Table of Contents

Foreword xxiii

Introduction xxvii

Part 1 • Fundamentals 1

Chapter 1 • Introduction: The Basics of BIM 3

What Is Revit? 3

Understanding a BIM Workflow 4

Leveraging BIM Processes 5

Visualizing 6

Analyzing 10

Strategizing 11

Focusing Your Investment in BIM 11

Staffing for BIM 12

Understanding Project Roles 12

Establishing a BIM Execution Plan 15

The Bottom Line 17

Chapter 2 • Applying the Principles of the User Interface and Project Organization 19

Understanding the User Interface 19

Accessing and Using the Application Menu 20

Using the Quick Access Toolbar 20

Using the InfoCenter 21

Getting to Know the Ribbon 21

Using Other Aspects of the UI 25

Navigation Methods 33

Defining Project Organization 36

Introducing Datum Objects (Relationships) 36

Using Content 48

Working with Views 50

Managing Your Project Model 65

The Bottom Line 66

Chapter 3 • The Basics of the Toolbox 67

Selecting, Modifying, and Replacing Elements 67

Selecting Elements 67

Selection Options 69

Filtering Your Selection 70

Using Selection-based Filters 70

Selecting All Instances 70

Using the Properties Palette 71

Matching Properties 73

Using the Context Menu 73

Editing Elements Interactively 74

Moving Elements 74

Copying Elements 78

Rotating and Mirroring Elements 79

Arraying Elements 81

Scaling Elements 83

Aligning Elements 84

Trimming or Extending Lines and Walls 84

Splitting Lines and Walls 86

Offsetting Lines and Walls 87

Preventing Elements from Moving 88

Exploring Other Editing Tools 90

Using the Join Geometry Tool 90

Using the Split Face and Paint Tools 91

Copying and Pasting from the Clipboard 91

Using the Create Similar Tool 93

Using Keyboard Shortcuts (Accelerators) 93

Double-click to Edit 94

Modeling Site Context 95

Using a Toposurface 96

Creating a Toposurface from a Points File 100

Creating a Building Pad 104

Generating Property Lines 105

Cut/Fill Schedules 108

The Bottom Line 110

Chapter 4 • Configuring Templates and Standards 111

Introducing Project Templates 111

Customizing Project Settings for Graphic Quality 112

Discovering Object Styles 113

Using Line Settings 114

Defining Materials 119

Defining Fill Patterns 128

Preconfiguring Color Schemes 135

Increasing Efficient View Management 138

Organizing Views 138

Creating and Assigning Filters 141

Using View Templates 143

Creating Custom Annotations 147

Introducing Tag Family Fundamentals 148

Creating a Custom Door Tag 149

Customizing View Tags 152

Starting a Project with a Custom Template 157

Strategies for Managing Templates 158

Aggregating Template Data 159

The Bottom Line 164

Part 2 • Collaboration and Teamwork 165

Chapter 5 • Working in a Team 167

Understanding Worksharing Basics 167

Enabling Worksharing on Your Project 169

Types of Worksets 171

Creating a Central File 171

Selecting a Starting View 174

Creating a Local File 175

Using Worksharing Usernames 178

Organizing Worksets 179

Moving Elements between Worksets 181

Managing Workflow with Worksets 184

Saving Work 186

Saving at Intervals 188

Loading Work from Other Team Members 188

Using Worksharing Visualization 189

Managing Workset Visibility in View Templates 192

Closing Revit 192

Disabling Worksharing 194

Understanding Element Ownership in Worksets 195

Understanding Editing Requests 197

Placing an Editing Request 197

Granting an Editing Request 199

Relinquishing Permission 200

Using the Worksharing Monitor 200

Collaborating in the Cloud 201

A360 Collaboration for Revit 203

The Bottom Line 203

Chapter 6 • Working with Consultants 205

Preparing for Collaboration 205

Managing the Coordination Process 206

Using Linked Models in Revit 209

Shared Positioning 210

Using Project Base Point and Survey Point 213

Using Worksets to Organize Linked Models 219

Summarizing the Benefits and Limitations of Linked Models 221

