1. “Documentation in Revit”
Revit Technology Conference 2007
“Documentation in Revit”
Steven Hutana

2. SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Introduction
Who am I?
What do I do? Architectural design/ Teach/ BIM
Why Revit after 18 years?
What do you do?
What you may expect
Leverage and efficiencies
Tips and tricks, traps, best practice, workarounds
What I may expect
Learning and sharing
Intro me
What I do,
Married with 3 children
Ngati Porou
Director of Hutana Design. Specialise in Architectural design and Revit implementation.
p/time Revit lecturer at Unitec and tutoring Revit
My experience
Autocad – nearly 20 years. Te Papa at Jasmax. Retail design at LSD. Commercial architecture from 2002-present
Master card building and atfes bridge. Presently contracting to Avery team Architecture implementing Revit for office standards and various commercial projects.
My Specialty and passion. Conceptual digital design. Passion for BIM in the building industry.
Show of hands
experience levels
What sector of industry working in?
Learning outcomes
Leverage – Revit working for You and not the other way round
Tips & trick
Preparation and Delivery
We will look first at Documentation preparation then Delivery.
Painters tip. “Most of the work is in the preparation before painting”.
Share knowledge
Am still learning a lot after 5 years of merging across to Revit
Keep light hearted and interesting. Note it’s the principle I want people attending to catch. They can learn the detail.
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

3. Documentation in Revit
Outline:
BIM Documentation
Creating Office Internal Documentation Standards
Preparing Office Project Templates
Project Pre-planning for External BIM Management
Managing your drawings:
Handling numerous drawing sheets
Hybrid Revit / DWG drawings
Using colour and 3D in documentation
3D documentation
2D documentation
Scale and level of detail
Look and feel of drawings
Schedules and tags
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

4. SESSION: Documentation in Revit
1. BIM DOCUMENTATION (5 C’s Client, Contractor, Consultant, Council, Component Manufacturing)
The Building Information Model (BIM) is a new tool used by the architecture, engineering and construction(AEC) industry. The term Building Information Modeling (BIM) was coined by Autodesk to describe "3D, object-oriented, AEC-specific CAD" and popularized by Jerry Laiserin as a common naming for these capabilities offered by several technology providers such as Autodesk, Bentley Systems, Graphisoft and others – a digital representation of the building process to facilitate exchange and interoperability of information in digital format.
BIM provides the potential for a virtual information model to be handed from Design Team (Architects, Surveyors, Civil Engineers, Structural Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Electrical Engineers) to Contractor and Subcontractors and then to Owner, each adding their own additional discipline-specific knowledge and tracking of changes to the single model. The result is anticipated to greatly reduce the information loss that occurs when a new team takes "ownership" of the project as well as in delivering extensive information to owners of complex structures far beyond that which they are currently accustomed to having.
Definition of Insanity.
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

5. SESSION: Documentation in Revit
1. BIM DOCUMENTATION (5 C’s Client, Contractor, Consultant, Council, Component Manufacturing)
BIM can greatly decrease errors made by design team members and the construction team (Contractors and Subcontractors) by allowing the use of conflict detection where the computer actually informs team members about parts of the building in conflict or clashing, and through detailed computer visualization of each part in relation to the total building.
As computers and software become more capable of handling more building information, this will become even more pronounced than it is in current design and construction projects.
Practice Documentation Culture
Since the advent of Autcad some 25 years ago every practice has adopted/created a culture all of their own in regards to how they communicate within the industry. Along the way we have used the fax, , and PDF to assist as conduits for communicating.
BIM will make this culture obselete over time as the demand for better communication, coordination and consultation increases within the building industry.
This demand is growing out of a desire to see constant cost overuns and lost time reduced.
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

