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Ghasem Ariyani • BIM Manager

• Is the slope of the land always a problem for you to design your building?

• Has the topography of the land been a challenge for you while designing the landscape and urban space?

• Is it important for the employer to calculate the amount of soil excavation/earthworks and their cost?

Landscape design in Revit software is one of the most challenging parts for architects and landscape design specialists, because there are not many tools for this specialty in Revit software, and most modeling must be created manually, Dynamo, etc.

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• Is the slope of the land always a problem for you to design your building?

• Has the topography of the land been a challenge for you while designing the landscape and urban space?

• Is it important for the employer to calculate the amount of soil excavation/earthworks and their cost?

Landscape design in Revit software is one of the most challenging parts for architects and landscape design specialists, because there are not many tools for this specialty in Revit software, and most modeling must be created manually, Dynamo, etc.

In this course, in addition to fully learning all the site's tools and making professional profiles for topography, you can easily design a professional landscape using the Environment for Revit plugin based on artificial intelligence. Using this plugin, you can create urban infrastructure or landscape design based on the BIM process in cooperation with Civil3D.

Also, nowadays the use of Point Cloud technology has increased a lot. Therefore, Environment for Revit allows you to convert a topography click taken with Point Cloud in the view environment to topography.

Topics covered in this course include:

• Being a professional in Landscape and Topography modeling.

• How to use Site tools in Revit

• Modeling Topography based on AutoCAD and 3D Max files.

• Learning topography based on geographic location with Formit

• Topographical techniques for landscape architects and urban designers

• Modeling Site Families in the Revit

• Learning the Environment plug-in

• The power of landscape architects with the Environment plug-in

By the end of this course, you'll have the skills and knowledge to effectively create Landscape and topography. Enroll now and take the first step towards becoming a Landscape designer expert. Feel free to ask me any questions while watching this course.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Topography modeling
  • Modeling topography based on autocad files
  • Topography modeling based on geographic location using formit
  • Topography techniques for landscape architects
  • How to use site tools in revit
  • Creating site families in revit
  • Landscape architect techniques in revit
  • Tutorial on the plug-in environment in revit
  • Enhancing landscape architecture with environment
  • The power of landscape architecture with environment

Syllabus

concept and usage of Site tools for creating topography
Exercise File
creating Site levels within the project environment
usage of Sub-Divide tool in topography
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores site tools and topography modeling, which are essential for landscape architects and urban designers using Revit for their projects
Covers the usage of a specific plugin, Environment for Revit, which may require a separate license or subscription for full functionality
Teaches how to convert point cloud data into topography, which is increasingly relevant with the rise of surveying and scanning technologies
Focuses on using Revit for landscape design, a specialized area where Revit's tools may require manual adjustments and creative problem-solving
Requires familiarity with AutoCAD, 3ds Max, and FormIt, which are used to import files and create topography in Revit
Develops skills in calculating soil excavation and earthworks, which is important for cost estimation and project management in landscape design

