For centuries the AEC community has been built on a paper-based delivery process for

the purposes of professional tradition, industry verbiage, and responsible liability.

Budget, time, and other pressures facilitate a current disconnect between the players in a
design team. Recently, there has been a surge in the design community to step up to the
challenge of embracing new technology to deliver projects on time, at a higher quality,
and with greater efficiency.

Multi-Discipline Collaboration in Revit

Collaborating in an all Revit environment will greatly improve the coordination of

building components through its internal management of the project database.

Revit consists of three discipline-specific platforms.

ƒ Revit Architecture
ƒ Revit Structure
ƒ Revit MEP

Collaboration Guidelines

Each team member MUST be working on the same platform version and product build to
effectively collaborate. Revit is a forward compatible product. Therefore, the design team
should know the current compatible platform versions.

The current compatible Revit platform versions are recommended below.

ƒ Building 8 Structure 1 N/A
ƒ Building 8.1 Structure 2 N/A
ƒ Building 9 Structure 3 Systems 1
ƒ Building 9.1 Structure 4 Systems 2
ƒ Architecture 2008 Structure 2008 MEP 2008
It is recommended that product build number should match in each product. The product
build can be located in each product’s Help menu by clicking on About Revit… The
same build should be issued to all team members in the same firm or errors could occur
when trying to save to central when using Worksharing.

Linking Models

The linking of each other’s models using Revit’s Copy/Monitor feature provides
immediate visual feedback on what the other members are doing. The benefits include:
ƒ The ability to see the each others data in full context of the project
ƒ The ability to graphically control the linked data to enhance how it is viewed.
ƒ Support for Coordination Monitor and Interference Check.
 Coordination Monitor

The Coordination Monitor is the most intelligent tool for collaborating in Revit when
utilized properly. The benefits include:
ƒ The ability to choose components of the linked model to monitor for change.
ƒ Multiple modes offer flexibility to Monitor and Copy/Monitor objects.
ƒ With Copy/Monitor elements from the linked model can be copied into the host
project automatically creating a monitored relationship.

Interference Check

The Interference Check provides immediate feedback on component collisions. The

benefits include:
ƒ The ability to check interferences within a single project or linked models.
ƒ The ability to check “On Demand.”

Project Structure

Effective collaboration can be achieved in a single model environment. It is

recommended that the models be separated from one another to gain full advantage of the
collaboration tools provided in Revit.

Workflow Relationships

Each discipline creates a relationship based on their individual workflows:

ƒ Architect/Structural Engineer: In this relationship, the structural engineer will
leverage the architect’s model using Coordination Monitor’s Copy/Monitor mode
to create copies of building components from the architect’s model and to monitor
it for change, as well as, to establish a quick structural model of the project for
their workflow. The architect can then use Interference check to verify that
architectural elements are not conflicting with structural components.
 ƒ Architect/MEP Engineer: In this relationship, the MEP engineer will link the
architect’s model to position components in context. The Coordination Monitor is
used to leverage the architect’s rooms and levels. Analysis parameters are added
to the room elements. However, levels are necessary to copy/monitor rooms. The
architect simply links the MEP model to show system elements in context to
architectural elements.
ƒ Structural Engineer/MEP Engineer: In this relationship, both parties benefit
from interference detection to avoid collisions between structural and systems
elements.

Linked Interference Coordination

Models Checking Monitor

ARCHITECT

STRUCTURAL MEP
ENGINEERS ENGINEER

Based on the recommendations above, this diagram represents a suggested use of Revit’s
collaboration tools between each program/discipline.

1. The Architect will link in the Structural model and utilize Interference Checker.
2. The Structural Engineer will link in the Architectural model and utilize
Coordination Monitor.
3. The Architect will link in the MEP model and utilize Linked Models.
4. The MEP Engineer will link in the Architectural model and utilize
Coordination Monitor.
5. The Structural Engineer will link in the MEP model and utilize Interference
Checker.
6. The MEP Engineer will link in the Structural model and utilize Interference
Checker.
 Workflow Procedures – Overall Guidelines

Coordination Monitor
1. Use the Coordination Monitor when necessary. Overuse of Coordination Monitor
could slow the linked model’s performance. Some relationships need only be set up
as a monitor not a copy/monitor.
2. When Worksharing is invoked be sure to follow the recommendations below.
ƒ Coordination Monitor should be set up Central File to Central File if both files
exist on the same LAN. All updates want to occur when the Local Files are not
being used.
ƒ Open the project and Detach from the Central File when distributing the model
to other consultants. The detached model wants to then be attached to the
consultant’s Central File.