6. SESSION: Documentation in Revit
2. Create office internal Documentation standards
A) Graphic Standard Manual.
The Graphic Standards section shows how elements are expected to look when printed and what Revit tools/pens/settings are used to make them
B) Production Standard manual:
The Production Standards section is all the CAD-only stuff, which explains in detail the layers, Project templates, View template, project file organization and retrieval, and all the
Revit project structure (file content, what is modeled and what is drawn, module organization, project folder structure etc). All tied back to the graphic standard. Updated with each release of Revit to accommodate new functions such as filters and view templates and such.
C) A "Best Practices" manual.
Every task (like making a DWG or creating a new project file) is broken down into a tips/tutorial sheet. If someone cannot perform a task, they can look it up. Over time this should serve as the office knowledge base along with other tutorials. Once in a while a better method comes along and it gets updated. Everything in it tied back to the Graphics manual and the Production Standard. Updated as needed or refer to PDF Revit user manuals in Practice Revit Library.
D) Run Bi-weekly lunch & learn seminars.
The majority of the CAD team must attend which includes project leaders. Push them for ideas and suggestions.
1. Expectation – We will get round to this. Put a date on it? Do it now
2. Check this?
3. Standards
Project Templates – object styles, line patterns, materials, text and dims, tags, view templates
Easy to provide a std to your user from the template
4. View Templates – Set up for pre-use saves time and inconsistencies
5. Set up your desired set types and sizes depending on uses. Using labels to create text for altering in projects
6. Annotate using , text, key noting, Legends and text. Need to decide
7. Which approach suits you depends on time and resources and software. 1 Revit, 2. Hybrid/linking 3. straight import
8. Production – Setting up for printing inhouse/out house varies.
1. Presentation DPI output will vary depending on size of finished print. A1 or A4?
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

7. 3. Preparing office Standard Project templates, Legends and Keynoting
A. CREATING STANDARD OFFICE TEMPLATES
There are various settings you can define in Revit Building for a Project template:
Colors: define colors for line styles and families.
Titleblocks: create a set of titleblocks for your project and then load them like families.
Families: load families you use most often.
Line Styles: define line styles for components and lines in a project.
Line Weights: define line weights for model and annotation components.
Fill Patterns: define fill patterns for materials. Fill patterns are commonly used in walls.
Materials: define materials for modeling components, including how the image looks after rendering.
Units: specify the unit of measurement for length, angles, and slope angle.
Snaps: specify dim. wall snapping increments for the model views, such as 3D and plan views.
Dimensions: define the look and size of dimensions for the project.
Temporary Dimensions: specify display and placement of temporary dimensions.
Object Styles: define the display of cut planes and surface patterns on plan/sect.
Modifying Wall Types: define custom wall types for a project.
Specify text properties: for various modeling and annotation components.
Settings/options/file locations
For custom set up of your revit template for the following
Library path to most used files and temp Job location quick access.
Excellent during documentation
Default Template file allocation
Video graphics setting
User name setting – Never change this after setting as will have affect on certain Revit apps such as worksets
Dictionary
Additional rendering Material library
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

8. B) CREATING OFFICE REVIT LEGENDS:
Using Revit legends its easy to create window and door elevated legends with dims and text along with symbols and wall legends.
TRAP!
Presently you cannot legends curtain walls. You will have to duplicate elevation views of c/walls and copy onto window legend drawing.
Once legends have been created group the legend and safe to file as a group. This allows you and others to reuse the file on future projects.
TIP!
Did you know that you can apply your precious keynotes in your legend components. Keynotes only work here when you select by material. In view properties turn off the keynote number and leader after initial creation/placement. This is bi directional associatively at its best.
Note
Curtain walls
Add c/wall elevations along side door legends on your title sheet
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

9. SESSION: Documentation in Revit
C) CREATING KEYNOTING
With Keynotes you can link all materials and elements to an external 'keynotes‘ text file and then tag the objects or materials with great ease.
There is a small investment of time to get your objects and or materials linked to a line item in the 'keynotes' file but the speed gain and consistency in standards is fantastic. All REVIT components and materials can use keynotes. You can have keynotes display the text (12mm plywood), the 'key' value (W. for wall/ 01) or sequential numbering such as CBI index (1,2,3...). Once you get these relationships linked up and saved to a template file you are off to the rugby.
TIP
To get you started on your keynoting journey you can Download and convert CBI index numbering system from Or use out the box NZ keynotes
TRAP!
The text editor where we create/store our keynotes is very precise. Use tab key “only” between your number and description.
Keynotes
Reminder
Access note pad through settings and copy to my docs
Open and save as existing one
Use tab key command inside program when setting up.
Use a keynote tag that suits your requirements and edit existing tags as required.
Place txt file in secure location for ref.
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

