Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

Class Description
The goal of this lab is to demonstrate how to integrate AutoCAD Civil
3D with Revit Structure for the purpose of generating a 3D bridge. All
attendees will walk away with hands on knowledge of how to
coordinate between Civil 3D and Revit and also will have created a
bridge with a super elevation that is documented with the use of the
Revit extensions.

About the Speaker:

Shane originated in the steel construction industry as an Engineering
Fabricator, he then took his skills and worked on multiple construction
sites in steel design and construction. Shane then followed his passion
for drafting and achieved a structural drafting position and soon
moved up the ranks on diverse projects types and sizes. Soon
afterwards graduating with the Diploma of Engineering Technology.
Since then Shane has moved into CAD/BIM Management roles in multi
discipline firms applying customization, implementation and training.

Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

Table of Contents
Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit ..................................... 1
Shane Brown, AEC Systems............................................................ 1
Class Description ....................................................................................... 1
About the Speaker: .................................................................................. 1

Overview on Bridge Extension ....................................................... 1

System Requirement ....................................................................... 1
Content of Bridge Extensions......................................................... 2

Bridge Concrete box girder ........................................................... 2

Bridge Concrete slab ...................................................................... 3

Bridge Concrete slab with girders ................................................. 3

Customization of bridge families ...................................................... 3

Documentation ................................................................................... 3

Integration with AutoCAD Civil3D .................................................... 4

Roads and Terrains ............................................................................. 4

Basic design/documentation procedures.................................. 5

Integration between Civil 3D and Revit Structure ..................... 6
1.

Open Civil 3D file ............................................................................. 6

2.

Create new Revit file ...................................................................... 7

3.

Starting Integration .......................................................................... 8

4.

Configuration of corridor................................................................ 9

Create bridge from the imported corridor ............................... 13

1.

Select the corridor and load extension ..................................... 13

2.

Configuration of bridge ................................................................ 14

Multiple corridors import and bridges creation ....................... 19

1.

Integration with Civil 3D ................................................................ 20

2.

Create bridge from corridor ........................................................ 22

Documentation of the created bridges ................................... 25

Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

Customization of bridge families ................................................ 29

1.

Select and modify bridge element ............................................ 29

2.

Tips on Defining/modifying parameters ..................................... 31

3.

Saving the modified bridge element ......................................... 33

Example on creating a new bridge family ......................................... 34

1.

Create family from Revit Structure.............................................. 35

2.

Import the new family into bridge extension ............................ 36

Overview on Bridge Extension

There is a Bridge extension for both Civil3D and Revit Structure. This
session will cover how to leverage of the Standard civil3D features to
create a bridge with a super elevation using the Revit Structure 2011
bridge extensions.
The bridge extension for Civil 3D 2011 is a Civil 3D add-in module which
creates bridges directly from a Civil 3D corridor. Currently this is only
available in Autodesk Labs.

For information about all other bridge software programs that can
coordinate with Civil3D or Revit e.g. 12D and MX. refer to this website.
http://www.aecsystems.com.au/bridge-extension.html

The chart below illustrates the bridge design workflow for a project.
Highway Engineers and Bridge Engineers are treated separately to
assume

requirements

for

design

practice

and

preference

of

technologies.

System Requirement
To continue your bridge design with Civil 3D and Revit Structure, the
system must meet the following requirements.
Software Products and Version.
AutoCAD Civil 3D 2011 (32 or 64
bit) with proper licence
Working Platforms
Autodesk Revit Structure2011 (32
or 64 bit) with proper licence

Extension Tool

Page 1 of 41

Bridge Modeller Extension for Revit

Structure

Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

NOTE:
1. You need to have licensed version of both Revit Structure 2011 and
Civil3D 2011 either standalone or network licensed installed on your PC.
2. You need to have Civil3D open with the .dwg
.dwg file when importing to

Revit Structure.
3. The bridge extension for Revit Structure is part of the advantage pack
you down load from subscription centre. (currently only available in

Revit Structure 2011)

Content of Bridge Extensions

The following extension will be available in the Extension manager in
the Add-in ribbon after the installation of the Bridge Extensions to
Revit Structure.