Using Linked Models—Exercises 222

Using the Coordination Tools 225

Using the Copy/Monitor Command 226

Using the Copy/Monitor Command—An Exercise 228

Using the Coordination Review Tool 230

Using the Coordination Review Tool—An Exercise 232

Using Interference Checking in 3D Coordination 233

The Bottom Line 236

Chapter 7 • Interoperability: Working Multiplatform 237

Examining Interoperability on a BIM Curve 237

Inserting CAD Data 238

Using Predefi ned Settings for Inserted CAD Data 238

Importing vs Linking 240

Using Options During Importing/Linking 240

Manipulating Inserted CAD Data 242

Using Inserted 2D Data 245

Setting Options for BIM Conversion 246

Using CAD Data for Coordination 247

Linking Details 247

Using Inserted 3D Data 250

Using CAD Data as a Mass 250

Using CAD Data as a Face 251

Using CAD Data as an Object 254

Exporting CAD Data 256

Preparing a List of Views for Exporting 257

Settings for DWG Exports 259

Exporting 2D CAD Data 264

Exporting 3D Model Data 266

Exporting to SketchUp 266

Using IFC Interoperability 269

The Bottom Line 276

Part 3 • Modeling and Massing for Design 277

Chapter 8 • Advanced Modeling and Massing 279

The Massing User Interface and Functionality 279

Creating Mass Geometry 282

Creating an In-Place Mass 283

Placing a Mass 289

Creating Mass Floors 290

Scheduling Masses 291

Massing Surfaces 293

Using Free-form Building Massing 298

Dissolving and Rebuilding 305

Creating Formula-driven Massing 313

Creating a Generic Model Mass Family 313

Creating a Complex Mass Family 326

The Bottom Line 334

Chapter 9 • Conceptual Design and Design Analysis 335

Analysis for Sustainability 335

Creating a Conceptual Mass 336

Modeling an Adaptive Component 337

Building the Massing Framework 344

Energy Modeling 350

Conceptual Energy Analysis 351

Energy Analysis Setup 352

Running Energy Analysis Simulations 357

Refining the Conceptual Analysis 360

Detailed Energy Modeling 367

Exporting to gbXML 368

The Bottom Line 374

Chapter 10 • Working with Phasing, Groups, and Design Options 375

Using Phasing 375

What Can You Phase? 378

Implementing Phase Settings 379

Illustrating the Geometry Phase 385

Using the View Phase 388

Creating and Using Groups 394

Creating Groups 394

Modifying Groups 396

Creating New Groups 398

Excluding Elements within Groups 400

Saving and Loading Groups 402

Creating Groups from Links 404

Using Best Practices for Groups 406

Making Design Options for Design Iteration 407

Creating Design Options 408

Editing Design Options 411

Viewing and Scheduling Design Options 412

Removing Design Options and Option Sets 412

Combining Phasing, Groups, and Design Options 416

Phase 1: Demolition 417

Phase 1: Proposed 419

Phase 2: Demolition 420

Phase 2: Proposed 422

Scheduling 423

Using the Design Option Tool 427

The Bottom Line 430

Chapter 11 • Visualization 431

Explaining the Role of Visualization 431

Understanding View Controls 432

Setting the Detail Level 433

Working with Graphic Display Options 435

Working with the Section Box 446

Understanding Analytic Visualization 448

Project Parameters 449

Setting User-defined Parameters 452

Identifying Design Elements 455

Setting Solar and Shadow Studies 456

Understanding Photorealistic Visualization 458

Rendering Sequence and Workflow 459

Creating Perspective Views 459

Locking Your View 463

Creating a Walkthrough 464

Exporting a Walkthrough 468

Rendering Settings 469

Using Monochromatic Views to Examine Context and Lighting 472

Adjusting Lighting and Interior Renderings 477

Placing Artificial Lighting 478

Manipulating Light Groups 479

Assigning Materials 485

Rendering in the Cloud 486

The Bottom Line 488

Part 4 • Extended Modeling Techniques 489

Chapter 12 • Creating Walls and Curtain Walls 491

Using Extended Modeling Techniques for Basic Walls 491

Creating Basic Wall Types 492