10. 4. Project Documentation Pre-planning for External BIM Management
On large projects you should be thinking about whether you will collaborate with main consultants who use Revit Structure and Revit MEP. Also how will you consult with council and clients at various stages including any design review panels. ed PDF’s and faxes suck!
Plan how many people in your practice will be engaged on the project and what roles they will play at various documentation stages as this will affect when Worksets should be activated.
After initiating worksets from the outset of a project next is to decide how the building/s and site and other models should be managed. Typically the site is seen as the central file into which one or all of the models will be linked.
Linking models into the site reduces size of the host drawing while allowing others to assist in creating each model separately.
One other thing to ponder is how you will plan to present your wonder of the world. In Revit we can render models to differing levels as well as pretty quickly create animations which go a long way toward engaging the clients emotive side.
Finally In the not too distant reality there will be a space added here for component fabrication collaboration.
Example of 4 buildings a site and underground car parking all generated in one file. Logistical nightmare which the longer left becomes increasingly harder to separate as dead lines loom.
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

11. 5. MANAGING YOUR DRAWINGS
Its important when documenting in Revit to understand well the 5 fundamental key elements which make up any Revit model
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

12. 5. MANAGING YOUR DRAWINGS
A. Controlling model objects:
Revit 2D views are live representations of 3D models - sometimes too alive!
model objects - how were they created? (eg. Floors)
Protecting invisible objects (floors, shaft openings, rooms)
Locking, aligning & pinning
Reference planes -locking, naming and heights
Scope boxes
Worksets
Design options
Phasing
Tip.1# Don’t be so precise. Just draw it! We can alter its position,
length, height after its initial placement.
Tip.2# Remember to use a mix of the TAB key and Temp hide/Isolate to get to a layer or for copying an existing outline.
Rip.3# What are site pads supposed to be…….?
Design
Create additional option under option set 1
Create 2 3D views of same perspective view then VP (change under “visible in option”)
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

13. 5. MANAGING YOUR DRAWINGS
B. Controlling Views:
Dependant views – divide up a plan/elevation
View dependencies (Sections & callouts)
Rotating views
Crop boundaries
Scope boxes
2d / 3d grip handles - grids, sections & reference planes
View templates
Tip 1# – You can access your views from the title sheet by right clicking and activating view
Tip 2# Use create view templates to set your line weights – Do it once is the key!
Tip 3# In views select object/s then right click select override graphics to alter element by category (general over rides) by element for “full visual o/rides.
“Finally our elevations can achieve depth in Revit”!
Dependant views
Duplicate views as independent then crop in and then turn off as required.
Next add match line for referencing and then view reference.
Grids. Reminder regarding copying structure cols onto grids then using copy and project paste level to level for quick copying up a building
In coord with massing.
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

14. 5. MANAGING YOUR DRAWINGS
C. Controlling drawing referencing:
section & elevation markers – placement and depth of field
By scale
Hide element (annotation) in view
Hide category (view visibility)
Section boxes
Scope boxes
Sections markers
Create plan and detailing callouts
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

15. 6. A multitude of drawing sheets
Handling numerous drawing sheets
View templates
Scope boxes – Sets visibility control of datum levels within the scope box
Reference planes – Used as guides for controlling model geometry.
Browser organisation – Creating parameters to better organise Views and Sheets
Locating views onto sheets
Working on views on sheets
Pin views on sheets
Handling Revisions
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

16. SESSION: Documentation in Revit
7. Hybrid drawings
Hybrid Revit / DWG drawings
Importing & Linking DWG files:
Link vs.. import
Origin & rotation
DWG detail drawings
Link vs. import.
Scanned detail drawings
Link vs. import
File sizes
Tip: Never import directly a new cad detail into your Revit project. Clean it up first in a new project to remove errors and warnings. Then import once converted accordingly.
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

17. 8. Colour in documentation
Masking regions
Filled regions
translucent regions
D/loading or import your favourite *.pat (hatch) file library and load in to your Project template
Rooms and area fill - Wow! Its finally easy to use!
RIP: Room separation lines be dammed!………….but don’t leave……I ……..I need you….
Shadows and shading
Tip: As soon as you have spent an hour getting that shade perfect, don’t forget to turn it off!
Tip 2# Pre-plan how you will present your design in Revit. This will determine how much time you allow for setting up materials for your model surfaces. It may save many needless hours when B&W with shade/shadows may suffice.
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

