Over the last few weeks I have been asked about integration between Revit Structure and Civil 3D and Bentley MX and what can be transferred from each platform. I thought I would update you all on the various workflows that are available and how you can effectively use civil surfaces, alignments and corridors within Revit Structure. Below is a sample model I have been working on to test workflows, coordination and structures in Revit. I have made use of the bridge modelling toolkit and adaptive components for lighting and parapets.
The key tool needed for the integration to work correctly is the Revit extensions available to all subscription customers. Once you have this installed you can use the Civil Integration tools to transfer TOPO surfaces, corridors and alignments.
In the below example I have Civil 3D installed and the drawing open but if you do not have Civil 3D then you will need a LandXML file which contains all the relevant information such as the surfaces, corridors etc.
I have then run the Civil 3D integration as shown below and transferred the surfaces and corridor models to Revit Structure 2013. It is worth noting that you can only transfer one surface at a time but can of course run the integration multiple times to bring in other required corridors and surfaces.
You can also update and refresh the Revit model from Civil 3D and, if required transfer the bridge structures back into Civil 3D or to Navisworks for further coordination.
I do plan to provide a YouTube tutorial on this subject and deal with more examples of interaction with Civil 3D and Bentley MX.
Hope this helps,
LawrenceH
Autodesk Revit Structure 
This Looks very good.
Do you know if Autodesk made some kind of documentation for Bridge Modeler Extension?
I can’t find it.
Hi Martin,
There is some basic documents that describe each area of the dialog box that you will find by using the help menu within the bridge toolkit. The documentation is very basic.
Hello. Thanks for your replay.
Yeah I thought so. Could find any advanced documentation, one the basic one You are describing.
Is there any example Civil 3D and LandXML files so I can learn using Bridge modeler in Revit?
I am not a Civil 3D guy, just a Revit user on a advanced lever.
Unless I am missing something there seems to be a major flaw in importing Civil 3D surfaces into Revit in that you lose all control over linear features ie breaklines.
Hi Vivian,
You need to recreate the surfaces as Revit surfaces using the Civil 3D links on the extensions ribbon. These will then become Revit Structure surfaces that you can manipulate and break if required.
Any news on the YouTube tutorial 🙂
I have been taking some look at this extension, and am trying to see if there are any possibilities to make your own sections of a bridge. In this extension there are some standard sections of a deck and of the piers. Is there possible to make your own design and section of these? what I have noticed is that the deck is importet as surfaces but the piers as solid families?.. am I correct here?
in other words you have the possibility to customize the sections but how about making your own? 🙂
The basic sections can be modified using the customise tool in the bridge modelling toolkit. This is ok for parapets and piers but not really useful for the deck or parapets. I have tried to create a profile for a deck that incorporates footways and parapet upstands but I have had limited success. I normally take the top road surface and then use my own families to create the bridge. I use the ramp and railings to create parapets. You need to create a ramp and attach the railings to this and then hide the ramps
Hi Lawrence,
How do I Link a structure that I’ve modelled in Revit Structure into a Civil 3D file. We are trialing a BIM project and the master model is going to be the Civil 3D model, so I need to get my bidges / buildings created in Revit Structure into a Civil 3D file. Preferably it should be linked in so that the Civil 3D model will update if the Revit model is amended.
Many Thanks,
Steve
Hi Steve, you can use a adsk file. This file can be linked directly into Civil 3D and can be updated when the Revit model changes. You will need to create a Gross Building Area Plan within Revit before this will work. This feature is definitely in Revit 2013 but I do remember that it was not available in Revit Structure? It should be on the menu browser, export and then Building Site.
Hi Lawrence, thanks for the quick response. I’ve been reading on the net on how to do this and the adsk file seems to be the way, but it only seems to be avaliable in Revit Architecture but I only have Revit Structure 2010 – 2013. Is there no other way of doing it using Revit Structure or have I got to try to get Revit Architecture installed on my pc?
Cheers, Steve
Thats what I thought, bit of an oversite on Autodesk’s part! The only other way I can think of is to save the Revit model as a DWG and then XREF this into Civil 3D.
Lawrence,
Do you have a tutorial I can use / follow for the Integration with AutoCAD Civl 3D tool? I’ve installed the Revit extension, but unsure of what steps to take to coordinate between civil 3D and Revit. I’ve been able import a surface from Civils, but struggling tp update the levels and coords once in Revit
Thanks
Gary
I do, the best option is to watch our webinar on the following: http://www.excitech.co.uk and then go to resources and then you can access webinar recordings. This example shows the complete workflow from a C3D alignment and corridor to the finished revit Structure model. Note that you will need to create a login which is free!
Thanks for the reply. Do you have a pdf? Due to internet restrictions at work (entertainment) any sites with video clips are blocked.
Hi Lawrence. I’ve been looking at various workflows again for importing a highway corridor from C3D. The only problem I’ve found generally is that we can’t use the spot elevation tool to pick levels of the road surface in any view. Have you come across this and have you any ideas how to get around it?
Cheers.