Linking Models

[rhinz]

I am working on a convention center expansion. There are several large areas of work on opposite sides of a large site. We have modeled the existing building and have been modeling all the new work in the same model. My fear is that the size of the model is going to be astronomical as development continues. My thought is to break areas of work into separate models and link them into a main model that we could use to generate schedules and export base drawings at dwg. files to consultants. Other coworkers have had problems with file size, tagging, and crashes when linking models. We are currently using Revit 9.1 and I would like to know what other people's experience have been linking files and any advice on what I should do to start the process and any things to avoid.

[dgreen.49364]

One of the problems I recently ran into with breaking up the model and linking, was demolition to the existing building. We broke out the existing building and linked it into the new model. There was demolition involved in the existing building, but Revit does not have a way for you to recognize and switch phases of a linked model for, say, demolition, and make that part of the current model's demolition. One of those little things that wasn't thought out beforehand that caused grief later.

The biggest problem we have run into with linking has been phasing. If you are using phases, think it out well.

[twiceroadsfool]

If you decide to go the route of linked models, you will simply need to have demolition views set up in the "New Construction" Phase of the existing model. Then, you can go to the VG of the floor plan in the "New" model, and link the display to the view of the existing model.

IMHO however, its putting up a barricade that isnt necessary. If its a large campus and there isnt a delicate connection between the two areas that is also getting work done, i would consider breaking it in to 2 models... By area, not by existing versus new. That is just my opinion, however.

We have a mall that is roughly 900,000 SF of demolition and renovation, with some new construction mixed in. Some existing structural, some new, some renovation, etc. Its broken up in to 3 models (based on building, and based on Financing package) and we dont have TOO many troubles with it.

The biggest trouble we have is with our most complex model. Its the largest aspect of the project (2 Phases of demo and new work, 1 existing building turning in to 10 smaller buildings), plus all the tenant leasing packages (about 6 sheets each) for around 90 tenants are also in the same model. The central file is hovering around 200MB. The only troubles we have are computers running our of Memory during STC. Inplemented the 3GB switch on the workstations seems to have cured this... That, and keeping all of our users using Worksets to their advantage (IE not loading all 10 buildings if you dont need them...).

All in all its going well. Good luck, hope this helps!