Using Revit in Mining - Coordinate Systems - Revit/Navisworks/AutoCAD

So, I had some discussion with some customers the other day who asked about using Revit in a mining sense.

My normal recommendation would be Plant3D and Advance Steel but with the convergence of Revit and Advance Steel there could be some scenarios where you could use either.

Hence, I thought I would do a little demo on how one could use Revit to a design of mining project.

In this case we will use an example of a couple of transfer stations with conveyors in between them.

First thing we want to do is have a look at the base layout of our mining circuit. Generally we would always have something like this in AutoCAD or at least we did back in my day. A plan view of the actual mine site with transfer stations, conveyors & IP points giving you it's the exact layout of the mine in a real world coordinates. The important thing to remember here is that the DWG would be drawn in real world coordinates, meaning I could use the AutoCAD “ID” command to get the exact northing and easting (Y – Northing & X - Easting in the AutoCAD) of any point for my layout that might need.

Above you can see TS101& Below you can see TS102.

Both with an exact IP point to test the location of our model in Revit.

Take note the grids could be arbitrary in that they could change but the orientation of the structure is the important part.

Our target is to get a model with the grids of our structure aligned square with our screen for modelling and still be able to get 100% accurate read outs of any point in our model. (Giving us N&E of any point)

To start the process off we're going to start a brand new Revit model. Next we will go into the “Manage Links” dialog, at which point we will then attach the AutoCAD file (with the site layout) into our new Revit model. This will align the 0, 0 origin of the world UCS of the AutoCAD file with the “survey point” and “project point” of our new Revit file.

Here you can see the two files aligned.

Next we move the “reference file" to align with the “project Point” and “survey point”

Followed by rotate the graphics so that the grids are square too. (Similar to the images of both buildings above)

Next from the Manage tab and we choose “Acquire Coordinates”

Select the "Reference File" and you will notice the survey point and project point has adjusted.

Note: before the acquisition of the coordinates, above. You can see both survey point and project point in the same location.

Then after the acquisition, below. The survey point has moved back to where the World UCS was in AutoCAD.

Now when you go and “Annotate Spot Coordinate” you can retrieve the actual northing and easting from that point that you select in the model. You end up with the best of both worlds in that you can get the true read out of the location of any point while modelling but at the same time modeling becomes easier because everything is just square

Watch the video below for the whole sequence of steps beginning to end.

I also show how this survey point effect Navisworks & Revit for alignment of models.

Enjoy Stephan

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