How to visualize Spaces in a 3D-view within Revit

May 7, 2017
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Did you have ever had the need to visualize Spaces in 3D-views within Revit? Here is how to do it with Dynamo.

With plain Revit it is not possible to show a Space in a 3D-view or an Elevation, but with the use of Dynamo it is actually possible to arrange this.

Basically there are three options to transform Dynamo geometry to Revit geometry. Transformation is possible with the use of one of the following options:
– Direct Shape;
– Import Symbols;
– Family Instances.

Besides transformation of geometry, this blog also refers how to add (custom) parameters to the imported geometry in Revit.

Option 1: Direct Shape

Direct Shape creates a mesh from the geometry of a Space. The created object also contains all parameters (without data) from the Space.

Hereby you find the example script and project:

When you run the script and go to View ‘3D – Direct Shape’ you will see the following:

The example script can be used on every project you can think of. Just open it with Dynamo and click Run.

The example script also shows how to write data to the object parameters with the function ‘Element.SetParameterByName’:

 

Option 2: Import Symbols

The use of Import Symbols is the fastest way to transform Dynamo geometry to Revit. But with Import Symbols it is not possible to add (custom) parameters.

Hereby you find the example script and project:

When you run the script and go to View ‘3D – Import Symbols’ you will see the following:

 

Option 3: Family Instances

The most customizable option is to create the Revit Geometry using a Generic Family. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work as expected (often due to the complexity of Spaces or not fully enclosed Spaces).

Hereby you find the example script, Family and project:

To use the script you will have to add the node ‘Springs.FamilyInstance.ByGeometry’ (search for ‘spring nodes’) from the Package Manager to your Library. Second, don’t forget to point to the right location for the Generic Family. Dynamo needs this to create the Generic Models.

When you run the script and go to View ‘3D – Spaces’ you will see the following:

As mentioned and as you can see for this project not every Space is visualised correctly.

If you would like to add custom parameters to the created Generic Models (and fill them with data from the Spaces) you will have to edit the standard Family Template for Generic Families. Note: after changes you’ll have to save the Family as .rfa, change this afterwards to .rft.

If you are really interested you can find another example here. In this example data from multiple parameters with information about the heating of a Space are added to the Generic Models.

Thanks for reading!

 

Further reading: