In this latest release of Naviate Structure we have created a new tool, ‘Auto Dimension’ which can be used on a variety of Revit elements to assist with detailing and documentation.
In most cases, the architect will set out the grid for the project that will relate to walls and intended column positions. Of course, as the project develops, structural elements may well be positioned off the grid. This means that each element then needs to be dimensioned back the nearest grid intersection which can be very time consuming.
In the image below our Auto Dimension tool has been used to add dimensions to all columns that are off grid. Notice that you can configure if the dimension is created from the centre of the element or from the edges. In the case of the structural walls, the dimensions are placed from the element edges.
Of course, other elements such as builders work openings for rainwater pipes and other services will also likely be off grid. When using the Naviate Auto Dimension, you make a preselection of the elements that you would like to dimension, you can then configure the side that the dimension should be placed as well as on offset. This enables several different layout approaches based on the elements selected and the offsets and values configured.
Another feature of our ‘Auto Dimension’ tool is the ability to dimension to the edge of elements back to the nearest grids. This can be particularly useful for elements such as pad foundations, wall foundations or pile caps.
So, in summary, this will undoubtedly make the detailing of structural elements quicker!
If you want to try out the new features, feel free to download a free trial in the latest version or you can download a trial for Revit 2023 if you prefer!
It is that time of the year once again to review the latest new features, updates, and improvements to Autodesk Revit! Over the years, Autodesk have slowly added greater functionality to the rebar modelling and detailing tools. In this release we see the introduction of rebar splicing (laps) which has been greatly anticipated. Improvements to the analytical model are also showcased including improved analytical automation and robust methods of editing and controlling the model. We also see the steel detailing journey continuing in Revit 2025 with the ability to use the split tool on fabrication elements.
In order to understand some of these new features we will look ahead into the future of Revit and how these new and improved tools will help deliver the vision of structural BIM for the future!
Reinforcement and detailing
The most significant feature in this release is Splice Rebar. The toolset to produce rebar laps and splices, are very intuitive to use, and provide a large amount of functionality. All the rebar splices remain parametric to the rebars. For example, if the rebar positions or diameters are changed the splice length will update.
The parametric splices are controlled with a new system family, Rebar Splice. The system family supports various parameters that enable the offsetting of bars in a lap along with the lap lengths based on multipliers (for example 40*d). Staggered laps are also supported as well as end to end splices where couplers can be placed.
The placement of the laps can be for single rebar sets or for a multiple selection. The laps can be based on maximum stock lengths of bar or can be placed by the user picking positions on the rebar sets. Alternatively, splices can be placed at the intersection of elements such as grids, reference planes model lines. In fact, you can the edges of most elements within Revit!
In the image below you can see the system family built in parameters for the new rebar splice family. Here you can configure various rebar splice types which will be stored in your template or transferred to other projects with project transfer.
You can also use a new filter property to colour the rebars that exceed the permissible stock length. In the below image you can see the new properties that allow checking minimum and maximum rebar lengths.
This is an easy method to check which rebars need to be spliced.
Rebar constraints can now be disabled, either a single selected constraint or all the constraints on the rebar. This can be useful when you want to freeze the rebar in a particular element and ensure that the rebars do not update if the formwork changes.
There is also a new filter that can be used to display rebars that have had the constraints disabled.
Rebar Bending Details were introduced in Revit 2024 and have had an enhancement which enables the user to position and manipulate the various text and dimensions. You can simply use the tab key to select the individual dimensions and annotations. In the example below, each dimension and angle have been manually positioned to avoid the clashes and overlaps that we had in older releases.
Related to the bending detail is a new schematic bending detail that is placed as a tag. Similar to a bending detail, the schematic detail can be configured as required and the user can also move each annotation or dimension to suit. Additionally, the dimensions of the schematic detail can be edited to suit the tag.
When producing drawings, the presentation of rebar now supports multiple rebar sets. In the image below, each rebar can be selected for display by the user in all the selected rebar sets. This is a huge timesaver to produce typical RC plans and elevations. Also, the multi rebar annotations have been aligned using the new multiple align options for text and tags.
Analytical Modelling Improvements
In Revit 2023 the analytical model became independent from the physical model in order to give engineers the flexibility to create an early design before committing to the physical model. This is a useful workflow when using multiple analysis tools as you can produce a single model that can be linked to multiple analysis tools.
The functionality has been enhanced in Revit 2025 with the ability to use tools such as split and trim to add the model production. Another major feature is the ability to constrain nodes to grids which enables rapid changes in early design.
In the above image you will notice that we now have control over the Local Coordinate System for analytical members and panels. This is important when hosting loads and transferring the model to other analysis tools.
The Analytical Automation via Dynamo player has also been improved which will now correctly connect walls and ensure that floors are represented correctly.
Steel Detailing and Connections
The steel connection modelling capabilities were introduced back in Revit 2019 and delivered a series of tools to facilitate the modelling of structural connections. Recently it was announced that Autodesk Advance Steel entered maintenance mode which means no new features will be added.
In Revit 2025 we now have the ability to split members that have steel connections applied. Essentially, when a steel connection is added to a Revit element the element is converted to a fabrication element. This means that it behaves differently, and it looks like this is the first step in creating a series of steel fabrication tools that give more functionality. I am sure that we will see additional toolsets in the coming years that will eventually replace Advance Steel.
Summary
Once again, I feel that the structural team have had a larger share of the new features and are starting to make some real progress with reinforced concrete detailing and analytical modelling. It will be an interesting couple of years to see where the analysis and steel detailing takes Revit!
In this tutorial we look at the process and scripting to facilitate piled wall systems with Dynamo. Many projects require piled walls to enable deep basements and water retention. Secant piled walls and interconnecting piles which alternate between hard and soft piles. The soft piles are normally installed first, and the reinforced hard piles are then cut into the soft piles.
We begin by creating two family types for the hard and soft piles. The hard piles will need to be installed at each vertex or corner of the piled wall system.
Creating the pile family
We begin by creating a new family using the ‘Metric Structural Foundation.rft’ or the imperial version ‘Structural Foundation.rft ‘if you require the pile in imperial units.
Once you have created the new family you will need to ensure that the following built-in parameters are configured correctly.
On the Create tab in the Properties panel select the Family Category and Parameter tool as shown below.
In the Family Category and Parameter dialog ensure that you check ‘Work Plane – Based’ and set the ‘Material for Model Behavior’ to Concrete.
This will ensure that the pile can be joined to other piles and allow the user to place the pile on a Work Plane, Reference Plane, or face of an existing family instance.
2. Next you create an extraction to create the cylindrical shape of the pile. On the Create tab in the Forms panel select the Extrusion command as shown below.
On the draw panel select the Circle command and sketch a circle with a radius of 250mm (10”)
Next you select the Annotate panel and in the Dimension panel select the Diameter command.
3. You now add a label to the diameter dimension to control the piles diameter. Select the diameter dimension and then select the Create Parameter tool as shown below.
4. In the Parameter Properties dialog type ‘Pile Diameter’ for the parameter name and ensure that the Type radio button is selected as shown in the image below.
Click OK.
On the Modify | Create Extrusion tab select the Finish Edit Mode button as shown below. This will finalise the extrusion.
5. In the Project Browser, open the elevation view named ‘Front’. You will see the Reference Level and your extrusion above.
6. Next you create two additional Reference Planes to control the pile embedment and pile depth. On the Create tab in the Datum panel click the Reference Plane command as shown below.
You now create two new reference planes as shown in the image below, the positions are approximate and will be controlled in a later step. The top reference plane represents the embedment and the bottom reference plane controls the toe level of the pile.
Next you add dimensions and labels to control the pile length and embedment.
7. On the Annotate tab in the Dimensions panel select the Aligned Dimension command. Place dimensions on your newly created reference planes as shown.
8. You now create the labels and parameters to control the embedment and pile length. Select the first aligned dimension and select the Create Parameter tool as shown below.
In the Parameter Properties dialog type ‘Pile Embedment’ for the name and ensure that the Type radio button is selected as shown below.
Click OK.
9. Repeat the above steps for the Pile Length parameter as shown in the image below.
Next you constrain the extrusion to the newly created reference planes.
10. Select the extrusion and drag the shape handle to the top reference plane to constrain the extrusion. Ensure that the padlock is locked to keep the extrusion constrained.
Repeat the above step to constrain the bottom of the extrusion to the lower reference plane.
11. Next you create two family types for the hard and soft piles. On the Create tab in the Properties panel select Family Types.
In the Family Types dialog, click the ‘New Type’ button as shown below.
In the Name dialog enter ‘500 Dia Hard Pile’ and click OK.
You now add the correct dimensions to the 500 Dia Hard Pile. In the Family Types dialog set the following parameters:
Pile Diameter = 500mm ( 20”)
Pile Embedment = 75mm( 3”)
Pile Length = 6000mm (315”)
12. Next you add the relevant concrete grades to the piles. In the Family Types dialog click into the Structural Material value field and select the 3 ellipses button as shown below.
In the Materials Browser dialog type ‘concrete’ into the search and filter box at the top of the dialog. If you do not see the lower panel with the library of materials click the double chevron button as shown below. Add a strong concrete grade such as Concrete, C40/50 or similar. To add the material to the project materials in the upper panel, double click the material name.
Click OK to the Material Browser.
13. Next you assign the material parameter to the extrusion. Select the pile, in the Properties Palette click the associate button and then associate this to the structural material as shown in the steps below.
14. Repeat the above steps from 11 to create the ‘500 dia Soft Pile” and select a weaker concrete grade such as C12/15.
You now have the two family types created for the hard and soft piles.
Click OK to the Family Types dialog.
15. Save the family as ‘Concrete Round Pile.rfa’.
When it comes to creating the Dynamo script I will go through the script step by step on my YouTube video!
Since the release of Revit 2023, the analytical model will need to be created independently from the physical model. This enables engineers to author a usable analytical model that represents the physical model but has connected geometry that facilitates structural design and analysis.
Autodesk have provided some Dynamo scripts that are designed to run in the Dynamo Player that attempt to automate the creation of the analytical model. However, this method is not perfect. Of course, you can create your own script to better represent the analytical model or, if you are a Tekla Structural Designer user, you can use the Integrator.
The Tekla Integration ribbon tab contains a tool to manage the import/export functions to and from Revit. The integrator also has a toolset to automate the generation of the analytical model and also check the associativity back to the physical elements.
There is also the option to update an existing model or just send a subset of the model with a user selection.
I have used a model with just over 2000 members to give this a good test. The Analytical Model Creation tool will display the progress of the model generation and then report on each category. Errors and warnings are also displayed which is handy for model checks.
The analytical model, with this test, was created in under 20 seconds. The results were quite good, but the analytical models will need checking and further refinement. Of course, you can use the Revit filters to check unconnected nodes which saves quite a lot of time.
In a future tutorial I will be looking at the creation of the analytical model using Dynamo where we can build the model in stages and control the geometry with a higher degree of accuracy.
Autodesk Revit Structure 