Project Revit floors to topography using Dynamo!

[@aalexg13]

Great tool Gavin. Thank you so much. It really helps when it comes with designing linear construction objects with curves like culverts, underpassed and even bridge decks!

[@AussieBIMGuru]

Glad it was helpful!

[@varvara.g]

Thank you very much! I used same method to place elements on surface (floors and toposurfaces) it worked, then one time I can't get points, so I checked your video again and find out that raybounce is pointing up! But all my elements were above, so I need to just reverse the point, like in 12:49 and it worked!

[@AussieBIMGuru]

Ah yes that gets me often as well! Glad it worked in the end 😀

[@sarunasnekrosius9427]

As always - great work!

[@AussieBIMGuru]

Thanks 😀

[@juliopolo7216]

I was just working on something similar some days ago. Didn’t knew about the Raybounce node, thanks for the video

[@AussieBIMGuru]

Glad I could help!

[@erictai1621]

The proposed method is great to align floor slab to topographic mesh; however, split line of slab generated automatically by revit might not be as expected to tightly align with the folding lines of topographic mesh. Have tried to use slabshape.addsplitline from data-shape but it seems not work. Is there any ways I can assign those split lines to the floor slab in dynamo to enhance the above workflow? Thx.

[@AussieBIMGuru]

@@erictai1621 yes the slab shape editor class I use in this video can also draw split lines between vertices: www.revitapidocs.com/2019/fb041590-6361-7fda-4f48-6e381dbb9f5d.htm

[@farn1991]

Greeting. I recently had to do the reversal, create topography from projected floor. While my initial assessment was to do it in Civil3D, we decide to go with just Revit topo anyway. In testing environment, converting topology mesh into surface then add/delete point works just fine. We even come up with get intersection curve between extrude floor and topography to preserve it existing state. Turn out dynamo couldn't handle all the calculation of the 20k point of topology. Then we reduce our scope to just add/remove point that within the floor surface. That didn't ended well, either. For some reason a circular edge of floor, like those around curb, gets distorted when you modify the sub-element.... and these create eclipse, or part of it, which Dynamo engine can't handle. So no solid conversion from Revit's floor. Our staff decide it would be in our best interest just to turn all those corner into polygon. That's kinda temporally fix for it. May I ask what would normal people do in this circumstance. Me and my team aren't exactly well verse in Python or Dynamo, that is certain.

[@AussieBIMGuru]

In this scenario i would usually process the geometry in a more capable mesh editor such as Rhino 3d. I'd either resample the base surface on a regular spacing or re-contour the surface to require less overall points. From there link cad > topo like usual.

[@farn1991]

@@AussieBIMGuru Thank you for the advice. It's kinda funny that we can't use intersection node with mesh in Dynamo. Had to get all the vertices and convert those into faces add too many calculation into the already slow Dynamo.

[@rodrigodelace]

Thank you for this. It is Great!! I am trying to do the opposite, make the proposed topography follow the proposed floor, as we tend to model floors and falls to work for carparks and stormwater (especially around external hardstands like carparks etc...) and then create a topography that follows that floor for cut and fill schedules. I have managed to do it but I have to select every face of every floor and then my script creates a topography following that face and I can adjust the offset I want from it for sand bedding. I have difficulties getting it to work by selecting the entire floor. It works fine with revit 2023 and although it is a bit time consuming to select each face, it is much faster and accurate than attempting to do it by hand point by point in the topography. Now the other new issue is revit 2024 with the new toposolids. This has changed the game completely and my script does not create toposolids. I have not found anything on toposolids and dynamo. Given that toposolids cannot be joined and they do not calculate cut and fills unless the boundary is the exact same, it simply does not work.

[@AussieBIMGuru]

Yeah haven't brought myself to the toposolid API yet, but am nearly 100% sure it will be very similar to floors given it appears to have been built from that class as a template (it is inherited from floor/ceiling class in the API). I believe they present a lot of issues such as cut/fill as you noted and we will see some challenges emerge as more firms begin using 2024. On the one hand it will be very easy to create toposolids form floors using API, but the loss of inbuilt features, and their build Z direction present concerns.

[@lecg_arq]

I made it work selecting the entire floor and adjusting it to the topography. Reply and I will share you the file

[@AussieBIMGuru]

@@lecg_arq that's OK, I've developed a more robust version of this where I work - but thanks!

[@eskQ2]

amazing stuff again ABG!

[@AussieBIMGuru]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@jckl4085]

Hi thanks! I'll try to make this since I have like a road model (road, pavement, greenery) created only in 2D with floors and needs to be elevated to specific elevations specified on the edges of elements. So my logic was to first create topography in civil 3D with exported points from AutoCAD dwg and then proceed with this. Fingers crossed!