Stage 1 – Leveraging Models

Architect to Structural Engineer

1. The Architect will send the architectural model to the Structural Engineer.
2. The Structural Engineer opens the delivered model and reviews its elements.
ƒ Levels: Do they make sense for use in the structural model?
Do the bubbles vary from the company standard?
ƒ Grids: Do the bubbles vary from the company standard?
ƒ Columns: What type of columns are available?
Are the columns continuous or split?
ƒ Walls: Are there structural walls needed in this project?
What kind of walls were used?
ƒ Floors: What kind of floors were used?
3. The Structural Engineer starts a new project.
4. The architectural model is linked in. This is
accomplished by File>Import/Link>Revit.
Use the Origin to Origin positioning
method if shared coordinates are not being
utilized.
5. The visibility settings are changed to view the architectural model.
6. The Structural Engineer selects Tools>Copy/Monitor>Select Link and then
selects the architectural model.
7. The Design Bar changes to reveal the Copy/Monitor tools.
8. The Options button is accessed to reveal the Copy/Monitor settings for Levels, Grids,
Columns, Walls, and Floors.

9. The Structural Engineer monitors or copy/monitors elements of the architectural

model required for to begin the structural model.
10. The structural model will continue being developed.

Architect to MEP Engineer

1. The Architect will send the architectural model to the MEP Engineer.
2. The MEP Engineer opens the delivered model and reviews its elements.
ƒ Levels: Are necessary for copy/monitor of rooms in the MEP model?
Do the bubbles vary from the company standard?
ƒ Grids: Not really necessary?
ƒ Colums: Not really necessary.
ƒ Walls: Not really necessary?
ƒ Floors: Not really necessary?
ƒ Rooms: Are there rooms available?
3. The MEP Engineer starts a new project.
4. The architectural model is linked in. This is
accomplished by File>Import/Link>Revit.
Use the Origin to Origin positioning
method if shared coordinates are not being
utilized.
5. The visibility settings are changed to view the architectural model.
6. The MEP Engineer selects Tools>Copy/Monitor>Select Link and then selects the
architectural model.
7. The Design Bar changes to reveal the Copy/Monitor tools.
8. The Options button is accessed to reveal the Copy/Monitor settings for Levels, Grids,
Columns, Walls, Floors, and Rooms.

9. The MEP Engineer monitors or copy/monitors the levels first.

10. The Options tool will be accessed again to review and set the room options.
11. Several of the room’s parameters can be copied from the architectural model

12. The rooms can be copied by phase if necessary.

13. After setting these options, the rooms can be copied using the Copy Rooms tool on
the design bar.
14. The MEP model will continue being developed.

Stage 2 – Monitoring Models

Structural Engineer to Architect

1. The Structural Engineer will send the structural model to the Architect.
2. The structural model is linked in. This is
accomplished by File>Import/Link>Revit.
Use the Origin to Origin positioning
method if shared coordinates are not being
utilized.
3. The Architect can run use Interference Checker at this point but, might elect to
monitor the levels and grids to access additional features of Coordination Monitor.
 Stage 3 – Coordinating Changes

The Architect
1. If the architectural model changes, this will initiate a warning dialog from Revit.

2. The changes can be viewed by accessing Tools>Coordination Review>Select Link.

3. Coordination Review will open revealing the alert. As the host, the Architect can post
a comment regarding this coordination issue.

4. The architectural model is saved and sent to the consulting engineers.

The Structural Engineer

1. The Structural Engineer will receive the new updated architectural model.
2. It will want to be saved in the location of the previous version.
3. The structural model will then be opened.
4. Revit will immediately alert the user of a Coordination Monitor issue.

5. The Structural Engineer will access Tools>Coordination Review>Select Link.

6. Coordination Review will open revealing the changes.
7. On the In a linked project, the Structural Engineer can review any comments made
by the architect.

8. On the In host project, the Structural Engineer can initiate an action.

ƒ Postpone / Do Nothing: Leaves the change to be addressed at a later time.
ƒ Reject: There is a difference in the host file and its
associated monitored element. The change made to
the element in the host file is incorrect and the
associated monitored element needs to be changed.
ƒ Accept Difference: Accepts the change made to the element and
updates the
new relationship.
ƒ Modify, Rename, Move: The command name changes based on the action.
The change is propagated to the host project
clearing the queue.
 Stage 4 – Interference Checking

The Structural Engineer to the MEP Engineer

1. The MEP Engineer will receive the new updated structural model.
2. It will want to be saved in the location of the previous version.
3. The MEP model will then be opened.
4. The MEP Engineer will access Tools>Interference Check>Run Check.
5. In the Interference Check dialog, the user can choose objects from the Current Project
and compare them to that of a linked project.

6. The Interference Report dialog will display all instances of conflict.

7. These items can be revealed in any available views by Revit. One by one, they can be
addressed.
8. The report can be refreshed to see if the conflicts were resolved through
Tools>Interference Check> Show Last Report.
9. The goal is the message below.

This process continues over and over. Each discipline can function as a united team to
deliver the full building information model.

OWNER

BUILDING
INFORMATION
BUILDER ARCHITECT
MODELING

MEP STRUCTURAL
ENGINEERS ENGINEERS