Revit export to Tri_Service Cad Standard?

[hon.90086]

Need help with export files to Tri-Service Cad Standards for Dod work.
When I go in the Export Setting/ Export Layer Dwg,

Revit gives you the option to change the Layer name, and Color ID.

When you export a model to dwg, revit assigns the color ID to the layer, but also assigns a pen thickness to each layer that does not corresponds with the color ID. Example "revit export.jpg"(attached) the layers using the yellow color has different line thickness associated with them.
Revit does translate the line weight when it exports, but where is that setting?
In the Tri-Service CAD Standard the color defines the line thickness.
Our issue is that currently any Department of Defense (DoD) work that we do must be deliver in Autocad format in Tri-Service Standard (or in some cases National Cad Standard). Also our consultants need a Autocad format to work off of.
Have you run into this issue before with other firms?
This issue is all DoD work.
Has some one developed an export template or txt file for this?
Please help, we want to use Revit for all our work if possible.
hon
hon@onyxgroup.com

[sbrown]

I highly recommend you explain to the client you are using Revit and they cannot expect the exports to be what they would expect to get from autocad. It is not possible to export an entire set of documents and have anyone believe they were created in autocad. Revit exports excellently for consultant backgrounds, not record sets or printable sets. You will be setting yourself up for some serious cleanup time if you try to pass revit exports off as acad created documents.

If autocad delieverables are in the contract I would have to say you use autocad to create those delieverables.

[bclarch]

I highly recommend you explain to the client you are using Revit and they cannot expect the exports to be what they would expect to get from autocad.
Scott,
Is there a smiley missing from your post? Do you really think that the Department of Defense is really going to alter their standards just because one designer explains things to them nicely and logically? :)

Hon,
I would contact Autodesk directly and ask support for some help on this issue. They are bound to have in-house people who have dealt with these standards from the Autocad side. Perhaps the Revit support team could make some connections within the company to sort things out for you.

[hand471037]

If autocad delieverables are in the contract I would have to say you use autocad to create those delieverables.

Or, at least use AutoCAD as a 'filter' prior to submittal.

When folks were still hand-drafting, but had to submit CAD files, they would sometimes have a third party redraw everything in CAD.

At least now you don't have to redraw anything, however. I would think that if you did the work in Revit, and then exported it to AutoCAD, and then had some LISP and/or CAD Standards tool process to make the final conversion to the proper AutoCAD standard that you could make this work.

[sbrown]

I don't expect the DOD to change there standards, but I can 99% guarantee they won't be satisfied with the exports they get from Revit, so I'm just saying someone needs to be open about what you want to do and if they agree great, if not then either you will have to rebuild your document set in autocad after the export(which is no fun) recognize autocad users are used to projects being set up a certain way and its not the way revit exports), or not do the project in revit. Recognize I'm not trying to beat revit up about this, I hate them spending time making revit act like or export like dwg, unfortunately in this transition period from 2d data to BIM. There are issues like this that need to be dealt with.

[James.Lupton]

Or, at least use AutoCAD as a 'filter' prior to submittal.

When folks were still hand-drafting, but had to submit CAD files, they would sometimes have a third party redraw everything in CAD.


Isn't it weird that the transfer from Board to AutoCAD was a case of people wanting the new technology but not having to team to deliver.

This is the opposite of the change to BIM from CAD. We are all being asked to convert back to the old technology which people still want rather than move forward with the new technology which can deliver so much more.

This is the equivalent of when cars were first introduced here in the UK where a man with a red flag had to walk in front of the car to warn others that it was travelling in their direction. This slowed down the progress of modern transportation for years before someone realized that the car had much more potential if it was allowed to travel as speeds in excess of walking pace.

Why is the same effort not being put in by Autodesk to convince the end customer that they should be demanding a BIM? Is it because, the drawing board which Revit is competing against is their own product AutoCAD

Come on guys lets get rid of the red flag and start motoring.

[Scott D Davis]

What the DoD does not understand, is that a RVT file will give them so much more of a 'digital' model than "dumb" 2D DWG files.

They can run Revit in Demo mode as a viewer, and access ALL the data in the model. DWG files are the 'standard' now, but things need to start changing.....

[Joef]

Let's go out on a limb here and say that the DoD has a lot of drawings to look after. Letting anyone with a convincing argument deliver drawings in their native format would lead to chaos. Ever try to find a 15 year old copy of Generic CAD just so you can open up a bunch of drawings you need? I've been there and understand what the DoD is trying to do.

[hand471037]

Why is the same effort not being put in by Autodesk to convince the end customer that they should be demanding a BIM? Is it because, the drawing board which Revit is competing against is their own product AutoCAD

Oh no, Autodesk are talking to these people as to why they would want a BIM solution. The GSA is already starting to listen, and is looking at how they might accept BIM models instead of flat CAD drawings.

You can also bet that Autodesk is well aware of the DoD. Along with the GSA they are one of the biggest 'clients' out there, so they certainly want them to be able to accept things made with Autodesk tools, and if they can convince them that they want a BIM model, well, that's now something new that Autodesk can sell to all those 'flatlanders' still just using AutoCAD. So I don't see anything here where Autodesk is trying to hold things back.

However, these changes are going to happen slowly at first, for unless there is a real pressure from within the DoD won't change, even if the technology is 'better' or delvers more. It comes back to a real business need. I mean, the *Primary* reason that the GSA is looking to BIM is first to minimize change orders (which are a huge problem for all their projects), and *then* maybe use the BIM information for other things later...

So I know it's frustrating, I'm not saying that. But it's gonna be a while before things change. At least Autodesk is trying to talk a semi-neutral solution (DWF) and the GSA is talking about a totally neutral solution (IFC's), so in the future we shouldn't get left 'out in the cold'.

[hon.90086]

Thanks guys, but none of this info is going to help us with this project currently.
DoD is our primary client. We must follow there requirements per Scope of Work.
Is there any other A/E firms out there doing DoD work and has dealt with this issue?
the best work around i heard so for is the LISP writing to convert after export, however it would be a gigantic undertaking and computer programing is not in my talent pool.
Has anyone done some like this already for tri-Service Standard?
thanks,
Hon

[Scott D Davis]

The BEST thing for you to do is contact Revit support, and see what they can do to help you out. (And then post back here with what you've learned!)

[Steve_Stafford]

...Thanks guys, but none of this info is going to help us with this project currently...When you export normal views of a Revit project, meaning plan, elevation, section etc. you will get objects on layers and those objects will assume the color of the layers. The thickness is the on screen display of lineweights which many AutoCAD users disdain anyway. Does the DOD require a 3D export of the model as well? I was under the impression that they were just concerned with traditional views and not 3D.

Again, I don't believe you need to be concerned with the lineweight value because color and layer take precendence in AutoCAD anyway. I don't think the DOD has adopted STB's right? I may be misunderstanding the issue and for that I'm sorry if so.