Autodesk Revit is building information modeling (BIM) software for Windows, used to design buildings and produce architectural, structural, and building-services documentation. Its plans, sections, three-dimensional views, and schedules draw information from the same building model. A change to that model can therefore carry through the related drawings and data, rather than requiring each representation to be edited separately.
Revit is offered through paid licensing, with a trial available for evaluation.
Building elements
Revit models a building with elements such as walls, doors, windows, stairs, and structural components. These elements belong to families that define their geometry and adjustable properties. Users can place existing components or define custom families when a project needs a particular shape or level of detail.
Type properties control characteristics shared by every instance of a particular type, while instance properties control individual placements. For a window, dimensions can belong to its type while its height above a level belongs to the individual instance. Changing a type updates all instances of that type; changing an instance property affects the selected placement.
Architectural work can begin with free-form masses and move into parametrically refined geometry. Multistory stairs connect to project levels, and terrain can be modeled with toposolids. Imported point clouds provide a representation of scanned existing conditions, while snapping to three-dimensional points in linked DWG geometry helps align site elements with reference information.
Drawing sets
Each view in Autodesk Revit presents information from the underlying model. The parametric change engine coordinates edits across plans, sections, schedules, and sheets. Schedules provide a tabular presentation of model information alongside the graphical drawings, making project quantities and component data part of the same design process.
Users assemble drawings and schedules onto project sheets, customize title blocks, and manage revisions. AutoCAD file exchange supports drawing handoffs, and sheet sets can be prepared for fabricators, subcontractors, or other project participants. The resulting documentation remains tied to modeled building information during design development.
Structural detailing
Structural tools cover analytical representations as well as physical construction detail. Engineers can develop the analytical representation as the design changes, exchange information with analysis workflows, and bring results back into the BIM process.
For concrete structures, Revit creates three-dimensional reinforcement designs for cast-in-place and precast work. Rebar schedules and reinforcement shop drawings turn that detailing into fabrication documentation. Steel modeling includes parametric connections and custom connection definitions, with an Advance Steel connection for workflows that continue into steel fabrication.
Building services
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing tools put building systems into the model. Ducts and pipes use mechanical design content, sanitary layouts can include sloped piping, and electrical tools track loads through the distribution system. Preliminary electrical load calculations can start from an architect’s PDF, DWG, or Revit geometry before electrical equipment has been modeled.
Revit also distinguishes design intent from fabrication detail. Its Design to Fabrication tool converts design-level elements into construction-detail elements, and fabrication components can be coordinated, tagged, and scheduled.
Model coordination
Worksharing allows several people to work on different parts of one Revit project through a central model. Team members make changes in local copies and synchronize their work with the shared model. Linked models address a different organization of the project: separate buildings or disciplines retain individually managed files that are brought together for coordination. Worksharing can also be used within those linked models.
Autodesk Revit can bring in a Navisworks coordination model when other teams use different software. BIM and CAD exchange includes formats such as IFC, with the available import, export, and linking operations depending on the format.
Energy, daylight and carbon analysis
The Insight connection uses building performance data and simulation engines to assess daylight, whole-building energy, and heating and cooling loads. An energy analytical model can also be brought into Insight to examine carbon impacts and compare reduction scenarios.
Visualization
Revit’s visual styles and rendering engine provide ways to examine and present the model. The Twinmotion connection synchronizes design data into a separate visualization environment for scenes and animations.
Automating Revit with Dynamo and the API
Dynamo for Revit supplies a graphical programming interface for automating BIM workflows. Users build visual graphs to express operations on model information rather than carrying out every action manually. Developers can also use the Revit API to automate tasks, extend application functions, and create custom design or modeling workflows.
