Big Projects too large for Revit

[neb1998]

The toughest project I've done in revit from a performance standpoint was a 4000sf gatehouse. It is very ornate with lots of sweeps and complex ballusters, stone details. Typically the bigger the project, the more efficient the systems so they are actually easier to work with than highend homes and complex small jobs.

On these types of jobs have you ever considered only modeling the sides of the buildings required for 3d modeling or saving the CD file into a new file thats meant for rendering except stripping everything out of the model except the exterior?

I havent tried yet but even wondered about a way to just link out the exterior walls of a building (with windows doors, etc) into a file specifically setup for modeling,site, and rendering purposes.

I have a few jobs starting that i may try to see if this is possible.

[fmihelcic]

Wes Macaulay
Disable wall joins between groups should improve performance but you are correct, floor plans would end up with heavy lines between the walls in each group. Unfortunately there is not a global setting to turn the wall join on and off. I'm hoping to find a solution that will satisfy performance as well as construction intent. Our concept of using groups in Revit as one would use blocks in AutoCAD is incorrect. Let me know if you have other ideas on this issue.

Wanderer

Yes we are having some issues with performance however Revit is generating and updating various schedules. With the number of sheets in the deliverable set we know the various floor plans, sections and elevations are all updated at the same time. No more having a wall moved in a floor plan and forgetting to make the change in an elevation or section. We also have used the model to generate some nice 3d renderings and animations for client presentations.
I found some good information using the similar threads link but nothing for the groups issue.

[Paul P.]

Wes, once you have disabled the wall joins if you join the geometry you don't get the line, unless I'm not understanding what you mean.

fmihelcic, you only have to disable the wall joins once in each of the group types not in every copy of the group.

Regards, Paul.

[Wes Macaulay]

That's true, Paul, but if you have a large number of groups, that could get to be a lot of time spent joining geometry!

[mschroeder]

There is so much to cover in this topic. Why don't we create a list to start from. I would like to hear more sides of the story, and details about do's and dont's.

Here's my 2cents.

Highrise Residential or Multi Unit Projects (200+ units)


Workflow:

1. Local save every half hour or so.
2. STC (save to central) every hour.
3. Stagger STC's to prevent central file lockout.
4. Open a simple drafting view and close hidden windows before saving.
5. Create new local every couple days by copying the central file instead of opening and "save as".

Worksets:

1. Few large functional worksets (e.g. Shell, Core, Interior, Units, Levels & Grids, Linked Models, Hidden Stuff)
2. Have users "Specify" worksets to open when opening local file.
3. In CD's have users bulk check out VIEW worksets they will be editing. Prevents Revit from asking to borrow every single line segment, tag you touch.
4. Do not allow users to "make editable" user created worksets.

Groups:

1. "Disallow Join" on the end of walls within a group that touch walls outside of group.
2. Do not include exterior shell walls in unit groups.
3. Set wall height to unconnected not level above.
4. Do not use model lines in groups.
5. Do not nest groups within your unit groups.
6. Do not include furniture or 3D counters, cabinets or ceilings in groups.
7. Ensure that groups base point is on a known location (grid intersection) and not vertically offset.
8. Avoid placing groups "on top" of other groups. This can and does happen frequently with large projects. You can usually detect them when your wall joins don't look right.

File Linking:

1. Separate Site model and link with shared coordinates.
2. Separate Structure model and link with shared coordinates.
3. Separate distinct buildings if they are to be part of a separate deliverable.
4. Link Models on a "Linked Models" or similar workset, so you can selectively load them without disturbing everyone else.

Hardware:

1. 4GB RAM - enable 3GB switch.
2. 3+ Ghz
3. Graphics - not an issue when you disable openGL.

Revit Settings:

1. Settings>Options...> Disable OpenGL, Enable Overlay planes
2. ..

[Elrond]

There is so much to cover in this topic. Why don't we create a list to start from. I would like to hear more sides of the story, and details about do's and dont's.

Here's my 2cents.

Highrise Residential or Multi Unit Projects (200+ units)

Wow very clear and useful guidelines! Thanks for sharing those!