workflow with architects and engineers using...

TECHNICAL WHITEPAPER

Workflow with Architects and Engineers Using RevitBy Veredith Keller

Building projects are complex, requiring multiple team members. Therefore, Autodesk® Revit® designed worksets to help project teams to work together. A workset is a collection of elements, such as walls, doors, floors, or stairs. Only one user can edit each workset at a given time. All team members can view worksets owned by other team members, but they cannot make changes to them. This restriction prevents potential conflicts within the project. However, it is possible to borrow an element from a workset that you do not own.

• It is important to have one user start a project and develop most of the views, families, and other setting before sharing.

• Worksets are designed for multiple team members working on one building. If you have multiple buildings in a project, use linking to show relationships between the buildings. Each building can have its own worksets.

• The way you divide a project into worksets depends on the different tasks that need to be done and the number of people working on the project. For example, you can have one person working on the exterior of the building, another on the core, and several others working on furniture layouts for various parts of the building. You can also have worksets for electrical, site, and structural work that are not visible to other users.

When architects and engineers from different disciplines collaborate on a building project, they must share information about the design, so that all teams work from the same assumptions. By coordinating efforts across disciplines, the teams avoid expensive errors and rework.

To simplify design coordination and change management, Revit products provide the following tools:

• Copy/Monitor: Monitors elements between the host project and a linked model, or within one project. When one team moves or changes a monitored element, other teams are notified so they can adapt their designs or work with team members to resolve issues.

• Coordination Review: Displays a list of warnings about monitored elements that have moved or changed. Use this tool after implementing Copy/Monitor. Teams can periodically review this list, specify an action (such as reject the change or modify the design), and enter comments to communicate with other teams.

• Interference Check: Identifies elements that interfere with one another within a project, or between the host project and a linked model. The interference check locates invalid intersections between elements of different types, whereas the Copy/Monitor tool monitors pairs of elements of the same type.

In This Issue

Overview

Making Worksets

For the Engineer - Linking and Copy/Monitor

Coordination Review

Typical Workflow for Interferense Checking

Making Spaces from a Linked Project (For Revit MEP)

In This Issue

• Workflow with Architects and Engineers Using Revit

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The following describes a typical workflow for an architect and an engineer collaborating on a project:

1. The architect uses Revit Architecture to create a project.

All building geometry is defined in the Revit Architecture project. The project may include rooms defined by room-bounding elements and room separation lines.

2. The engineer does the following:

• Uses Revit to create a new project.

• Creates a link to the Revit Architecture project.

• Creates desired views and uses Revit tools to develop the design.

• Turns on the Room Bounding parameter for the linked model. This ensures that Revit recognizes room-bounding elements from the Revit Architecture project.

• Places spaces in the Revit model.

The spaces use the room boundaries defined by the Revit Architecture project.

As an alternative, teams can create a Revit project and enable worksharing. The architect and the engineer each use separate worksets.

Making Worksets

1. For each building, is its own Revit File.

2. Make a Central File from the Revit File.

• Save the project to a location on the Server, Optional, is to give a name with a word Central in the file name.

• Pick from the Collaborated Tab>Worksets Panel>Worksets.

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• Pick OK from the Worksharing dialog box.

• Pick OK to accept the defaults or Pick New to make more Worksets. To rename a Workset, pick on a Workset name and Pick Rename.

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• From the Application Menu, R drop-down, Choose Save and save this at a location on your Server. Pick on Yes.

• Pick from the Collaborate tab>Synchronize with Central drop-down>Synchronize and Modify Settings.

• From the Synchronize with Central dialog box, check User-created Worksets and click OK button.

• Close the Central file.

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3. Working from the Local file.

• Make a copy of the Central file

Option 1: Make a copy to your local drive and rename it.

Option 2:

a. Open the Central File, and make sure that Create New Local is checked on. This will create a copy of the Central File to your user directory and rename the local file.

b. Pick on Open and work on it.

Note: If a Local Copy is already made, Open the Local Copy and work on it.

• To Synchronize with Central Relinquish Worksets – Pick from the Collaborate tab>Synchronize with Central drop-down>Synchronize and Modify Settings. This is also found on the Quick Access Toolbar.

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• From the Synchronize with Central dialog box, check User-created Worksets, check Borrow Elements; check Save Local File before and after synchronizing, then click OK. This will relinquish any worksets, save to local drive and save to Central File.

For the Engineer - Linking and Copy/Monitor

1. Send the Central file to your Engineer. The Engineer is using Revit Structure or Revit MEP.

2. The Engineer will link your Revit file into their Project.

• From the Insert tab>Link panel pick Link Revit.

