Interscale Content Hub – Do you know how to share Revit model in BIM 360? This is a big issue for newcomers to the AutoDesk ecosystem.
As we know, Autodesk Revit is a powerful Building Information Modeling (BIM) software used a lot in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.
On the other hand, BIM 360 is now part of the Autodesk Construction Cloud. It’s a cloud-based platform that helps project teams work together, so they can share and manage models and data easily.
Sharing Revit models in BIM 360 makes workflows easier, helps teams coordinate projects better, and reduces errors, which all helps improve overall project efficiency.
So, let’s find out how and what we need to do in collaboration with the AutoDesk ecosystem.
But first, to get a broader perspective, kindly read “What is BIM in Revit? Or Revit Model Errors Costing You Time & Money?“
Setting Up BIM 360 for Revit Sharing
Before you can share Revit models, you’ve got to get your BIM 360 environment set up right.
This process includes setting up projects, defining teams, and assigning permissions. Here’s a detailed rundown of what you need to do:
First, make sure your company has a BIM 360 account. If you don’t have one, you can create it on the Autodesk website.
Once you’re in, you can start a new project in the BIM 360 Document Management module. Just go to this module and click on “Create Project” to get started.
Next, it’s important to assign roles and permissions to team members so you can control who has access to the models and documents in the project.
Project administrators can decide who can view, edit, or manage shared models by setting specific permissions.
For instance, team members who are reviewing the models should have at least view or download permissions for the necessary folders. This way, they’ll have the access they need without compromising the integrity of the models.
Now for the big moment: installing the BIM 360 add-in for Revit. This add-in connects Revit with BIM 360, making it easy to share and work on projects together.
It makes sure any changes made in Revit are reflected in BIM 360, so the model stays consistent across the project team.
Another thing is to set up a clear structure and folder hierarchy for the project in BIM 360. This helps you manage shared models more efficiently, so everyone can find what they need easily.
Preparing Your Revit Model for Sharing
Before you share your Revit model, you’ve got to make sure it’s ready to go. Otherwise, it could cause problems when it comes to working together.
Start by checking for any warnings or errors within the model. If you can resolve these issues, you can avoid any conflicts or data loss during the sharing process.
Also, it’s a good idea to link any external files that are referenced in your Revit model. This makes sure that everyone working on the project has access to the most recent versions of the linked files, which helps to keep everything consistent and coordinated.
It’s important to clean up the model. Get rid of any unnecessary data and make sure the model is well-organized.
This also means getting rid of any unused elements, which makes the model smaller and faster to use.
It’s also a good idea to stick to the same naming conventions so that team members don’t get confused.
Another important thing to do is set up work sharing in Revit. To get started with worksharing, just go to the “Collaborate” tab and select “Worksets.”
This lets multiple users work on the model at once, which makes collaboration easier.
Finally, save your model locally and then create a central model by saving it to a central location on your server. This central model will be the one uploaded to BIM 360, so everyone on the team will be working with the most up-to-date version.
How to Share the Revit Model in BIM 360
There are lots of ways to share Revit models in BIM 360, depending on what you need.
Revit Cloud Worksharing is a pretty popular way of working, allowing multiple users to work on the same model at the same time.
This way, any changes you make are automatically saved to the cloud, so everyone on the team can see the latest version of the model.
With Revit Cloud Worksharing, teams can work together more efficiently and avoid version conflicts.
Another way to share Revit models is through the “Publish” feature. This feature lets you create a snapshot of the model, which you can then share with stakeholders who don’t need to edit the model directly.
This is great for sharing design milestones or specific iterations with clients or team members who only need to view the model.
Another way to share models is to consume them from packages.
First, you publish your Revit model to BIM 360 using Cloud Worksharing. Then, in the Design Collaboration module, you just create a package and share it with other teams.
The teams can then just consume the shared models and link them to their projects from the Consumed folder in the Document Management module.
Another way to share is by linking from the Shared folder. Once you’ve published your model to the BIM 360 Shared folder via Cloud Worksharing, you can create a package in the Design Collaboration module and share it.
Teams can just go straight to the model in the Shared folder, so they’ll always have the latest updates.
This method is great for keeping everyone on the same page across different teams.
With live linking, you add all the team members you need to your team folder in the Design Collaboration module.
Just make sure these folks have at least view or download permissions.
By connecting to the live version of the document in the Document Management module, teams can see the latest updates in real-time.
This helps everyone stay on the same page and avoid any hiccups caused by outdated info.
You can also leverage AI (Artificial Intelligence) to help you be more practical. That’s why, we also encourage you to read “Advancing BIM with AI: The Next Frontier.”
How to Share Files in BIM 360
Sharing files in BIM 360 is a breeze, and you can use all kinds of files, like Revit models, PDFs, images, and other project documents.
To share files, just find the project folder in the BIM 360 interface where the files are stored.
BIM 360 lets you share files with individual users, teams, or external collaborators by creating shareable links or sending email invitations.
This means that everyone involved in the project can access the files they need, which makes collaboration easier.
First, just upload your files to the Document Management module by selecting the right project and using the upload feature.
You can upload all kinds of files, like PDFs, DWG files, and more. This makes it easy for your team to access your project documents.
Next, you can set permissions for each file or folder to control access. It’s important to make sure you assign the right permissions, so that only the right people can view or edit the files.
You can also generate links that others can use to access your files and folders.
This feature is great for giving external stakeholders who don’t have a BIM 360 account access to your files.
You can also set access levels and optional passwords for these links to control who can access them.
If you need more detailed instructions, kindly read the AutoDesk 360 Help page. The detailed steps can really help you spot the weak spots in your process.
Another option is to use Interscale. At Interscale, we offer custom BIM solutions to help you get the most out of Revit in your BIM 360 projects.
Our BIM experts ensure your models are shared effectively and managed strategically.
At Interscale, we’re here to support you with your company’s model management, coordination, and consultancy.
We make sure your Revit models are used to their fullest potential within the BIM 360 environment, which is a big step toward your business profit.
To get the lowdown on how we can help you, do a background check. For the initial phase, read more on the Interscale BIM management service page.
Conclusion
If you want to get the most out of BIM 360, sharing Revit models is a must. It’s the best way to collaborate on modern projects in the AEC industry.
Preparing your models and understanding the different ways you can share them, such as Revit Cloud Worksharing and “Publish,” is the best way to ensure smooth operation.
You can also leverage the expertise of experienced BIM service providers like Interscale to help you optimize how to share Revit models in BIM 360.
