >>>
3. switch site view back to true north
4. place the north arrow or rotate the linked dwg you are tracing over to have the north on it point straight up
5. now work in the floor plan views set to project north to model ortho and switch to site view to see it oriented the way it would be to true north

[imankassab2015]

check this video Link on AUTODESK HELP

Help | Video: Rotate True North | Autodesk

[vanderloo5]

This is driving me crazy! No matter how I rotate the position in the site plan, my building always aligns with the North Arrow. It shouldn't. It should be rotated 14°from north??

What am I missing?

[vanderloo5]

This might be a confusing screenshot but this is the true plot plan overlaid onto my site plan. As you can see the north arrows align. But the small building, (drawn in a project north view), is also aligned with the north arrow and no matter how I rotate the position in the site plan for true north, The building stays aligned with the north arrow?

[RDAOU]

thats because you have modeled the building before you have set the true north...the correct workflow is (Set the True North THEN model the building) What you can do is the following

1. In the Building Model
   • Set the angle to true North back to 0
   • Get rid of the Linked DWG 
   • Save and close
2. Starte a new model (blank)
3. Set the true North
4. Link the DWG and align the North (If you need that to model the site
5. Now Link the Building Model 
6. Place and instance and use Rotate to rotate it in the direct you desire
7. Use publish coordintes to the Building Model...it will prompt you to select the link
   • Alternatively you can save the site model >> close it
   • open the Building Model >> Link site Model >> Use acquire Coordinates

If you wish to have them both in the same model again, use Bind 

[SteveKStafford]

My two cents: Revit is designed to be able to reconcile the project with site as a secondary task. Start by building the model so it is easy to draw. I have often been involved in projects where we didn't have a current survey before the design ideas needed to get underway. That means we don't really know what the site orientation is exactly, especially with existing projects. In those instances we just focus on the building itself. When the survey arrives we sort out the alignment to true north.

Assuming a DWG file for the survey is available:

• Link the survey DWG using Auto - Center to Center (in a site plan view typically)
• Move the survey so it is accurately positioned around the building and rotate it as required.
• Use Acquire Coordinates (this defines True North automatically as well as it's position on site)
• Now any plan view can be oriented to either Project or True North as required.

[vanderloo5]

Thanks Steve. In this case the only file I have for the site is a pdf with no topo. I think I finally have it now. In the past I've never dealt with project North vs. True North. 

Got a little confused there. 

Thanks Again,

Phil