Toposurface in Revit is defined as a 3D topographical surface created using points or by using an imported dataset.

In this tutorial, you will learn to,

• Create a toposurface by points
• Create a toposurface with DWG import
• Create a subregion
• Split and Merge toposurfaces
• Create a graded region
• Label Contour Lines
• Site Settings

Create a Toposurface by Points

Step by Step Guide: Create a toposurface by placing points

Learn about creating a toposurface by defining points in this video tutorial – by Autodesk

Create a Toposurface with Points File:

Sometimes, you receive a points data file from the Site Surveyor using which you may like to create a topographical surface in Revit. Before importing the points file, please ensure that your imported file matches the following requirements:

• The points file must be in a comma-delimited file format (a CSV or TXT file).
• The file must contain x, y, and z coordinate numbers as the first numeric values in the file.
• Any additional numeric information for a point must occur after the x, y, and z coordinate values.

Step by Step Guide: Create a Toposurface with a Points File

Create Topsurface from DWG file

Most surveyors or site engineers use CAD to collect the data points for the topography survey. If you have received a DWG file that you would like to import in Revit and create your toposurface, you can use the tutorial below.

Step by Step Guide: Create a toposurface from an imported CAD file

Learn about how to create a toposurface from a DWG file with this Video Tutorial – by Autodesk. Although, this tutorial is created using Revit 2011 version, the method shown here is also applicable to other Revit versions 2011 and above.

Learn about how to grab real world geo-location sites from SketchUp, convert them to DWG and bring them to Revit using this video tutorial – by HowNowVideos

Create subregions in Toposurface

If you would like to mark up an area on your toposurface that contains a different material such as green spot of grass, parking lot, road, etc, you can create a subregion. A subregion adapts to the contours of the toposurface and is dependent on it. Thus, if you delete the toposurface, the subregion also gets deleted.

Step by Step Guide: Create a Toposurface Subregion

Learn about how to create subregion on the toposurface using this Video Tutorial – by Autodesk

Split and Merge Toposurfaces

If you would like to split your toposurface in two independent surface and then edit them separately, you can use Split Surface tool. Use Merge tool to join two surfaces into one.

Step by Step Guide:

• Split a Toposurface
• Merge Toposurfaces

Learn about the difference between Split Surface and Subregion with this Video Tutorial – by emanuel Kantbronce

Learn about how to merge two toposurface with this Video Tutorial – by John Bordeau

Create a Graded Region

Graded regions are created when you want to compare your original toposurface with the proposed site design. Revit will mark the existing surface as demolished phase and a copy of it will be created as a new surface in the current phase for you to work on the proposed site design. You can later compare these two surfaces to calculate total cut/fill volumes.

Step by Step Guide: Create a Graded Region

Learn how to create a graded region with this video tutorial – by Autodesk

Report Cut/Fill Volumes

Revit can report cut and fill volumes on a site by comparing two surfaces from different phases. Creating a graded region is a helpful tool to create a copy of the toposurface in the current phase and work on the proposed site development which can then be compared with the original toposurface.

Step by Step Guide:

• View the Cut/Fill Volumes
• About Cut and Fill in a Schedule
• About Cut and Fill Reporting with Building Pads

Learn about how to calculate cut/fill volumes with this video tutorial – by Autodesk

Property Line

Use property lines to mark the area of your property on Site. Property lines automatically calculate the area of the property and can be tagged, scheduled as well as exported. By default, the property lines are visible only on Site plan. To enable its visibility on other view, adjust Visibility Graphics.

Learn how to create a property line by adding distances and bearings from a site survey and add setbacks to the site plan with this video tutorial – by Jonathan Falkinburg

Step by Step Guide:

• Create Property Lines
• Convert Sketched Property Lines to Table-Based Property Lines

Label Contour Lines

You can label the contours to mark the contour elevations.

Step by Step Guide:

• Label Contour Lines
• Modify the Label Line
• Change the Appearance of Contour Line Labels
• Contour Label Type Properties

Site Settings

You can use the Site Settings to control the display of your toposurface and its contour lines.

Step by Step Guide:

• Define Site Settings
• Site Settings Properties

Learn about how to use Site Settings with this Video Tutorial – by Autodesk

Q&A

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