Setting the Survey Point, Project Base Point, Project North and True North

Topic:
Coordinates
Tags:
Revit

Before any walls or floors are placed in the model we want to set the coordinates in the Revit model to align with GIS. It it important to do this at the beginning of starting a new building model so it can seamlessly integrate with the GIS system.

Find Coordinate Info

To find sea level elevation information, search the drawings in the SIMS Archive to find the first floor elevation. Refer to K:\AP\FITS\Architectural\BIM Implementation\Documentation\01_C2B_Process\01_Field Verification\Where to look for Sea Level elevation in the archive docs 2021.pdf for suggestions

Your university model manger will work with the GIS team to acquire the X and Y coordinate location and building angle from the GIS team.

Edit the Model

Once you have the building elevation, location and angle, you can edit the Revit model.

  1. Click the Default 3D View button to make a new 3D view appended with your user name.
  2. When the view opens, open the Visibility Graphics dialog and turn off any linked models (if applicable) and turn on the Project Base Point and Survey Point from the Site category. Click OK.
  3. In the 3D view, click one of the faces of the view cube to zoom to an orthogonal view of the building facade.
  4. Select any level and click Edit Type from the Properties box. Check that the Elevation Base is set to Survey Point. If it is set to Project Base Point, use the pull down to change it to Survey Point. Click OK.
  5. If you don’t already see the Project Base Point - a blue circle with an X in it and the Survey Point - a blue triangle with a plus sign in it - double-click the mouse wheel to zoom extents. If you still don’t see them, try looking at a different view from the view cube.
  6. Check the location of the Project Base Point (PBP) and Survey Point (SP) in relation to the building. If the PBP and SP are exactly on the First Floor level, and the elevation of the first floor level matches the first floor FFE found in the sea level documentation, you won't need to make any elevation changes.
  7. If the PBP and SP are not at the First Floor level, move them there using the move tool.
  8. Select the PBP and SP and move them to the SW corner of the building.  If SW corner could not be used, use same corner of building that GIS took coordinates from.
  9. Go to Manage tab > Select Coordinates drop down > Select Specify Coordinates at Point
  10. Enter the coordinate information from GIS.

Visual Check

  1. In Revit, open the Site_True North plan view to see the building in the true north orientation.
  2. In a web browser, go to GIS Maps, https://gismaps.osu.edu and search for the building.
  3. Visually check that the buildings are rotated the same way in Revit and GIS. Be especially careful when checking buildings that have exterior walls at angles other than 90 degrees, as well as buildings that are symmetrical and may look nearly the same if they were upside-down.
  4. If the angles do not appear to match, they may need to be adjusted by adding or subtracting 90 degrees, or by making the angle negative instead of positive. Ask a staff member if you have trouble getting the angles to match.