Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems Class Description The goal of this lab is to demonstrate how to integrate AutoCAD Civil 3D with Revit Structure for the purpose of generating a 3D bridge. All attendees will walk away with hands on knowledge of how to coordinate between Civil 3D and Revit and also will have created a bridge with a super elevation that is documented with the use of the Revit extensions.
About the Speaker: Shane originated in the steel construction industry as an Engineering Fabricator, he then took his skills and worked on multiple construction sites in steel design and construction. Shane then followed his passion for drafting and achieved a structural drafting position and soon moved up the ranks on diverse projects types and sizes. Soon afterwards graduating with the Diploma of Engineering Technology. Since then Shane has moved into CAD/BIM Management roles in multi discipline firms applying customization, implementation and training.
Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
Table of Contents Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit ..................................... 1 Shane Brown, AEC Systems............................................................ 1 Class Description ....................................................................................... 1 About the Speaker: .................................................................................. 1
Overview on Bridge Extension ....................................................... 1 System Requirement ....................................................................... 1 Content of Bridge Extensions......................................................... 2 •
Bridge – Concrete box girder ........................................................... 2
•
Bridge – Concrete slab ...................................................................... 3
•
Bridge – Concrete slab with girders ................................................. 3
•
Customization of bridge families ...................................................... 3
•
Documentation ................................................................................... 3
•
Integration with AutoCAD Civil3D .................................................... 4
•
Roads and Terrains ............................................................................. 4
Basic design/documentation procedures.................................. 5 Integration between Civil 3D and Revit Structure ..................... 6 1.
Open Civil 3D file ............................................................................. 6
2.
Create new Revit file ...................................................................... 7
3.
Starting Integration .......................................................................... 8
4.
Configuration of corridor................................................................ 9
Create bridge from the imported corridor ............................... 13 1.
Select the corridor and load extension ..................................... 13
2.
Configuration of bridge ................................................................ 14
Multiple corridors import and bridges creation ....................... 19 1.
Integration with Civil 3D ................................................................ 20
2.
Create bridge from corridor ........................................................ 22
Documentation of the created bridges ................................... 25
Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
Customization of bridge families ................................................ 29 1.
Select and modify bridge element ............................................ 29
2.
Tips on Defining/modifying parameters ..................................... 31
3.
Saving the modified bridge element ......................................... 33
Example on creating a new bridge family ......................................... 34 1.
Create family from Revit Structure.............................................. 35
2.
Import the new family into bridge extension ............................ 36
Overview on Bridge Extension There is a Bridge extension for both Civil3D and Revit Structure. This session will cover how to leverage of the Standard civil3D features to create a bridge with a super elevation using the Revit Structure 2011 bridge extensions. The bridge extension for Civil 3D 2011 is a Civil 3D add-in module which creates bridges directly from a Civil 3D corridor. Currently this is only available in Autodesk Labs.
For information about all other bridge software programs that can coordinate with Civil3D or Revit e.g. 12D and MX. refer to this website. http://www.aecsystems.com.au/bridge-extension.html
The chart below illustrates the bridge design workflow for a project. Highway Engineers and Bridge Engineers are treated separately to assume
requirements
for
design
practice
and
preference
of
technologies.
System Requirement To continue your bridge design with Civil 3D and Revit Structure, the system must meet the following requirements. Software Products and Version. AutoCAD® Civil 3D 2011 (32 or 64 bit) with proper licence Working Platforms Autodesk® Revit® Structure2011 (32 or 64 bit) with proper licence
Extension Tool
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Bridge Modeller Extension for Revit Structure
Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
NOTE: 1. You need to have licensed version of both Revit Structure 2011 and Civil3D 2011 either standalone or network licensed installed on your PC. 2. You need to have Civil3D open with the .dwg .dwg file when importing to
Revit Structure. 3. The bridge extension for Revit Structure is part of the advantage pack you down load from subscription centre. (currently only available in
Revit Structure 2011)
Content of Bridge Extensions The following extension will be available in the “Extension manager” in the “Add-in” ribbon after the installation of the Bridge Extensions to Revit® Structure.
