Multi-level structural plan view workflows

[emilys27ZKX]

Hi all. I am seeking input on how people approach structural plan set-ups. I come from the Architectural side of BIM but I am now working at a structural engineering firm and the am sole person helping to convert them from CAD to Revit. One of the challenges I am facing is creating multi-level plans that show elements from the level below and above (ie columns, walls, plumbing penetrations) while adhering to the general graphic standards that my firm has already established in CAD. We work on fast paced residential projects so I am trying to figure out a workflow that will be flexible and repeatable with different project types from different clients. So far my process has been to copy monitor in levels, grids, and walls from the arch model into the company template I've created and then manually assign the copied content to corresponding level worksets. I then have view templates that use those worksets to help filter each level in every framing plan but it has been somewhat of a struggle to get precise control over the visibility graphics of all the other elements by level in the example project I'm setting up. I fear that this process leaves room for human error and is going to be difficult to  control/repeat for other more complex projects, especially since there is no guarantee on how we receive the models from our architects. I would love some feedback and or would like to understand if there is a way to layer individual views on top of each other so we could have more individual control on whats being shown on each level.

[jay_colcombe]

Its is never going to be easy trying to make Revit look like CAD but I appreciate during a transitional period you need CAD and Revit outputs to be identical.

From experience you will achieve much of this by ensuring Object Styles, Linestyles/Weights, Text and Dimension Styles, Labels/Tags are similar from the offset.

All other visual representations can be achieved via Filters and View Templates.

View Templates are the key here to allow View Ranges differences and graphical overrides where and when required, you can also incorporate Filters to drive more specific requirements too.  You can also control you Revit Linked information in here too from the architect.  You could possibly have Working View Templates to show exactly what you need for modelling and then switch to a presentation View Template for output each having their individual setting to allow greater proficiency.

Ultimately all these will lead to a master Template for replication, but you will be constantly updating, changing and tweaking ALL the above when you spot anomalies between the outputs.

I know it’s probably a very simplified response but there is no definitive answer just how one approaches the process.

Good luck!