Revit Tip: Link Revit Models Using Shared Coordinates

Link models by Shared Coordinates to keep every discipline aligned to the same survey, northing/easting, and elevation—on day one and throughout the project.

Why Shared Coordinates

• One site definition across all models (A, S, MEP, landscape, and campus files).
• Consistent True North, geodetic elevation, and spot coordinates in every view.
• Reliable linking with “Auto – By Shared Coordinates” (no guesswork, no drift).
• Cleaner exports to DWG/IFC and smoother handoffs to civil and GIS.

Quick Setup Workflow

1. Pick the coordinate “source of truth.” Typically the civil survey or the architectural site model.
2. Link the survey/CAD, don’t import. Verify units, place it once, and Pin it. Clean DWGs beforehand (layers, origin) for stable results.
3. Set True North early: Manage > Position > Rotate True North. Align to survey bearing, not to your sheet orientation.
4. Establish Shared Coordinates:
   • Option A (common): Manage > Coordinates > Specify Coordinates at Point. Click a known survey control, enter Northing/Easting and Elevation.
   • Option B (multi-model): Manage > Coordinates > Acquire Coordinates from the “master” Revit model.
5. Name the site: Manage > Location > Site. Duplicate and name it clearly (e.g., “Campus 2026 NAVD88”).
6. Link discipline models using “Auto – By Shared Coordinates.” If they don’t land correctly, confirm their site definition first.
7. Publish back when you’re the authority: Manage > Coordinates > Publish Coordinates to push your site to linked models, then save the links.
8. Verify:
   • Spot Coordinates/Spot Elevations set to “Shared.”
   • Manage Links > Revit > Location tab shows the intended Shared Site.
   • Survey Point (clipped) matches expected origin/rotation/elevation.
9. Lock it down: Pin links, protect Survey Point (keep clipped), and use Worksets to control who edits site and links.
10. Document the workflow in your BIM Execution Plan and communicate before changes.

Critical Do’s and Don’ts

• Do keep the Internal Origin stable. Never “nudge” the whole model after coordinates are set.
• Do use Specify/Acquire/Publish—avoid manual moves of links after alignment.
• Do rotate True North, not the building geometry, to match survey bearings.
• Don’t unclip/move the Survey Point casually; use it only to define the shared system.
• Don’t rely on “Center-to-Center” or “Origin-to-Origin” for production coordination.

Campus and Multiple Sites

• Create multiple named Sites (Manage > Location > Site) for each building or scenario.
• Set Current when publishing/validating, so each link references the correct site state.

Troubleshooting

• If a link lands incorrectly, open that model, set its Current Site, reload, and re-test “Auto – By Shared Coordinates.”
• Use Manage > Coordinates > Report Shared Coordinates to diagnose offsets.
• As a last resort, Reset/Remove Shared Coordinates in the affected file and re-Acquire/Publish cleanly.

Need licenses, add-ons, or expert guidance? Explore Revit solutions and training with NOVEDGE, or connect with their team at novedge.com. For more workflow tips, follow the NOVEDGE Blog.