MP2005 Autodesk Revit Architecture Room Data and AutoCAD MEP: You Did What with the Xdata?Jeff CampbellSenior Applications Specialist, Burns & McDonnellJason SchaefferBIM Manager/Software Developer, Henderson Engineers, Inc. 2012 Autodesk 1Class SummaryLearn how to utilize the hidden data in Revit DWG exports.
Discuss how the data was extracted and used inside of AutoCAD MEP on a large scale project.
Discuss the Gotchas that we ran into.
Learn how to fit a square peg into a round hole
2012 Autodesk 2Learning ObjectivesAt the end of this class, you will be able to:Export room polylines from Revit Architectural for use in AutoCAD MEP
Use the AutoCAD MEP API in order to generate spaced from the Revit generated polyline files
Use the AutoCAD MEP API in order to gather extended data found in the Revit generated polylines to populate space information
Lear how this process was implemented on a large scale project 2012 Autodesk 3Class RulesClass Format is LECTURE (we will treat this more like a discussion)
Class Rules:
Set your phones to VibrateRelax and Have FunClass ID is MP2005
Your going to need a bigger boat moment 2012 Autodesk 4
The project Carcharodon carcharias
2012 Autodesk 5Project detailsMulti Design Firm Project
Multiple software packages being used
26 buildings
Told you we were going to need a bigger boat
2012 Autodesk Software used Revit Architecture Revit Structure AutoCAD MEP
26 buildings Combination of residential, commercial, retail 153 acre shared utility basement6Statement of the problemHow do we effectively share room data information between Revit Architecture and AutoCAD MEP without a large manual effort.
The square peg into the round hole issue!
2012 Autodesk What we had to work withRevits ability to export a DWG polyline of the room boundary
Revit API (Application Programing Interface)
AutoCAD MEP API (Application Programing Interface)
Two really crazy application specialist!
2012 Autodesk Idea number 1 Database linkingExport polyline DWG of rooms from Revit Architecture
Utilize the ODBC export of the Revit project model database
Utilize the AutoCAD MEP API to generate spaces from polyline DWG
Utilize the AutoCAD MEP to tie the Database from Revit to space in AutoCAD MEP 2012 Autodesk The 64 bit questionAll our Autodesk products are 64 bit
All our Microsoft products are 32 bit
Theres no way to write a program to target both platforms
2012 Autodesk
The solution A bigger boat
2012 Autodesk 11Deus ex MachinaLuckily, the Revit room export creator had planned aheadThe room boundaries had Xdata attachedElementIDRoom NameRoom Number
Were in business!
2012 Autodesk The processGo through each room fileCreate a space file with the same nameFor each room create a space in the space fileSet the properties of the space to match those in the room
Simple! But
2012 Autodesk GotchasSometimes the room files have issues
Limit rework of previously tagged spaces
New space file = new tags required
We need a room by room sync
That was a close one!
2012 Autodesk Sometimes the room files have issues Revit allows rooms with holes or rooms that touch themselves Autodesk MEP does not.
We have to keep existing space files Room Tag is linked to GUID of the space. New Space = New GUID = Old Tag goes away Room by room sync
14Next StepsAutomatically creating the tagsNot possible in that version of the .NET API
Not feasible to use ObjectARX in our budget and timeframe
ADN support gave us some ideas to try later
2012 Autodesk ConclusionThe API in Revit and AutoCAD MEP are a powerful and valuable tool
Dont be afraid to look outside of the box to solve complex problems
With the correct tools and a little ingenuity it is possible to turn a round hole into a square hole so the peg fits. 2012 Autodesk Conclusion
2012 Autodesk
Autodesk, AutoCAD* [*if/when mentioned in the pertinent material, followed by an alphabetical list of all other trademarks mentioned in the material] are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document. 2012 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
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