• From the Import/Link dialog Box choose the Project and from Positioning drop-down pick Auto- Origin to Origin, then pick Open.

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3. Match Visibility Graphics with the Link File.

• Open Visibility/Graphics override dialog box, type V V on the keyboard.

• Pick the Revit Link tab, and under Display Setting pick> By Host View button.

• From RVT Link Display Setting, choose by linked View toggle, from the Linked View: choose correct level to the Linked View Visibilities. Example Choose Floor Plan: Level 1. Click OK to close dialog boxes.

4. Copy/Monitor Levels from the Project to the Linked file.

• Choose South Elevation.

• Optional: Halftone the link file. From Visibility/Graphics override dialog Box (Type V V). Choose the Revit Links tab; check on Halftone next to the Linked file name.

• Fix current level height to match the links levels.

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• Pick from the Collaborate tab>Coordinate panel>Copy/Monitor drop-down>Select Link.

• Pick on the Linked file.

• From the Copy/Monitor ribbon pick from Tools Panel>Monitor.

• Pick the Level in the project then the Level in the Linked Project until completed.

• Pick Finish Copy/Monitor Panel when done.

5. Copy/Monitor Levels from the Linked file to the Project.


• From the Copy/Monitor ribbon pick from Tools Panel>Copy.

• From the options bar check on Multiple.

• Pick the rest of the Levels, hold down Ctrl on keyboard for Multi-Select or use a Crossing Selection. Choose Filter Selection icon from the options bar to verify your selection. Pick OK from the Filter Selection dialog box.

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• Pick Finish from Options Bar.

• Pick Finish from Copy/Monitor Panel when done.

6. To make a View from the Copied Levels

• Pick from the View tab>Create Panel>Plan Views drop-down> Floor Plan.

• From the New Plan Dialog Box choose the Floor Plan views, for Multi-Select, Hold down Ctrl on your keyboard, and then pick OK.

7. Copy/Monitor can be used for Level, Grids, Columns, Walls, Floors and Openings for Revit Structure or for Level, Grids, Columns, Walls, Floors and Fixtures for Revit MEP.

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8. For Revit MEP you can Copy/Monitor Fixtures in one at a time or you can use Batch Copy for all the Fixtures.

9. For Revit MEP you can specify coordination settings.


• Pick Coordination Settings.

• For Apply settings to, select the linked model from the drop-down list.

• Under Category, select a category.

• Under Behavior, for Copy behavior, select a value.

• For Mapping behavior, select a value.

If you define Mapping behavior as Specify type mapping, specify type mapping for the fixture category.

• To specify type mapping:

a. In the Category list, under the category name, select Type Mapping. The Behavior list displays fixture types (for the category) that occur in the linked model.

b. For each fixture type, select one of the following values:

• Copy original type (Fixtures in the current project will use the same type as fixtures in the linked model).

• Don’t copy this type (No fixtures of the type will be copied to the current project. Note: If you select this value, fixtures of this type will not be copied to the current project now or in the future).

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• <other> (Select a type from the list. The list reflects types that are loaded into the current project. When fixtures from the linked model are copied to the current project, they will have the specified type).

c. (Optional) To see properties of a family type in the linked model or a family type in the host model, select the desired row in the Behavior list, and click Linked Type or Host Type, respectively.

• Continue specifying a copy behavior, mapping behavior and type mapping for each category.

• Click Save & Close.

10. To see options, pick from the Collaborate tab>Coordinate panel>Copy/Monitor drop-down>Select Link.

11. From the Tools Panel>pick Options.

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• To make any changes pick on a tab and make changes from the New type column.

Coordination Review

1. If any changes are made in the linked file you will be notified. This message appears if you open your project with the link and changes have occurred or you pick Reload from the Insert tab>Link panel>Manage Links icon. You can also right click on the Revit Link from the Project Browser and pick Reload. A Warning appears – Instance of linked.rvt file needs Coordination Review. Pick OK.

2. Pick from Collaborate tab>Coordinate panel>Coordination Review drop-down>Select Link. Pick the linked project.

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3. From the Coordination Review Dialog box choose the message then from the Action column pick the Action. Typically you would modify the object that changed. Pick OK when done.

• Actions for Coordination Review:

Postpone/Do nothing: Take no action. This value leaves the change to be addressed at a later time.

Reject: Select this action to indicate that the change made to the element in the project is incorrect. Instead, a change must be made to the associated monitored element in the linked model.

Accept difference: Select this action to indicate that the change made to the monitored element is acceptable, and to update the relationship without changing the corresponding element. For example, suppose 2 monitored grid lines are 200 mm apart, and one is moved to 300 mm away. When you select Accept difference, the monitored grid lines are not moved, and the relationship is updated to 300 mm.