Bridge Concrete box girder

The extension allows users to define a 3D model of a concrete box grider

bridge in Revit Structure. The designed bridge is generated based on a

selected road segment in Revit Structure.

Users can define all bridge

elements (abutments, piers, bearings) based on the families available in the

Bridge Definition Concrete Box Girder extension.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

Bridge Concrete slab

The extension allows users to define a 3D model of a concrete slab bridge in
Revit Structure. The designed bridge is generated based on a selected
road segment in Revit Structure.

Users can define all bridge elements

(abutments, piers, bearings) based on the families available in the Bridge

Definition Concrete slab extension.

Bridge Concrete slab with girders

The extension allows users to define a 3D model of a concrete slab with
girders bridge in Revit Structure. The designed bridge is generated based
on a selected road segment in Revit Structure. Users can define all bridge
elements (abutments, piers, bearings) based on the families available in the
Bridge Definition Concrete slab with girders extension.

Customization of bridge families

The Customization of Bridge Families is part of the Bridge modeling extension
and is designed to customize the families generated in Revit Structure to be
used with the Bridges extensions. The application allow users to creates a
bridge family using Revit Structure to comply with the design specification
and saves a set of files related to the modified family: RFA, XML and PNG

Documentation
The Documentation generation for Bridges extension is designed to simplify
the generation of bridge drawings in Revit Structure. After specifying the
parameters of all required bridge views and cross sections of the bridge
elements, the extension will generate the drawings of the bridge and its
elements in Revit Structure. The Revit Structure project browser lists all
generated drawings in the View (all). The drawings generated by this
extension are grupped in 3 subcategories:

Structural plans

3D views

Detail views

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

Integration with AutoCAD Civil3D

The Integration with AutoCAD Civil 3D extension is designed to transfer
the data related to the topography, the road and the bridge elements
between the Revit Structure and AutoCAD Civil 3D.

Roads and Terrains

Use the Roads and Terrain Definition extension to define a 3D model of the
roads and terrain in Revit Structure with one of two following methods:

Import an XML file with the previously defined road and terrain
parameters.

Insert user-defined road and terrain parameters directly in the

extension.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

Basic design/documentation procedures

Procedures

Platform

Create surface and corridors

with Civil 3D 2011

AutoCAD Civil

Load the .dwg file into Revit

Structure using the bridge
Extension

Autodesk Revit
Structure

Create bridge from the

imported corridor

Autodesk Revit
Structure

Use pre-configured
bridge families

Customize new
bridge components

Documentation of the newly

created bridge

Page 5 of 38

Customization
of bridge
families

Autodesk Revit
Structure

Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

Integration between Civil 3D and Revit Structure

1. Open Civil 3D file

In this tutorial, a .dwg with
surface details and
corridors was used for
demonstration.

1.1. Open a .dwg file

from Civil 3D.

In this file, a surface has

been loaded and a few
corridors were created
accordingly.

1.2. Check whether the

corridors and data in
this .dwg file is
opened correctly.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

2. Create new Revit file

2.1. Run Revit Structure

2011 with Bridge
Extension preinstalled.

A default metric template

is selected here.

2.2. Open a new

project.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

3. Starting Integration

3.1. Select the Extension

Manager from the Addin Ribbon and select the
Integration with
AutoCAD Civil3D
Extension.

The Civil 3D file contains multiple

corridors and surfaces. The
desired corridor and surface are
upper bridge and design
earthworks.

3.2. Select the desired

Corridors and Surface to
load into Revit Structure.
(refer avi part1 8:10)

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

4. Configuration of corridor

4.1. Revit Structure will then

require some
configuration on the
imported corridor:
Road configuration
Horizontal
alignment
Vertical profile
Cross sections
Topography

(refer avi part1 8:409:35)

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

4.2. Define the Starting

point and end point
of the segment
(0.000m 944.360m).
(refer avi part1 8:409:35)

Allows the user to select the appropriate alignment from the

Civil3D file

A segment start and end can be specified using station

values along the alignment (if the bridge segment is shorter
than then the corridor model)

Make horizontal allows the user to rotate the alignment so

that the bridge is horizontal inside the Revit project

Use original coordinates will assign the Civil 3D geodetic

coordinate system to Revit shared coordinates.

