How to Convert CAD Topographic Maps into Revit Terrain Surface Models
Creating a terrain surface model in Revit can be achieved by using CAD topographic maps. However, the essential requirement is that the CAD terrain includes contour lines with their respective elevation data. Follow these steps to complete the process:
1. Use the ribbon command Insert > Link CAD to link the CAD topographic map into Revit. It is generally recommended to use the Link CAD option instead of Import CAD, because once the terrain surface is created, the CAD map becomes unnecessary and can be quite large. Linking allows you to easily unload the file later, saving computer resources.
2. Navigate to Volume and Terrain > Terrain Surface > Modify | Edit Surface > Create by Import > Select Guided Instance. Then, select the linked CAD topographic map in the drawing area. If you cannot see the imported CAD map in the current view, it may be due to the view range settings. You can adjust the cut plane height of the view range, or simply switch to a Site view in the Project Browser to display the linked CAD map, as shown in the figure.
3. If the original topographic map is large, Revit might take some time to process the data. Once the computation is complete, click the green checkmark icon (√) on the map to finalize the terrain surface creation. The resulting 3D terrain surface model will be displayed, as illustrated.
Related Skills:
How to Convert CAD Drawings into Photoshop Editable Format
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