• Bridge – Concrete box girder The extension allows users to define a 3D model of a concrete box grider
bridge in Revit ® Structure. The designed bridge is generated based on a selected road segment in Revit® Structure.
Users can define all bridge
elements (abutments, piers, bearings) based on the families available in the
Bridge Definition – Concrete Box Girder extension.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
• Bridge – Concrete slab The extension allows users to define a 3D model of a concrete slab bridge in Revit ® Structure. The designed bridge is generated based on a selected road segment in Revit® Structure.
Users can define all bridge elements
(abutments, piers, bearings) based on the families available in the Bridge Definition – Concrete slab extension.
• Bridge – Concrete slab with girders The extension allows users to define a 3D model of a concrete slab with girders bridge in Revit ® Structure. The designed bridge is generated based on a selected road segment in Revit® Structure. Users can define all bridge elements (abutments, piers, bearings) based on the families available in the Bridge Definition – Concrete slab with girders extension.
• Customization of bridge families The Customization of Bridge Families is part of the Bridge modeling extension and is designed to customize the families generated in Revit Structure to be used with the Bridges extensions. The application allow users to creates a bridge family using Revit Structure to comply with the design specification and saves a set of files related to the modified family: RFA, XML and PNG
• Documentation The Documentation generation for Bridges extension is designed to simplify the generation of bridge drawings in Revit® Structure. After specifying the parameters of all required bridge views and cross sections of the bridge elements, the extension will generate the drawings of the bridge and its elements in Revit Structure. The Revit Structure project browser lists all generated drawings in the View (all). The drawings generated by this extension are grupped in 3 subcategories: •
Structural plans
•
3D views
•
Detail views
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
• Integration with AutoCAD Civil3D The Integration with AutoCAD Civil 3D extension is designed to transfer the data related to the topography, the road and the bridge elements between the Revit® Structure and AutoCAD® Civil 3D.
• Roads and Terrains Use the Roads and Terrain Definition extension to define a 3D model of the roads and terrain in Revit ® Structure with one of two following methods: •
Import an XML file with the previously defined road and terrain parameters.
•
Insert user-defined road and terrain parameters directly in the extension.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
Basic design/documentation procedures
Procedures
Platform
Create surface and corridors with Civil 3D 2011
AutoCAD Civil
Load the .dwg file into Revit Structure using the bridge Extension
Autodesk Revit Structure
Create bridge from the imported corridor
Autodesk Revit Structure
Use pre-configured bridge families
Customize new bridge components
Documentation of the newly created bridge
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Customization of bridge families
Autodesk Revit Structure
Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
Integration between Civil 3D and Revit Structure
1. Open Civil 3D file In this tutorial, a .dwg with surface details and corridors was used for demonstration.
1.1. Open a .dwg file from Civil 3D.
In this file, a surface has been loaded and a few corridors were created accordingly.
1.2. Check whether the corridors and data in this .dwg file is opened correctly.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
2. Create new Revit file
2.1. Run Revit Structure 2011 with Bridge Extension preinstalled.
A default metric template is selected here.
2.2. Open a new project.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
3. Starting Integration
3.1. Select the “Extension Manager” from the Addin Ribbon and select the “Integration with AutoCAD Civil3D” Extension.
The Civil 3D file contains multiple corridors and surfaces. The desired corridor and surface are “upper bridge” and “design earthworks”.
3.2. Select the desired Corridors and Surface to load into Revit Structure. (refer avi part1 8:10)
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
4. Configuration of corridor
4.1. Revit Structure will then require some configuration on the imported corridor: • Road configuration • Horizontal alignment • Vertical profile • Cross sections • Topography
(refer avi part1 8:409:35)
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
4.2. Define the Starting point and end point of the segment (0.000m – 944.360m). (refer avi part1 8:409:35) •
Allows the user to select the appropriate alignment from the Civil3D file
•
A segment start and end can be specified using station values along the alignment (if the bridge segment is shorter than then the corridor model)
•
“Make horizontal” allows the user to rotate the alignment so that the bridge is horizontal inside the Revit project
“Use original coordinates” will assign the Civil 3D geodetic coordinate system to Revit shared coordinates.