4.3. Horizontal alignment

will be loaded
automatically.

(refer avi part1

8:40-9:35)

Gives a preview of the alignment geometry

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

4.4. Assign the vertical

profile to either
match the corridor or
terrain surface
(corridor profile was
selected here).

(refer avi part1

8:40-9:35)

Gives a preview of the vertical profile of the bridge as well as

the existing ground profile
The user can manually assign profiles

4.5. Modify the width and

slope for each
segment of the
corridor.
(refer avi part1 8:409:35)
Note: users can keep the
cross sectional properties of
the corridor or keep the
loaded properties.

Provides cross-section information based on the selected

corridor model from the Civil3D drawing

User can manually change cross-section information if

required

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

4.6. Select Activate

topography in the
topography section.
4.7. Change the
topography material
to Site - Earth

Activate topography will turn on the topography option in

Revit views.

A Civil3D surface can be selected in a drop-down menu

Topography adjustment allows to crop the surface area to a

predefined project extend (similarly to a surface boundary)

4.8. When all setting

finished, click Ok to
continue.

(refer avi part1

8:40-9:35)

3D view of an
imported corridor

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

Create bridge from the imported corridor

1. Select the corridor and load extension
The Bridge Modeller
Extension includes 3
standard types of bridge
(Concrete box girder,
Concrete slab and
Concrete slab with
girders). Concrete box
girder is selected here.

1.1. Select the corridor.

1.2. Open the Extension
manager menu and
select Concrete box
girder.

1.3. A window for bridge

detail configuration
will appeal after
selecting the
Concrete box girder
function.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

2. Configuration of bridge
Users can define the
locations of the
abutments, number and
locations of piers
according to the design
specification. For
demonstration purpose, a
bridge with three piers will
be created here. The pier
location and length of
span between each pier
should refer to the design
specification.

2.1. In the Bridge Layout

section, manually
type in the locations
(466.506m and
642.357m).

Allow users to manually change the location and

configuration of Abutments.
Allow users to add or remove pier and manually change the
location and configuration of pier (refer to proper standards
and/or design specifications).

Page 14 of 38

2.2. Remove all piers

then manually add
and type in the
location for the
three piers
(510.468m,
550.432m, 598.394m)
(refer avi part1 15:15
16:30)

Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems
The family types and
parameters used in the
following steps are for
demonstration purpose,
users can select and
modify the bridge type,
bridge elements and
parameter values base on
the design specifications.

2.3. Select the decks

type (variable
height deck) and
deck family (One
Chamber Two
Slopes basic).
2.4. Adjust the
dimensions of the
family.
2.5. Click More
parameters and
adjust the
parameters in the
pop-up window if
necessary.
Allow users to modify the deck.
The type of deck can be switched between flat deck and
variable height deck
Various deck families are provided
The dimension and parameters of the deck can be modified
by users according to design specification.

Page 15 of 38

(refer avi part1 16:30

17:20)

Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

2.6. Check Roadways

dimensions and
parameters and
adjust if necessary.

(refer avi part1

16:30 17:20)

Allow users to modify the bridge roadway.

The dimension and parameters of the roadway can be
modified by users according to design specification.

2.7. In the Barriers

section, select
sloped in barrier
type.
2.8. Check and adjust
the dimensions and
parameters.
(refer avi part1 16:30
17:20)
Allow users to modify the left and right barriers separately.
The type of barrier can be switched between unsloped and
sloped deck
Various barrier families are provided
The dimension and parameters of the barrier can be modified
by users according to design specification.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

2.9. In the Abutments

section, go to
Abutment
152.814m and
select No wings
in abutment type.
2.10. Select abutment
type to be no
slope no
foundation.
2.11. Check and adjust
the dimensions
and parameters.

Allow users to modify the two abutments separately.

Allow users to design an abutment with wings or without
wings.
Various Abutment families are provided
The dimension and parameters of the barrier can be modified
by users according to design specification.

2.12. In Abutment
205.041m, select
Copy from first.

(refer avi part1

16:30 17:20)

2.13. Select abutment

type to be
rectangular cap.
2.14. Check and adjust
the dimensions
and parameters.
(refer avi part1
16:30 17:20)

Allow users to modify each pier separately.

