Link Revit to Sketchup?

Helix
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1

I would like to ask if its possible to link Revit into Sketchup using Helix?
And then easy update the Revit model in Sketchup?

Jorgensen

2

It’s not currently a great in Helix for Revit to SketchUp. At the moment, the Revit model is imported into SketchUp without a link. It’s something we want to do in the future.

Helix optimizes and cleans the Revit geometry when importing into SketchUp which makes the geometry easily editable.

3

Thanks for the reply Ben.

I would like to shortly explain why I ask the question.
When we work on a project the

  • constructing architect constructs the building in Revit,
  • and we - architects, export the Revit model to Sketchup
  • we then work on the interiordesign
    Often wall thickness or placements change, doors moves and so on.
    Then we have to manually update the model again inside Sketchup.

So a kind of link feature could be welcome.

Jorgensen

1 Like
4

I see how this can be a very powerful workflow.

There is a minimal way we could implement this, and there’s the more complex way that has more granularity. I’m curious if the minimal implementation would help. This is how the minimal implementation would work:

  • Helix imports the Revit model in SketchUp as a large group (this is how Helix currently works)
  • Helix can then link the ID of that group and completely replace that group with the new geometry when syncing
  • The drawback is that if the user made any changes inside that large group, then those changes would be lost
  • We could potentially lock that group so that the user cannot change the geometry within the Revit imported group.

Would this minimal version of the feature be beneficial, or do you need the more complex implementation, where we track each individual object ID (similar to SketchUp to Revit)?

5

I will ask my colleague who is testing posibilities.
I think right now he is testing a freeware software, but I will ask to give a Helix a try.

It’s also important that materials are transferred, but I guess that’s not a problem?

Jorgensen

6

Yep - materials are transferred including the textures.

1 Like
7

Hi Ben

I have been looking into a workflow that Jorgensen is talking about.

Not sure if all this this is possible to make.

  • Could the families from revit become components instead of groups, so you only need to make a change on one model?
  • Instead of loading a hole new model every time, could it be possible it keep the first loaded model and only updated the changes inside that group, removing deleted orbjects and adding/changing other orbjects?
  • Would it be possible to keep the textures oringtation from Revit, when it is importet into Sketchup? (Image attached)

A bug I noticed is, the first import in sketchUp fail to load the hole model. (only when i start a new SketchUp file)

Revit to SketchUp 001
Revit to SketchUp 0011920×1080 231 KB

8

@Maarsso - great feedback!!

Families to Components in SketchUp

YES - this is something that we would like to add in the future. It will also help with the file size, as these objects will be instanced properly.

Revit to SketchUp Element Tracking (CRUD)

We already do this for SketchUp to Revit, and yes - this would be the ideal way to handle the reverse Revit to SketchUp. (Also on our Roadmap)

Texture Orientation (UV Mapping)

Yes - we want to have 1:1 UV mapping of the textures, so what you see in Revit would be exactly what you see in SketchUp. We will be developing this first for Veras V2, and then we can use the same update for Helix so that both apps get the correct UV mapping.

9

Thanks Ben

Sounds like some great features comming in the future.