This article will show you how to set up Shared Coordinates for a Revit Model. When setting up coordinates, there are two scenarios you may find yourself in.

Scenario 1: You are starting a fresh Revit Model by creating a New Project or a new model based on a Revit Template (.rte file) and you have NOT started drawing grids in Revit.

Scenario 2: You are developing a Revit Model already in progress.

This article will focus on Scenario 1. Scenario 2 will be covered in a future article coming soon.

Note: This article is lengthy and will require about 1 hour to cover all concepts and perform the relevant steps for new users. "CAD file" refers to a .dwg file.

Step 1: Establish a Coordinates Master File

A Coordinates Master File is either a CAD file or a Revit model in which all drawings and models will be aligned to. In large projects that require a survey, this is typically a CAD file provided by a professional Survey Engineer which follows a geodetic coordinate system. This is often produced in CAD software for Engineers such as Microstation or equivalent. If a CAD survey is not available, you can create your own CAD or Revit model to use as the Coordinates Master File. Save this in a location for linking later.

This article will cover alignment with a CAD file but this can also be done similarly with a Revit model.

Download the sample files at the bottom of this article to follow the example.

Step 2: Acquire Coordinates

1. Start by creating a new Revit model through File > New > Project. Select a template or choose none and your desired units.
2. Open a Level 1 floor plan view. Note this also works in a 3D view. (In 3D view, a CAD file will insert at the lowest level).
3. Insert the CAD file into your Revit model using the Link CAD function found in the Insert tab and choosing the Origin-to-Origin positioning.
4. This step is optional. Turn on Project Base Point and Survey Point in Visibility Settings. It helps to see the points visually to see how they will be affected after acquiring coordinates.
5. Move the CAD file so that your site is near the Revit Start Point. In a New Project, the Project Base Point indicates the location of the Revit Start Point.
6. Acquire coordinates from the CAD file by going to the Manage Tab, and in the Project Location section click Acquire Coordinates.
7. Select the CAD file. Your Revit model is now aligned with your CAD file. Notice that the survey point has moved to the location of WCS Origin.
8. Now that the Revit model is aligned, adjust and rotate the Project Base Point. Start by unclipping the Project Base Point by moving your mouse over the Project Base Point symbol and clicking the paper clip symbol until you see a slash across the symbol.
9. Move the Project Base Point to the intersection of Grid A and Grid 1.
10. Rotate Project North by going to the Revit Ribbon > Manage > Position > Rotate Project North > Align selected line or plane.
11. Select Grid Line A to be the vertical on the sheet.
12. Project North is now perfectly aligned to Grid Line A. Click close
13. Your project coordinates are now aligned with the CAD file.

You can verify the difference between True North and Project North by changing the settings in the view properties. You can also test this by exporting a CAD file using Shared Coordinates and overlaying onto the Sample Survey CAD file provided.