Various pier families are provided
The dimension and parameters of the barrier can be modified
by users according to design specification.
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

2.15. In the Bearings

section, go to
Abutment
152.814m and
select
rectangular
bearings.
2.16. Check and adjust
the dimensions
and parameters.
2.17. Check if Copy
from first is
selected on other
pages.

Allow users to modify the bearings of abutments and piers.

Various bearing families are provided
The dimension and parameters of the barrier can be modified
by users according to design specification.

(refer avi part1

16:30 17:20)

Finish view of the

created bridge

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

Multiple corridors import and bridges creation

The bridge modeller extension also allows users to import multiple
corridors from Civil3D and creates bridges accordingly. The processes
are similar to importing a single corridor. Users can load multiple
corridors and surface in one integration and it is not necessary to
import each corridor or surface separately.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

1. Integration with Civil 3D

This tutorial will
demonstrate how to
import corridor lower
bridge and upper
bridge, and surface
design earthworks
from Civil 3D to Revit
Structure.

1.1. Open the Civil 3D

file.
1.2. Create a new
project in Revit
Structure
1.3. Use Integration
with AutoCAD
Civil3D from the
extension
manager.
1.4. Selected the
corridors and
surface need to
be imported and
click Ok.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems
The process to create
bridges here is very
similar to Integration
with AutoCAD Civil
3D. Users may follow
the below steps and
configuration of the
corridors.

1.5. Adjust /modify

the upper
bridge in the
Road and
Terrain
definition
window using
the value from
Integration with
AutoCAD Civil
3D.

1.6. When finish,

click OK to
continue.

1.7.

1.8.

Set lower
bridge to be
0.000m to
284.334m.
In vertical
profile page,
set the profile
to V-Designlow bridge-(38).

In the Cross
Section page,
change the
width to 3000
and the slope
to -3%.
1.10. Set the
topography
material to
Site Earth
1.9.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

2.

Create bridge from corridor

The process to create
bridges here is very
similar to Create
bridge from imported
corridor. Users may
follow the below steps
and configuration of
the bridge.

2.1. Select corridor

upper bridge.
2.2. Select Bridge
Concrete box
girders from
extension
manager.
2.3. Finish the bridge
configuration
from the window
appear using
the value and
data from the
Create bridge
from imported
corridor. Click
OK when
finished.
(refer avi part1
15:15 17:20)

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

2.4. Repeat the

above process
by selecting
lower bridge
corridor.
2.5. Use the setting
from upper
bridge but set
the abutments
and pier
location as
below:
Abutments at
152.814m and
205.041m
Pier at
178.928m

2.6. Two bridges will

be created
accordingly.

(refer avi part1

5:15 6:50)

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

The finish view of

the corridors and
bridges.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

Documentation of the created bridges

The bridge modeller

extension also allows
user to quickly
document the newly
created bridges by
using the
Documentation tool.

The Documentation
tool
will
instantly
create different views
for the bridge and its
components including
plan view, elevation
view and 3D view. It
also allows users to
change the setting of
the grid, annotation
tag and etc.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

Examples of views
generated by
extension

View setting for

Abutments

Page 26 of 38

Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

Examples of views
generated by
extension

View setting for Piers

Page 27 of 38

Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

Examples of views
generated by
extension

Setting for gird,

dimension,
annotation and
levels.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

Customization of bridge families

1. Select and modify bridge element

1.1. When initiating the

Customization of
Bridge Families
extension, the
Open dialog
displays for users to
select the RFA file
need to be
modified.
Note:

Any family from

Revit Structure can
be modified and
customized for the
Bridges extensions.
The number of
parameters
describing the family
that is currently
defined must be
equal to or greater
than the number of
parameters required
to define the
selected object
category.

The location of the

families folders may
vary depending on
the operating
systems.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems
1.2. For demonstration
purpose, the Metric
basic Abutment with
no slope
(M_Abutment_basic
_no_slope) from the
abutment family is
selected. A new
window with
required parameters
tag and more
parameter tag will
appear.

1.3. The Required

parameters tab
allows you to specify
the parameters
required to define a
new family.
Note: You must specify all
listed parameters.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

2. Tips on Defining/modifying parameters

2.1. The list of parameters required for the family consists of 3 columns:
Bridge parameter represents the parameter names of the selected family
category.
Symbol represents the symbols related to the parameters of the selected family
category.
Family parameter consists of lists that include all parameters of the family that
you loaded.
2.2. To define the new family parameters you assign the appropriate parameters
(loaded after you opened the family for modification) to the parameters required
for the selected family description.
2.3. For each parameter in the Bridge parameter column you assign the similar
parameter in the Family parameter column. The latter column consists of lists that
include all parameters of the loaded family. During subsequent parameter definition
(in the subsequent row), all previously assigned parameters are not displayed in the
subsequent lists of the Family parameter column. If there is no parameter assigned,
the message None displays in the Family parameter column.
Note: In case after you define the required parameters and the Family parameter list is not
empty, all of the remaining parameters appear under the More parameters tab.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

2.4. The More parameters tab defines the additional parameters that describe the
loaded family. The More parameters tab includes all parameters that have not
been classified as the required parameters and includes the following 4 columns:
Active check boxes to add or remove the selected parameter to the More
parameters group.
Element parameter displays the parameter names appropriate for the loaded
family.
Description defines the new parameter name.
Symbol defines the new parameter symbol.
2.5. The file path to the file with the auxiliary image is displayed at the top right of the
dialog. The image represents the description and the additional parameter
location. If you modify an existing family from the Bridges extensions, the image
shows the location of the standard additional parameters. To illustrate the solid
modification and the location of the user-defined parameters, update the image
and save it as the PNG file. The browse button
(in the right upper corner of the
dialog) is used to browse the folders in order to select the location of the userdefined image.
Note: The additional parameters definition is optional.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

3. Saving the modified bridge element

3.1. To save the family modifications, click the File > Save. The XML file is overwritten with
the same name and location as the name and the location of the loaded family.
3.2. You can save the file as a copy of the modified family using the File > Save as and
defining the file name and location. A set of files with the user-defined name and
with the following extensions generates: RFA, XML and PNG.
Note: If you select a file location other than the standard family files location for the Bridges
extensions, the following message displays after you click Save:

When you click Yes, the application generates the set of files in the user-selected location and
the same set of files in the location required by the Bridge extensions.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

Example on creating a new bridge family

The customization of bridge family extension also allows users to create a new
bridge family from Revit Structure and load into the extension. This example
demonstrates the process of create a new barrier family.
The following barrier type has been selected for demonstration purpose.

Barrier Type RCO

Regular Performance level Bridge Traffic Barrier to AS 5100 Standards Cross Section

Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

1. Create family from Revit Structure

1.1. Create a new family

file using the Metric
Profile template.
1.2. Create reference
plans and define
dimensions
accordingly.
1.3. Draw the section with
line tools
1.4. Define the value for
each parameter.
1.5. Do a screen capture
of the family

The family can be saved in

a user selected location
and the extension will
generate a copy in the
default location.
It is recommended that file
name should contain
proper details of the family
for future reference.

1.6. Save the file in the

default barrier
location with the
name
M_Barrier_Profile_RC
O.rfa
1.7. Save the screen
capture in the save
location with the
nameM_Barrier_Profil
e_RCO.png
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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

2. Import the new family into bridge extension

2.1. Open the

Customization of
bridge extension.
2.2. Select and load the
new family file saved
in the previous step.

The parameters used in this

section will depend on the
parameters from the create
family and the symbols are
not necessarily the same as
the symbols used in this
demonstration.

2.3. In the window as

shown, set the type
of the bridge
element to Barrier.
2.4. Tick all bridge type in
the
2.5. Bridge type section
to enable the barrier
can be use in all type
of bridge.
2.6. Choose Unsloped
in barrier type.
2.7. Define the Hight as
H and Width as
W.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

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2.8.

2.9.

Define the
additional
parameters in the
More parameters
page.
Set the image path
to be the location
where the .png file
was saved
previously.

2.10. To test the new

family, users may
create a new
bridge following the
previous
demonstration and
select the new
family from the
barrier page.

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Creating a bridge using Civil3D to Revit

Shane Brown, AEC Systems

Section view of the new

barrier in the bridge.

Page 38 of 38