Revit Tip: Publish Shared Coordinates for Consistent Revit Model Alignment

Use Shared Coordinates to align linked models to survey data and across disciplines with confidence.

Why it matters:

• Eliminates guesswork when linking architectural, structural, and MEP models.
• Keeps exports to Civil 3D, Navisworks, and IFC consistent.
• Prevents creeping misalignments that cause clashes and rework.

Before you start:

• Decide on a site “master”: a Revit Site model or a clean survey DWG.
• Confirm survey units, coordinate system, and northing/easting basis with the civil team.
• Know the difference:
  • Internal Origin: Revit’s fixed 0,0,0 for computations.
  • Project Base Point (PBP): local project datum for dimensions and internal layout.
  • Survey Point (SP): real-world location/rotation reference for Shared Coordinates.

Core workflow (recommended):

1. In the Site model:
   • If using a survey DWG that is georeferenced near 0,0, link DWG and use Manage > Coordinates > Acquire Coordinates. If the DWG is far from 0,0 or not clean, link it near the building and use Specify Coordinates at Point on a known control point.
   • Set true north via Manage > Position > Rotate True North (leave Project North orthogonal for documentation).
2. Link each building model into the Site model. Move/rotate each link into the correct site position.
3. For each building link, use Manage > Coordinates > Publish Coordinates. Save changes to write the transform back to the building file.
4. Open each building model and verify Location > Site shows the published “Site” named location. Future links should use Positioning: By Shared Coordinates.

Daily practices and QA:

• Use Positioning: By Shared Coordinates for all Revit links once established.
• Keep the Survey Point clipped unless you intentionally need to adjust the shared system; unclip only to relocate the symbol without changing coordinates.
• Check Manage > Coordinates > Report Shared Coordinates between known points to validate alignment.
• Avoid geometry more than ~20 miles/33 km from the Internal Origin; large distances reduce precision.
• If something drifts, in the Site model re-align the building link and republish; if needed, Manage > Coordinates > Reset Shared Coordinates to clear a bad setup.

Multi-building and campus tips:

• Use a single Site model as the authority and create named “Sites” (Manage > Location > Site) per building orientation when necessary.
• Rotate buildings in the Site model and publish a unique named site back to each building.

Coordination and deliverables:

• DWG/IFC/NWC exports: choose the Shared Coordinates option to match civil and Navisworks environments.
• For Civil 3D round-trips, set DWG export to Shared Coordinates and confirm unit translations.

Common pitfalls to avoid:

• Moving a clipped Survey Point unintentionally changes the shared system—coordinate this action.
• Forgetting to Save after Publish Coordinates means the transform won’t be stored in the linked file.
• Using Auto - By Shared Coordinates before coordinates exist; establish them first, then use it.

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