4.3. Horizontal alignment will be loaded automatically.
(refer avi part1 8:40-9:35) •
Gives a preview of the alignment geometry
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
4.4. Assign the vertical profile to either match the corridor or terrain surface (corridor profile was selected here).
(refer avi part1 8:40-9:35)
• •
Gives a preview of the vertical profile of the bridge as well as the existing ground profile The user can manually assign profiles
4.5. Modify the width and slope for each segment of the corridor. (refer avi part1 8:409:35) Note: users can keep the cross sectional properties of the corridor or keep the loaded properties. •
Provides cross-section information based on the selected corridor model from the Civil3D drawing
•
User can manually change cross-section information if required
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
4.6. Select “Activate topography” in the topography section. 4.7. Change the topography material to “Site - Earth”
•
“Activate topography” will turn on the topography option in Revit views.
•
A Civil3D surface can be selected in a drop-down menu
•
Topography adjustment allows to crop the surface area to a predefined project extend (similarly to a surface boundary)
4.8. When all setting finished, click “Ok” to continue.
(refer avi part1 8:40-9:35)
3D view of an imported corridor
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
Create bridge from the imported corridor 1. Select the corridor and load extension The Bridge Modeller Extension includes 3 standard types of bridge (Concrete box girder, Concrete slab and Concrete slab with girders). Concrete box girder is selected here.
1.1. Select the corridor. 1.2. Open the Extension manager menu and select Concrete box girder.
1.3. A window for bridge detail configuration will appeal after selecting the Concrete box girder function.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
2. Configuration of bridge Users can define the locations of the abutments, number and locations of piers according to the design specification. For demonstration purpose, a bridge with three piers will be created here. The pier location and length of span between each pier should refer to the design specification.
2.1. In the Bridge Layout section, manually type in the locations (466.506m and 642.357m).
• Allow users to manually change the location and configuration of Abutments. • Allow users to add or remove pier and manually change the location and configuration of pier (refer to proper standards and/or design specifications).
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2.2. Remove all piers then manually add and type in the location for the three piers (510.468m, 550.432m, 598.394m) (refer avi part1 15:15 – 16:30)
Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems The family types and parameters used in the following steps are for demonstration purpose, users can select and modify the bridge type, bridge elements and parameter values base on the design specifications.
2.3. Select the decks type (variable height deck) and deck family (One Chamber Two Slopes basic). 2.4. Adjust the dimensions of the family. 2.5. Click “More parameters” and adjust the parameters in the pop-up window if necessary. • Allow users to modify the deck. • The type of deck can be switched between flat deck and variable height deck • Various deck families are provided • The dimension and parameters of the deck can be modified by users according to design specification.
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(refer avi part1 16:30 – 17:20)
Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
2.6. Check Roadways dimensions and parameters and adjust if necessary.
(refer avi part1 16:30 – 17:20)
• Allow users to modify the bridge roadway. • The dimension and parameters of the roadway can be modified by users according to design specification.
2.7. In the Barriers section, select “sloped” in barrier type. 2.8. Check and adjust the dimensions and parameters. (refer avi part1 16:30 – 17:20) • Allow users to modify the left and right barriers separately. • The type of barrier can be switched between unsloped and sloped deck • Various barrier families are provided • The dimension and parameters of the barrier can be modified by users according to design specification. Page 16 of 38
Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
2.9. In the Abutments section, go to Abutment “152.814m” and select “No wings” in abutment type. 2.10. Select abutment type to be “no slope no foundation”. 2.11. Check and adjust the dimensions and parameters.
• Allow users to modify the two abutments separately. • Allow users to design an abutment with wings or without wings. • Various Abutment families are provided • The dimension and parameters of the barrier can be modified by users according to design specification.