[@AussieBIMGuru]

Hope it goes well!

[@chehitireda7010]

Thank you so much ! This was so helpful ! I’m trying to model a single veil (and even a column) continuous in my structure that extends from bottom to top and create a script on dynamo which will divide this veil (column) and affect each veil (column) at its level.I don't know if you have any document or video that can help me to do my exercice. Thank you again.

[@AussieBIMGuru]

No videos currently, but it would involve finding all levels as planes that intersect with the column, then creating new columns from each of those levels to the one above. Don't believe Revit can naturally split a column, so they'd all be new ones.

[@aalexg13]

I tried this script using a floor that had curved boundaries and seems that the script ends up with errors. Is this script made only for floors with straight lines boundary?

[@AussieBIMGuru]

It is tested primarily for straight edges, but I would have thought processing arcs would work also. Maybe try dynamo forums as it goes beyond the scope of this demonstration.

[@kairofilipe3305]

Nive Gavin. Thank You. Could you help me beacuse many time the raybounce node return null value for me and I dont know why.

[@AussieBIMGuru]

Make sure the points are below a relevant element and that they will in fact cause a hit. Also any points on edges of topography will often miss elements so ensure the topo extends beyond the floor extent.

[@janappelgryn3050]

Great script. Thanks for it. Is it possible to add a Sweep or Edge to this floor to present a Curb.

[@AussieBIMGuru]

Yes the revitapi can add slab edges to floor edge references using this method: www.revitapidocs.com/2020.1/fb368db2-914d-5867-0c4b-2380fbd3db49.htm

[@janappelgryn3050]

@@AussieBIMGuru you have not yet done something like it?

[@AussieBIMGuru]

Nope havent had a need to automate slab edges to date. The API method seems fairly straightforward but collecting relevant references would be challenging potentially.

[@jckl4085]

should be installed data-shapes package version 2023 if you're on version of revit 2023? It doesn't show me raybounce node with the newest? :/

[@AussieBIMGuru]

Generally it should be there, I can see it in latest build.

[@criticadelespacio]

I'm using Revit 2024 and I think the spring nodes collect sketch is not producing any output, I'm new to dynamo and got stuck in that very early step, do you know if spring nodes works on this new version or what do you think might be happening?

[@AussieBIMGuru]

Try installing dynamoironpython2.7 package then rebooting revit/dynamo.

[@joseluisgarciagalan3988]

Would there be any way to project the grid onto the ground without using 'PolyCurve'? This way, floors with holes could be projected."

[@AussieBIMGuru]

Yes cast the grids at the topography as well the floor in two ray bounces to verify only the internal points which are in the floor itself.

[@joseluisgarciagalan3988]

@@AussieBIMGuru Thank you very much, I have achieved something by projecting the grid points with 'RayBounce On Link Category.' It doesn't work perfectly, but it works.

[@gw7079]

This was so helpful! Thank you so much! Quick question do you know the script for connect multiple line wires?

[@AussieBIMGuru]

Unfortunately I dont do much MEP.

[@gw7079]

@@AussieBIMGuru it’s okay thank you for the reply! Say just error when I have multiple lines in one floor surface.

[@AussieBIMGuru]

@@gw7079 yes this workflow only covers single loop i think, it would require additional geometry processing to handle floors with multiple loops in their sketch.

[@gw7079]

@@AussieBIMGuru aw okay thank you so much for your help! Do you reckon it would be easy to do?

[@AussieBIMGuru]

@@gw7079 depends on your experience with dynamo geometry. Ive done it where I work and I'd say it is quite advanced, I did it all in Python in the end but Dynamo alone could probably do it.

[@callumrichards3634]

Hi Gavin, I’m interested in going back to uni to do much masters in BIM management but weighing up the earnings potential. There’s not a lot of data out there for salary potential here in the UK, do you have any idea on what the typical salary range for BIM manager in the UK is? Alternatively, with a masters degree in BIM management, do you think I’d have a fair shot at qualifying to get an Australian visa to work in Australia?

[@AussieBIMGuru]

To my understanding a typical BM salary in the UK is around 45-55k gbp per year. Usually to get to that role you will need at least 5 years of experience in BIM coordinator type roles. Earning potential is slightly higher in Australia but cost of living is a bit higher too from what I'm told by expats in the UK. Whilst we have working visa programs I believe there isn't a skill shortage for AEC roles so you'd need to line up a role in a firm from abroad most likely.

[@callumrichards3634]

@@AussieBIMGuru hmm that’s interesting, thanks for the insight on that. Do you know of anyone who has studied and worked in BIM who has ended up working strictly as a project manager? Is this a common route that some would take?

[@AussieBIMGuru]

@@callumrichards3634 its not overly common. Construction manager and design manager are more common as PM's generally dont use a lot of technology.