Modify: A grid line or wall centerline has changed or moved. Select Modify to apply this change to the corresponding element in the current project.

Rename: The name of a monitored element has changed. Select Rename to apply this change to the corresponding element in the current project.

Move: A monitored element has moved. Select Move to apply this change to the corresponding element in the current project.

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Move Fixture in Host to Position of Fixture in Link: A monitored fixture has moved. Select this action to move a fixture in the host model to the location of the fixture in the linked model. This action only works for fixtures that are not hosted. If the fixture in the host model has been hosted on a surface using the Pick New Host tool, then selecting this action will display a Fixture is Hosted warning message.

Ignore new elements: A new hosted element was added to a monitored wall or floor. Select this action to ignore the new element in the host. It will not be monitored for changes.

Copy new elements: A new hosted element was added to a monitored wall or floor. Select this action to add the new element to the host, and monitor it for changes.

Delete element: A monitored element has been deleted. Select this action to delete the corresponding element in the current project.

Copy Sketch: The sketch or boundary of a monitored opening has changed. Select this action to change the corresponding opening in the current project.

Update extents: The extents of a monitored element have changed. Select this action to change the corresponding element in the current project.

4. Typically you would modify the object that changed. Pick OK when done.

Typical Workflow for Interference Checking

This tool can be used during the design process to coordinate major building elements and systems. It can be used to prevent conflicts and reduce the risk of construction changes and cost overruns. A common workflow might occur like this:

• An architect meets with a client and creates a basic model.

• The building model is sent to a team that includes members from other disciplines, such as structural engineers. They work on their own version of the model, and then the architect links it in and checks for interferences.

• Team members from other disciplines return the model to the architect.

• The architect runs the Interference Check tool on the existing model.

• A report is generated from the interference check, and undesired intersections are noted.

• The design team discusses the interferences and creates a strategy to address them.

• One or more team members are assigned to fix any conflicts.

Running an Interference Check:

1. If desired, select some elements in a view.

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2. Click Collaborate tab>Coordinate panel>Interference Check drop-down>Run Interference Check.

• The Interference Check dialog opens.

• If you selected elements in the view, the dialog is filtered to display only those element categories.

• If you did not select any elements, the dialog displays all categories from the current project.

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3. On the left side of the dialog, select a value from the first Categories from drop-down.

• For example, select Current Project.

• Note: If you selected a linked Revit model to run a check, you must select its name from this option. For example, if you selected the linked model called Mylink1, select that name from Categories from drop-down. After you select the name, element categories in the linked model are listed.

4. Select the desired categories.

• For example, select Structural Columns as the category.

5. On the right side of the dialog, select a value from the second Categories from drop-down.

• This value could be a current selection of elements, the current project, or a linked Revit model.

6. Select the other desired categories.

• For example, to complete a Structural Columns interference check, select Walls for the category.

7. Click OK.

• If there are no interferences to report, a dialog displays informing you of this.

• If there are interferences to report, the Interference Report dialog displays. The dialog lists all elements that are in conflict with one another.

• Interferences are grouped according to the way you generated the check. By default, they are grouped as Category 1 (left category column) and Category 2 (right category column). You can change this grouping to Category 2, Category 1. For example, if you ran the Structural Columns and wall check, the dialog would list the Structural Columns category first, and then which Walls are intersecting the Structural Columns.

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8. To see one of the elements that are intersected, select its name in the Interference Report dialog, and click Show.

• A view opens that displays the problem.

9. To correct a conflict, click in the view and modify the overlapping elements.

• The Interference Report dialog remains visible.

10. When you have fixed the problem intersection, in the Interference Report dialog click Refresh.

• If the problem has been resolved the problem elements are removed from the list of conflicts.

• Note: Refresh rechecks only those interferences in the current report. It does not rerun the interference check.

• You can continue resolving conflicts in this manner.

• If you cannot resolve all conflicts without additional input from team members, you can generate an HTML version of the report.

11. In the Interference Report dialog, click Export.

12. Enter a name, navigate to the desired folder to save the report, and click Save.

13. In the Interference Report dialog, click Close.

14. To see the last report generated again, click Collaborate tab>Coordinate panel>Interference Check drop-down Show Last Report.

• This tool does not rerun the interference check.

Making Spaces from a Linked Project (For Revit MEP)

Turn on the Room Bounding parameter for the linked model. This step ensures that the Revit project recognizes room-bounding elements in the Revit Architecture project.

1. Pick on the linked project

2. From Properties, Pick Edit Type.

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3. From the Type Properties dialog check on Room Bounding, Pick OK.

4. Pick from the Analyze tab>Spaces & Zones panel>Space

5. Click in the project to Place Spaces.

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