Adding Wall Articulation 501

Modeling Techniques for Basic Walls 508

Creating Custom In-Place Walls 515

Creating Stacked Walls 516

Creating Simple Curtain Walls 519

Designing a Curtain Wall 521

Customizing Curtain Wall Types 529

Creating Complex Curtain Walls 534

Dividing the Surface 535

Dividing the Surface with Intersects 538

Applying Patterns 539

Editing the Pattern Surface 539

Editing a Surface Representation 540

Adding Definition 542

Creating Custom Patterns 551

Limiting the Size of Pattern-based Families 552

Using the Adaptive Component Family 554

Scheduling Pattern-based Panels 556

The Bottom Line 557

Chapter 13 • Modeling Floors, Ceilings, and Roofs 559

Understanding Floor Types 559

Modeling a Floor 559

Creating a Structural Floor 562

Modeling Floor by Face 566

Defining a Pad 566

Sketching for Floors, Ceilings, and Roofs 567

Modeling Slab Edges 568

Creating a Custom Floor Edge 569

Modeling Floor Finishes 572

Using a Split Face for Thin Finishes 572

Modeling Thick Finishes 574

Creating Ceilings 575

Understanding Roof Modeling Methods 576

Constructing a Roof by Footprint 579

Applying a Roof by Extrusion 582

Roof In-place 583

Creating a Roof by Face 584

Creating a Sloped Glazing 585

Using Slope Arrows 585

Using Additional Roof Tools 586

Using Advanced Shape Editing with Floors and Roofs 589

Creating a Roof with a Sloped Topping 590

Applying a Variable Thickness to a Roof Layer 592

The Bottom Line 593

Chapter 14 • Designing with the Family Editor 595

Getting Started with a Family 595

Understanding In-place Families 596

Choosing the Right Family Template and Category 597

Choosing Between Hosted and Nonhosted Family Types 600

Creating Other Types of Families in the Family Editor 601

Understanding the Family Editor 604

Developing the Framework for a Family Component 605

Creating the Necessary Reference Planes, Lines, and Points 606

Using Dimensions to Control Geometric Parameters 610

Reviewing the Differences Between Type and Instance Parameters 614

Organizing Solids and Lines in a Family Editor 618

Modeling Techniques in the Family Editor 622

Creating an Extrusion 623

Creating a Sweep 625

Creating a Revolve 629

Creating a Blend and Swept Blend 630

Nesting Families 634

Troubleshooting Techniques 637

Doing a Visibility Check 637

Applying Parametric Arrays and Family Type Parameters 639

The Bottom Line 642

Chapter 15 • Creating Stairs and Railings 645

Designing Stairs and Railings 645

Reviewing the Key Components of Stairs and Railings 647

Reviewing the Basic Rules of Stairs 647

Working with Stair Components 649

Reviewing the Components of Railings 650

Creating Stairs 657

Understanding the Stair Tools 658

Using the Components for Customizing Stairs 663

Creating Stairs with Other Tools 677

Annotating Stairs 684

Creating Railings 686

Creating a Custom Railing 689

Creating Glass Railings with the Curtain Wall Tool 693

Using the Railing Tool for Other Objects 696

The Bottom Line 700

Part 5 • Documentation 701

Chapter 16 • Detailing Your Design 703

Creating Details 703

View Types for Detailing 703

Working with the Detailing Process 705

Detailing Tools 707

Using the Detail Line Tool 707

Using the Linework Tool 708

Using Filled Regions and Masking Regions 709

Adding Detail Components 715

Repeating Detail Component 719

Using Line-based Detail Components 723

Drafting Insulation 723

Creating Detail Groups 724

Adding Detail Components to Families 726

Reusing Details from Other Files 729

Using CAD Details 729

Using Details from Other Revit Projects 730

The Bottom Line 734

Chapter 17 • Documenting Your Design 737

Documenting Plans 737

Calculating Space Using Room Objects 737

Creating Area Plans 740

Adding Area Objects 744

Modifying Area Plans 747

Creating Schedules and Legends 748

Creating Schedules 748

Using Legends 761

Laying Out Sheets 763

