AUGIWorld Magazine - January/February 2008 - (Page 24) REVIT STRUCTURE A Bridge Too Far? mally processed in AutoCAD® Civil 3D® or other .DGN application. In Revit Structure, we can import that data based on vector information, or a points file provided by a GPS survey. You will need to make some levels beforehand. If the datum is incorrect, you can always relocate the project based on the imported data. I like to have that information first, but sometimes I ask for too much. To do this, go to File > Import / Link > CAD Formats. You can then browse to the CAD file. To add a topographical surface to this import, go to the site tab on the design toolbar. Click on the toposurface button. In the sketch mode select use imported. You can either use an imported instance (the CAD file) or a points file. You can then select the layers available in the CAD file, or you will browse for a points (.csv) file. Locating the project Is it too much to ask? Is building a bridge in Revit® Structure going too far? Or is Revit Structure the perfect application? Let’s break it down—what is the different between a bridge and a building anyway? Steel and reinforced concrete are still the structural materials. We still need to analyze for allowable deflection and allowable stress. Gravity is still gravity. Snow is still snow. Lateral forces, live loads, seismic and uplift are stronger considerations, but are analyzed in the same manner. Actually the biggest difference is the fact that the structural elements are not only the supporting skeleton, but are the aesthetic portion as well. Hey, I know a perfect application for that! Using Revit Structure for buildings is powerful in its own right, but normally, the architectural components are not utilized. When you design a bridge, every aspect of RST is utilized from the basic structural modeling tools to rendering. Foundations and piers can be located by either a grid system or by coordinate location. Or, of course, a combination of the two. The first consideration, however, is datum. Once the site is in the model, we will need to start placing elevations. Typically the default is 0'-0". Right at sea level. In an elevation, go to: Tools > Project Position / Orientation > Site Here’s a design toolbar that does not see much activity in Revit Structure for bridges. Normally the building process is to start with an architectural background, an AutoCAD® architectural background. With bridge design, the process is started with topographical data. That data is nor24 w w w. A U G I . c o m http://www.AUGI.com
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