18. SESSION: Documentation in Revit
9. 3D documentation
Cutaway 3D views
Great during prelim process when tying key
Details into host elements
Standard 3D views
orient view
View rotation
section boxes
crop regions 3D views
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

19. SESSION: Documentation in Revit
10. 2D documentation
Drafting views
There are three approaches to how we detail using drafting views.
1. All Drafting done completely within Revit approach
This approach allows for a clean set of details which can be loaded into Project templates ready for placement. We can also use File/insert from file/views.
Tip 1#: Remember that if your practice decides to go this way with detailing, it will take a effort/time. Take it one detail at a time as opposed to pining it all on one project for results.
2. Converting existing cad details to Revit approach
This is where we import/convert our cad details into Revit details.
Tip 2#. Use a blank project to load details onto first where all errors and warnings can be mitigated first before loading into your project.
Tip 3#: Reload completed detail into blank project as final re-check for errors
3. Direct linking of Cad details directly into Revit Project approach.
This is a temporary measure when time is of the essence. Clean up later!!
Tip4#: when you use the Detail Callout tool you will need to choose the "Reference other view" from the Options Bar & then pick the correct drafting view from the drop down list.
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

20. 11. Scale and level of detail
Detail level - coarse, medium & fine
By system (walls) or by users (families)
more detail at larger scales
project stage (Sketch design, DA, construction)
2D vs. 3D; Presentation vs. documentation
Visibility
family object visibility 3D / 2D views
Yes/No parameters
Type parameters
subcategories
Symbolic lines
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

21. 12. Look and feel of drawings
Line types / weights
Line patterns
Line work tool
View visibility
Over-ride in view
Halftones
Underlays
Superimposing views
Stepped elevations
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

22. SESSION: Documentation in Revit
13. Schedules and Tags
1. Creating Schedules
Creating a Site Cut/Fill Schedule. The secret to creating this schedule is under site clicking graded region then selecting your Revit topo plan. Make sure you rename existing site to existing phase. Once completed Revit will add cut and fill to your topo schedule.
Add hardware items i.e. kick plate by adding parameters in schedule properties then add these items as schedule fields
Creating a Door Hardware Schedule.
The trick here is to set up the door schedule to allow for selecting hardware items as required for each door type. First create door schedule by component then recreate a hardware schedule using schedule keys
Site topo. To create cut/fill schedule first create graded region under site option.
Note – No turning back.
Existing topo should be assigned to existing phase in VP.
Tip. Use pick line to duplicate existing ground line before erasing existing topo
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

23. SESSION: Documentation in Revit
2. Tags
As well as giving descriptions, Tags are the conduit between your space/object and the data represented in the project schedule.
Tip 1# Don’t be afraid to “edit” tags as required to achieve the office standard. In fact create a Practise library for storage of your refined tags and other Revit components.
tags - types vs.. instance
wall tags - rotation
tags
tag rooms for finishes
Creating own tag
Assign parameter called Mark – Label called “D.”
Assign parameter called type name – dr. W and H.
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

24. SESSION: Documentation in Revit
2007 Summary
Don’t be afraid to use drafting tools to work over the model to add detail
After all, this is how you would normally document and detail a project
However, always maintain the model integrity
I.e. avoid using drafting tools to correct (or quick fix) your model.
Embrace the program
Including benefits (and limitations)
Take the time to establish office standards
It will take time… But the effort will pay off
Spell Checker
It’s not perfect, but it’s built in.
Stuffing around
Whilst it’s a constant temptation… Maximum productivity relies upon minium stuffing around.
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana

25. SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Flexible set-up
- Allow for some flexibility with the initial set-up of a project.
View naming
- Name views to assist with clarity and the simplicity of navigating through the Project File.
- Do not assume that a person taking over a project knows how you have built the model
- Do not keep things to yourself, share your knowledge
- Do not try to continue to do something unsuccessfully for more than minutes, ask for help
SESSION: Documentation in Revit
Steven Hutana