Adding the Area Plan 763

Activating a View 763

Using Guide Grids 765

Adding the Schedule 766

Finishing the Sheet 768

The Bottom Line 769

Chapter 18 • Annotating Your Design 771

Annotating with Text and Keynotes 771

Using Text 771

Using Keynotes 776

Annotating with Tags 788

Inserting Tags 789

Using the Tag Toolset 790

Adding Dimensions 794

Using Dimension Equality 797

Customizing Dimension Text 798

Editing Dimension Strings 800

Using Alternate Units 802

Annotating with Project and Shared Parameters 803

Creating Project Parameters 804

Creating Shared Parameters 808

The Bottom Line 816

Part 6 • Construction and Beyond 819

Chapter 19 • Working in the Construction Phase 821

Using Revisions in Your Project 821

Creating a Revision Cloud 821

Placing Revision Clouds 824

Tagging a Revision Cloud 826

Disabling the Leader 827

Using Digital Markups 827

Publishing to Design Review 828

Modeling for Construction 833

Creating Parts 834

Modifying Parts 835

Scheduling Parts 842

Creating Assemblies 843

Creating Assembly Views 844

The Bottom Line 846

Chapter 20 • Presenting Your Design 847

Understanding Color Fill Legends 847

Making a Color Fill Legend for Rooms 848

Customizing a Color Fill Legend 852

Modifying Other Settings 855

Using Numerical Ranges for Color Schemes 856

Presenting with 3D Views 859

Orienting to Other Views 859

Annotating 3D Views 861

Editing Viewport Types 862

Creating “Exploded” Axonometric Views 864

The Bottom Line 871

Chapter 21 • Working with Point Clouds 873

Understanding LiDAR R 873

Hardware 874

Benefits of LiDAR 875

Collecting Existing Conditions 875

Planning for a LiDAR Survey 879

Exterior or Interior 879

Level of Detail 880

Imagery and Color 880

Schedule 880

Using the Scan in a Project 882

Getting Started with a Point Cloud 884

Modeling with a Point Cloud 889

Manipulating a Point Cloud 892

The Bottom Line 894

Appendices 895

Appendix A • The Bottom Line 897

Chapter 1: Introduction: The Basics of BIM 897

Chapter 2: Applying the Principles of the User Interface and Project Organization 898

Chapter 3: The Basics of the Toolbox 898

Chapter 4: Configuring Templates and Standards 899

Chapter 5: Working in a Team 900

Chapter 6: Working with Consultants 901

Chapter 7: Interoperability: Working Multiplatform 902

Chapter 8: Modeling and Massing for Design 903

Chapter 9: Conceptual Design and Design Analysis 904

Chapter 10: Working with Phasing, Groups, and Design Options 905

Chapter 11: Visualization 906

Chapter 12: Creating Walls and Curtain Walls 907

Chapter 13: Modeling Floors, Ceilings, and Roofs 908

Chapter 14: Designing with the Family Editor 909

Chapter 15: Creating Stairs and Railings 910

Chapter 16: Detailing Your Design 911

Chapter 17: Documenting Your Design 912

Chapter 18: Annotating Your Design 913

Chapter 19: Working in the Construction Phase 914

Chapter 20: Presenting Your Design 915

Chapter 21: Working with Point Clouds 916

Appendix B • Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting 917

Optimizing Performance 917

Use Best Practices 920

Quality Control 927

Keeping an Eye on File Size 927

Using Schedules 932

Reviewing Warnings 937

Other Tips and Shortcuts 939

Additional Resources 942

Appendix C • Autodesk Revit Architecture Certification 945

Index 953

About the Author

James Vandezande is a registered architect, an Autodesk Authorized Author, and Principal at HOK, where he is one of the company's BIM leaders. Vandezande is also involved in developing the US National BIM Standard and the LOD Specification.

Eddy Krygiel is an Autodesk Authorized Author and registered architect. He has almost 20 years of experience in architecture having worked on a range of project types and sizes. He has helped to implement BIM and Revit within several firms and teaches at the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Urban Design.