Simple AEC Workflow: Site Context and Building Design Collaboration

This workflow outlines a basic process for an Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) firm to leverage Autodesk Civil 3D for site modeling, Revit for building design, and Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) for collaboration and data management.

Goal: To efficiently create a building design within its accurate topographical site context and facilitate collaborative review.

Software Utilized:

  • Autodesk Civil 3D: For creating and managing site survey data, topography, and existing conditions.
  • Autodesk Revit: For developing the architectural or structural building model.
  • Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC): For cloud-based file sharing, version control, model viewing, and collaborative review. (Additional item: Desktop Connector and BIM Collaborate Pro)

Workflow Steps:

  1. Site Modeling in Civil 3D:

    • Input: Begin with survey data (e.g., point clouds, .dwg files with survey points, or field book data).
    • Action (Civil 3D):
      • Import the survey data to create a surface representing the existing site topography.
      • Define property boundaries, existing utilities, and any other relevant site features.
      • Prepare a simplified surface or a relevant portion of the site model specifically for export to Revit. This might involve cleaning up unnecessary details to keep the linked file manageable.
    • Output: A 3D surface model of the site (typically saved as a .dwg file or published to ACC).

  2. Linking Site Context into Revit:

    • Action (Civil 3D & ACC/Shared Network):
      • Save the Civil 3D drawing containing the surface.
      • For cloud collaboration, upload the Civil 3D drawing to a designated project folder in Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC Docs). Alternatively, ensure the file is accessible on a shared network drive if not using ACC for this specific step yet.
    • Action (Revit):
      • Open or create a new Revit project for the building design.
      • Go to the “Insert” tab and choose “Link Topography” (if using a direct link for newer versions) or “Link CAD” (to link the .dwg file).
      • Navigate to the location of the saved Civil 3D surface model (either on ACC via Autodesk Desktop Connector or the shared network drive).
      • Position the linked topography accurately within the Revit project using shared coordinates if established, or by manual alignment.
    • Output: The Revit model now displays the 3D site topography, providing context for the building design.

  3. Building Design in Revit:

    • Action (Revit):
      • Design the building model (walls, floors, roof, etc.) directly on or in relation to the linked site topography.
      • Utilize the site context to inform design decisions such as building placement, foundation design, and views.
    • Output: A 3D BIM model of the building situated within its site context.

  4. Cloud Collaboration and Review in Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC):

    • Action (Revit & ACC):
      • Regularly save the Revit model.
      • Publish the Revit model to the same project in Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC Docs). ACC can manage versions of the model.
      • If the Civil 3D site model was updated, ensure the latest version is also published to ACC and the link in Revit is updated.
    • Action (ACC):
      • Model Aggregation & Viewing: Project stakeholders (architects, engineers, project managers) can access and view the latest Revit model (and the Civil 3D site model if published separately) directly in their web browser using ACC Model Viewer. They do not necessarily need Revit or Civil 3D installed.
      • Markup & Issues: Team members can use ACC’s markup tools to add comments, create issues, and assign tasks directly on the 3D models or 2D sheets derived from them.
      • Design Review: Conduct formal or informal design reviews using the models hosted in ACC, tracking feedback and resolutions.
    • Output: Enhanced collaboration, centralized data, version control, and streamlined review processes for the integrated building and site design.

Benefits of this Workflow:

  • Contextual Design: Ensures the building is designed with accurate site information from the outset.
  • Improved Coordination: Facilitates early identification of potential clashes or design issues between the building and the site.
  • Centralized Data: ACC provides a single source of truth for project models and related documentation.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Enables stakeholders, regardless of their location or software access, to participate in the review process.
  • Version Control: ACC tracks model revisions, reducing confusion and ensuring everyone is working with the latest information.

This simple workflow provides a foundational structure for integrating these powerful Autodesk tools, leading to more efficient and better-coordinated AEC projects. It can be expanded with more advanced features of each platform as the team’s needs and expertise grow.