2.12. In Abutment “205.041m”, select “Copy from first”.
(refer avi part1 16:30 – 17:20)
2.13. Select abutment type to be “rectangular cap”. 2.14. Check and adjust the dimensions and parameters. (refer avi part1 16:30 – 17:20)
• Allow users to modify each pier separately. • Various pier families are provided • The dimension and parameters of the barrier can be modified by users according to design specification. Page 17 of 38
Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
2.15. In the Bearings section, go to Abutment “152.814m” and select “rectangular” bearings. 2.16. Check and adjust the dimensions and parameters. 2.17. Check if “Copy from first” is selected on other pages.
• Allow users to modify the bearings of abutments and piers. • Various bearing families are provided • The dimension and parameters of the barrier can be modified by users according to design specification.
(refer avi part1 16:30 – 17:20)
Finish view of the created bridge
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
Multiple corridors import and bridges creation The bridge modeller extension also allows users to import multiple corridors from Civil3D and creates bridges accordingly. The processes are similar to importing a single corridor. Users can load multiple corridors and surface in one integration and it is not necessary to import each corridor or surface separately.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
1. Integration with Civil 3D This tutorial will demonstrate how to import corridor “lower bridge” and “upper bridge”, and surface “design earthworks” from Civil 3D to Revit Structure.
1.1. Open the Civil 3D file. 1.2. Create a new project in Revit Structure 1.3. Use “Integration with AutoCAD Civil3D” from the extension manager. 1.4. Selected the corridors and surface need to be imported and click “Ok”.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems The process to create bridges here is very similar to “Integration with AutoCAD Civil 3D”. Users may follow the below steps and configuration of the corridors.
1.5. Adjust /modify the “upper bridge” in the “Road and Terrain definition” window using the value from “Integration with AutoCAD Civil 3D”.
1.6. When finish, click “OK” to continue.
1.7.
1.8.
Set “lower bridge” to be “0.000m” to “284.334m”. In vertical profile page, set the profile to “V-Designlow bridge-(38)”.
In the Cross Section page, change the width to 3000 and the slope to -3%. 1.10. Set the topography material to “Site – Earth” 1.9.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
2.
Create bridge from corridor The process to create bridges here is very similar to “Create bridge from imported corridor”. Users may follow the below steps and configuration of the bridge.
2.1. Select corridor “upper bridge”. 2.2. Select “Bridge – Concrete box girders” from extension manager. 2.3. Finish the bridge configuration from the window appear using the value and data from the “Create bridge from imported corridor”. Click “OK” when finished. (refer avi part1 15:15 – 17:20)
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
2.4. Repeat the above process by selecting “lower bridge” corridor. 2.5. Use the setting from “upper bridge” but set the abutments and pier location as below: • Abutments at 152.814m and 205.041m • Pier at 178.928m
2.6. Two bridges will be created accordingly.
(refer avi part1 5:15 – 6:50)
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
The finish view of the corridors and bridges.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
Documentation of the created bridges
The bridge modeller extension also allows user to quickly document the newly created bridges by using the “Documentation” tool.
The “Documentation” tool will instantly create different views for the bridge and its components including plan view, elevation view and 3D view. It also allows users to change the setting of the grid, annotation tag and etc.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
Examples of views generated by extension
View setting for Abutments
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
Examples of views generated by extension
View setting for Piers
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
Examples of views generated by extension
Setting for gird, dimension, annotation and levels.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
Customization of bridge families
1. Select and modify bridge element
1.1. When initiating the Customization of Bridge Families extension, the Open dialog displays for users to select the RFA file need to be modified. Note: • Any family from Revit Structure can be modified and customized for the Bridges extensions. The number of parameters describing the family that is currently defined must be equal to or greater than the number of parameters required to define the selected object category. • The location of the families folders may vary depending on the operating systems.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems 1.2. For demonstration purpose, the “Metric basic Abutment with no slope” (M_Abutment_basic _no_slope) from the abutment family is selected. A new window with required parameters tag and more parameter tag will appear.
