Revit offers powerful features such as visualization modeling, 2D/3D model conversion, view association updates, and rendering roaming effects. Its comprehensive and unique capabilities have established Revit as a leading platform in the field of architecture, making it a cornerstone of Building Information Modeling (BIM).
When working with BIM models in Revit, it is essential to understand some professional terminology. Familiarity with these terms provides a foundational understanding of BIM model development using Revit software. Below is a detailed explanation of key concepts including project, template, category, type, instance, family, and elements.
(1) Project: A project is a large database containing all information related to the entire construction project. This includes geometric shapes, construction data, 3D models, components, elevations, section drawings, and more. Modifications are made through project files, where any change in one view automatically updates associated views due to the interlinked data. There is only one project file per project, which ensures a single source of truth and improves design and construction efficiency.
(2) Category: Categories group elements based on the properties of building components, such as doors, windows, columns, structural frames, and stairs.
(3) Template: A template is a standardized project setting that predefines certain parameters to enhance designer efficiency. Designers can customize templates according to their preferences or workflows. Templates vary across disciplines and companies, often containing proprietary families, scales, and styles. Revit templates use the .rte file extension. In China, there is active development of templates conforming to national standards, integrating commonly used families and specifications for general projects.
(4) Type: A type is a property within a family. The same family can have multiple types, each with different parameter values, identification, construction details, and other attributes. For example, a door family may include types with various sizes, materials, or dimension annotations.
(5) Instance: An instance is a specific element placed within a project, representing an actual component with parameterized size and location information. Instances can be viewed in both 2D plans and 3D models. Examples include trees, figures, doors, windows, and roofs.
(6) Family: The concept of family is fundamental in Revit. Families carry parameter information and form the building blocks of a project. A family consists of related element groups and a universal set of parameters. Revit categorizes families into three types: standard families, built-in families, and loadable families.
Standard families are planned for research within a project and can be developed, copied, pasted, and modified internally but cannot be loaded as external files into other projects. Built-in families are created within the current project and cannot be exported as RFA files; they are limited to use within that project. Loadable families, saved as RFA files, are developed using predefined family templates and can be loaded into current or other projects as well as nested within other family templates. Different family templates produce families with distinct functionalities. For example, the “metric regular model” template provides a generic family type, while the “metric mechanical equipment” template is used for support and hanger families, employing nested family research and construction methods.
(7) Elements: Elements are key components in Revit that enhance its flexibility. Their functions are determined by other building information, eliminating the need for manual constraint adjustments. This design allows designers to easily modify and develop models by customizing parametric elements as needed. In Revit, any object related to an engineering project is called an element and includes 3D model objects, reference objects like elevations and grids, as well as annotation objects such as text, symbols, and details.
① Model elements form the physical building model and are divided into main elements and components. Main elements (e.g., walls, roofs) are solid units with limited modifiable parameters, while component elements (e.g., doors, windows, stairs) can be flexibly designed to meet specific needs.
② Datum elements are reference objects used to establish benchmarks in 3D models. They assist in model development and help determine the position of structural entities. Common datum elements include grids, elevations, and reference planes.
③ View elements are divided into annotation and detail elements. Annotation elements include texts or symbols used to represent components or building properties in 2D drawings. Detail elements are two-dimensional drawings that form part of views or sheets, such as detail lines or filled regions. These view elements are not physical parts of the building model but provide explanatory documentation linked to relevant views or drawings.
Author: Pan Hongji, Hebei University of Science and Technology
For learning and communication purposes only. Copyright belongs to the original author. If any infringement occurs, please contact us for removal.
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