Streamlined Site and Building Design Workflow for AEC Firms Using Autodesk ACC, Revit, and Civil 3D

AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) firms can leverage the powerful capabilities of Autodesk’s Civil 3D, Revit, and Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) to create a simple yet effective workflow for projects involving site design and building placement. This process facilitates collaboration, ensures data consistency, and centralizes project information.

This basic workflow focuses on establishing the existing site conditions, designing a building in context, and sharing the integrated model for review through a cloud-based platform.

Here’s a step-by-step simple workflow:

Phase 1: Site Modeling and Preparation (Civil 3D & ACC)

  1. Create Existing Site Topography (Civil 3D):

    • The civil engineer uses Civil 3D to create a detailed 3D model of the existing site topography. This can be generated from survey data, point clouds, or other relevant sources.
    • Key elements like property boundaries, existing utilities, and major topographical features are defined.

  2. Publish Surface to Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) (Civil 3D & ACC):

    • Once the surface model is complete and accurate, the civil engineer publishes the relevant surfaces (e.g., existing ground) directly from Civil 3D to a designated project folder within Autodesk Construction Cloud (specifically, Autodesk Docs, which is the document management module of ACC).
    • This makes the topography data accessible to other project stakeholders in a centralized cloud environment. Autodesk Desktop Connector facilitates this process.

Phase 2: Building Design in Context (Revit & ACC)

  1. Link Topography into Revit (Revit & ACC):

    • The architect or architectural technologist working in Revit links the published Civil 3D topography from Autodesk Docs into their Revit project.
    • Shared coordinates should be established and utilized to ensure the topography and the subsequent building model are correctly geolocated and aligned. This provides the essential site context for the building design.

  2. Building Information Modeling (Revit):

    • With the site topography in place, the architectural team designs the building in Revit. This involves creating the building model with walls, floors, roofs, doors, windows, and other elements.
    • The linked topography allows designers to visualize how the building interacts with the site, considering aspects like access, views, and landscape integration from an early stage.

Phase 3: Model Sharing and Collaborative Review (Revit & ACC)

  1. Share/Publish Revit Model to ACC (Revit & ACC):

    • As the building design progresses or reaches key milestones, the Revit model (including the linked site topography) is published or uploaded to the same Autodesk Construction Cloud project.
    • If collaborative design within Revit is required (multiple users working on the same central model), Revit Cloud Worksharing (part of BIM Collaborate Pro, which utilizes ACC) can be used to host the central model in the cloud. For simpler sharing, direct uploads to Autodesk Docs are sufficient.

  2. Integrated Design Review (ACC):

    • Project stakeholders (e.g., project managers, engineers from other disciplines, clients) can now access both the Civil 3D site data and the Revit building model within Autodesk Construction Cloud.
    • ACC’s viewing capabilities allow users to navigate the combined model, section it, and take measurements without needing the authoring software.
    • Utilize ACC’s Design Review functionalities (often part of Autodesk Docs or BIM Collaborate) to create markups, add comments, and assign issues related to the design. This fosters a collaborative review process, ensuring all feedback is captured and tracked in a central location.

Benefits of this Workflow:

  • Improved Accuracy: Linking data directly between Civil 3D and Revit via ACC minimizes data translation errors and ensures the building is designed with accurate site context.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: ACC provides a common data environment (CDE) where all project members can access the latest information, facilitating better communication and decision-making.
  • Centralized Information: Project models and related documentation are stored in one accessible cloud location.
  • Streamlined Reviews: ACC’s design review tools enable efficient and trackable feedback on the integrated models.
  • Early Insights: Visualizing the building on the actual site topography early in the design process helps identify potential issues and opportunities.

This simple workflow serves as a foundational process that can be expanded with more advanced features of the Autodesk ecosystem as project complexity and team requirements grow. For instance, further steps could include clash detection in Navisworks (often accessed via ACC) or more detailed model coordination between disciplines using BIM Collaborate Pro.

Hopefully these steps have helped give you a simplified way to start your collaborative workflows utilizing the Autodesk AEC Collection and the ACC.

If you have any questions or for more information please feel free to reach out to us.