Civil 3D and Revit manage coordinate systems differently, which can complicate workflows when using both tools. The Autodesk Shared Reference Point extension simplifies this process by enabling the creation of a shared coordinate system between the two programs.
What Does the Shared Reference Point Extension Do?
The extension allows you to:
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Export known points and elevations from Autodesk Civil 3D to an XML file.
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Import this file into Autodesk Revit to establish a shared coordinate system.
Here’s how it works:
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Civil 3D identifies two reference points and their coordinates.
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This information is exported to an XML file.
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Revit uses this file to adjust its model’s coordinate system, aligning it with Civil 3D.
This seamless coordination ensures that your building model in Revit aligns accurately with geo-referenced objects in Civil 3D.
Benefits of Using the Shared Reference Point Extension
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Streamlined Collaboration: Coordinate systems between Civil 3D and Revit are synced automatically, eliminating manual adjustments.
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Improved Accuracy: Geo-referencing in Civil 3D integrates smoothly with Revit's design and structural focus.
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Cross-Platform Compatibility: Shared coordinates can also be read in Navisworks, enhancing collaboration across Autodesk tools.
Note: The Shared Reference Point xtension has been built into Civil 3D since 2022.
How to Install the Autodesk Shared Reference Point Extension for Revit
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Go to https://manage.autodesk.com/home and select All Products and Services from the navigation panel.
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On the All Products and Services page, search for Revit and click View details.
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On the software page, select the version of the software for which you want to install the extension and click Extensions.
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Scroll through the extensions, select Shared Reference Point for Autodesk Revit <version year>, and click Download from the extension’s description tile.
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Verify the Revit software is not open and install the downloaded extension.
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Once the installation is finished, open Revit, click on the Add-Ins tab, and select Import Shared Coordinates from XML file.
How Do You Use the Shared Reference Point Extension Tool?
In Civil 3D:
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In the Toolspace>Toolbox tab, expand Subscription Extension Manager>Autodesk Shared Reference Point and double-click on Export Shared Reference Points for Autodesk Revit.
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After you select the origin point and quasi-north, click OK in the Select Units and Confirm dialog box.
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In the dialog box, enter a name for the Shared Reference Point XML file and click Save.
In Revit:
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In the Add-Ins tab>Shared Reference Point panel, select Import Shared Coordinates from XML file.
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Refer to the lower-left side of the Status Bar for instructions.
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In the Revit view, Select ORIGIN Point to Align to, then Select a Point on =Y (Up)Direction to align to. These two selections need to be established with the Civil 3D user.
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In the Open dialog box, navigate to the XML file and click Open.
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Click Yes in the User Confirmation dialog box to create the new shared coordinates.
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Click OK in the Successfully set Shared Coordinates dialog box.
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Set the location to the shared coordinate system by going to the Manage tab>Project Location panel and selecting Location.
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In the Location and Site dialog box, select the Site tab.
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Select the shared coordinate system that was imported and click Make Current.
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Click OK.
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Now that Revit is aligned to the Civil 3D coordinates, export the Revit model to CAD. In the File tab, select Export>CAD Formats>DWG.
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In the DWG Export dialog box, set any settings and click Next.
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In the Export CAD formats – Save to Target Folder dialog box, specify a file name and click OK.
In Civil 3D:
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Import the Revit exported DWG file by typing Insert into the command bar. The DWG will be imported to the correct location.
This extension is a powerful tool for aligning workflows between Civil 3D and Revit, reducing complications and improving efficiency in your design process.
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