1.3. The “Required parameters” tab allows you to specify the parameters required to define a new family. Note: You must specify all listed parameters.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
2. Tips on Defining/modifying parameters
2.1. The list of parameters required for the family consists of 3 columns: • Bridge parameter – represents the parameter names of the selected family category. • Symbol – represents the symbols related to the parameters of the selected family category. • Family parameter – consists of lists that include all parameters of the family that you loaded. 2.2. To define the new family parameters you assign the appropriate parameters (loaded after you opened the family for modification) to the parameters required for the selected family description. 2.3. For each parameter in the Bridge parameter column you assign the similar parameter in the Family parameter column. The latter column consists of lists that include all parameters of the loaded family. During subsequent parameter definition (in the subsequent row), all previously assigned parameters are not displayed in the subsequent lists of the Family parameter column. If there is no parameter assigned, the message “None” displays in the Family parameter column. Note: In case after you define the required parameters and the Family parameter list is not empty, all of the remaining parameters appear under the More parameters tab.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
2.4. The More parameters tab defines the additional parameters that describe the loaded family. The More parameters tab includes all parameters that have not been classified as the required parameters and includes the following 4 columns: • Active – check boxes to add or remove the selected parameter to the More parameters group. • Element parameter – displays the parameter names appropriate for the loaded family. • Description – defines the new parameter name. • Symbol – defines the new parameter symbol. 2.5. The file path to the file with the auxiliary image is displayed at the top right of the dialog. The image represents the description and the additional parameter location. If you modify an existing family from the Bridges extensions, the image shows the location of the standard additional parameters. To illustrate the solid modification and the location of the user-defined parameters, update the image and save it as the PNG file. The browse button (in the right upper corner of the dialog) is used to browse the folders in order to select the location of the userdefined image. Note: The additional parameters definition is optional.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
3. Saving the modified bridge element 3.1. To save the family modifications, click the File > Save. The XML file is overwritten with the same name and location as the name and the location of the loaded family. 3.2. You can save the file as a copy of the modified family using the File > Save as and defining the file name and location. A set of files with the user-defined name and with the following extensions generates: RFA, XML and PNG. Note: If you select a file location other than the standard family files location for the Bridges extensions, the following message displays after you click Save:
When you click Yes, the application generates the set of files in the user-selected location and the same set of files in the location required by the Bridge extensions.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
Example on creating a new bridge family The customization of bridge family extension also allows users to create a new bridge family from Revit Structure and load into the extension. This example demonstrates the process of create a new barrier family. The following barrier type has been selected for demonstration purpose.
Barrier Type RCO Regular Performance level Bridge Traffic Barrier to AS 5100 Standards Cross Section
Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
1. Create family from Revit Structure
1.1. Create a new family file using the “Metric Profile” template. 1.2. Create reference plans and define dimensions accordingly. 1.3. Draw the section with line tools 1.4. Define the value for each parameter. 1.5. Do a screen capture of the family
The family can be saved in a user selected location and the extension will generate a copy in the default location. It is recommended that file name should contain proper details of the family for future reference.
1.6. Save the file in the default barrier location with the name “M_Barrier_Profile_RC O.rfa” 1.7. Save the screen capture in the save location with the name“M_Barrier_Profil e_RCO.png” Page 35 of 38
Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
2. Import the new family into bridge extension
2.1. Open the “Customization of bridge” extension. 2.2. Select and load the new family file saved in the previous step.
The parameters used in this section will depend on the parameters from the create family and the symbols are not necessarily the same as the symbols used in this demonstration.
2.3. In the window as shown, set the type of the bridge element to “Barrier”. 2.4. Tick all bridge type in the 2.5. “Bridge type” section to enable the barrier can be use in all type of bridge. 2.6. Choose “Unsloped” in barrier type. 2.7. Define the Hight as “H” and Width as “W”.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
2.8.
2.9.
Define the additional parameters in the “More parameters” page. Set the image path to be the location where the .png file was saved previously.
2.10. To test the new family, users may create a new bridge following the previous demonstration and select the new family from the barrier page.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit Shane Brown, AEC Systems
Section view of the new barrier in the bridge.
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