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Reviews summary

Revit site and landscape design

According to students, this course provides a highly useful exploration of landscape design within Revit, particularly focusing on complex site challenges. Learners found it offered a good introduction to Revit's built-in site tools like Toposolid and grading regions, presenting practical techniques for common tasks. A significant portion of the course is dedicated to the Environment for Revit plugin, which many reviewers found helpful for enhancing landscape workflows. However, some students noted that the course assumes prior knowledge of basic Revit functionality and may not be suitable for absolute beginners. There were also mentions that some content might benefit from updates to align with the latest Revit versions or offer greater depth on certain topics. Overall, it's seen as a valuable resource for professionals.
Some areas could benefit from updates or detail.
"With the recent changes to Toposolid in newer Revit versions, some parts felt slightly out of date, although the core principles remain."
"Could use more in-depth coverage on specific complex landscaping scenarios or advanced customization of families."
"While the plugin is covered well, I wished for more troubleshooting or advanced tips beyond the basics presented."
"Some techniques shown are useful, but the overall structure sometimes felt disjointed."
Solid overview of core Revit site functions.
"Even though I've used Revit for a while, the sections on site tools, especially Toposolid and sub-regions, provided helpful refreshers and new tricks."
"The course covers the basics of creating topography and using site components effectively. It's a good starting point for these tools."
"I appreciated the clear explanations of using CAD files to generate topography. It was very practical for real-world scenarios."
"Techniques for grading and calculating earthwork using Graded Regions were particularly useful."
Extensive coverage of a key landscape plugin.
"The course really shines when it covers the Environment for Revit plugin. It showed me features I didn't know existed and how to use them practically."
"Learning the Environment plugin was the main reason I took this course, and it delivered. The instructor explains its features and workflow well."
"I found the sections on the Environment plugin to be very detailed and useful for my professional work. It's a powerful tool highlighted here."
"The plugin part was eye-opening. It simplifies a lot of complex landscape tasks within the Revit environment."
Not ideal for those new to Revit software.
"While the landscape content is good, the course assumes you are already comfortable with basic Revit navigation and modeling. Not for beginners."
"You really need to know the basics of Revit before diving into this course. It doesn't teach you how to use Revit itself."
"As someone relatively new to Revit, I found myself struggling at times because fundamental concepts weren't covered."
"It builds on existing Revit knowledge, so make sure you have that foundation first."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Design Landscape with Revit with these activities:
Review AutoCAD Fundamentals
Reviewing AutoCAD fundamentals will help you better understand how to import and utilize AutoCAD files within Revit for topography modeling.
Browse courses on AutoCAD
Show steps
  • Review basic AutoCAD commands and tools.
  • Practice importing AutoCAD files into Revit.
  • Familiarize yourself with layer management in AutoCAD.
Read 'Landscape Architecture: A Very Short Introduction'
Reading this book will provide a broader understanding of landscape architecture principles, enhancing your design decisions within Revit.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Landscape Architecture: A Very Short Introduction'.
  • Read the book, focusing on key concepts and historical context.
  • Reflect on how these principles apply to your Revit landscape designs.
Practice Topography Modeling in Revit
Practicing topography modeling will reinforce your understanding of Revit's site tools and improve your proficiency in creating accurate and detailed landscapes.
Show steps
  • Create a new Revit project and import a sample CAD file.
  • Use Revit's site tools to generate a topography surface.
  • Experiment with different editing tools to modify the topography.
  • Add site components and parking components to the model.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Follow Advanced Revit Site Design Tutorials
Following advanced tutorials will expose you to more complex techniques and workflows for creating professional landscape designs in Revit.
Show steps
  • Search for advanced Revit site design tutorials online.
  • Choose a tutorial that covers a specific technique or workflow.
  • Follow the tutorial step-by-step, replicating the design in Revit.
  • Adapt the techniques learned to your own landscape designs.
Design a Park Using Revit and Environment Plugin
Starting a project to design a park will allow you to apply the skills learned in the course and the Environment plugin to create a realistic and functional landscape design.
Show steps
  • Choose a location for your park design.
  • Gather site data, including topography and existing features.
  • Use Revit and the Environment plugin to create the park design.
  • Incorporate various landscape elements, such as trees, paths, and water features.
Develop a Landscape Design Portfolio
Creating a portfolio will showcase your skills and knowledge in landscape design with Revit, demonstrating your ability to create professional-quality designs.
Show steps
  • Select your best landscape designs created in Revit.
  • Create high-quality renderings and visualizations of your designs.
  • Write descriptions of each project, highlighting key design features.
  • Compile your designs and descriptions into a professional portfolio.
Read 'BIM for Landscape'
Reading this book will provide a deeper understanding of BIM principles in landscape architecture, enhancing your ability to collaborate with other disciplines.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'BIM for Landscape'.
  • Read the book, focusing on BIM workflows and collaboration strategies.
  • Consider how to implement BIM principles in your Revit landscape designs.

Career center

Learners who complete Design Landscape with Revit will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Landscape Architect
A landscape architect designs outdoor spaces such as parks, gardens and other natural environments. This course can help a landscape architect learn how to model topography and design landscapes using Revit software, especially with the Environment plugin. This course delves into site tools, modeling topography from various file types, and using geographic data. A landscape architect may find the course material on creating site families particularly helpful, as well as the instruction on using point cloud data to create accurate topographies. The course provides training using various tools within Revit, which is a great option for those looking to learn the program. This course also provides training in the use of an AI plugin for designing urban infrastructure, which is particularly useful for a landscape architect.
Urban Planner
An urban planner develops plans and programs for the use of land, coordinating infrastructure and community needs. This course may be useful for an urban planner, as it offers training in the use of Revit for landscape and topography modeling, including the Environment plugin. Urban planners often collaborate with landscape architects and the course's focus on site modeling, topography, and the creation of detailed site plans can be very helpful in this work. The skills learned in this course regarding 3D modeling using Revit, including the use of CAD and FormIt files to create topography, can improve the quality of an urban planner’s work. The course should enhance their ability to visualize and plan complex urban spaces.
BIM Specialist
A building information modeling specialist manages and coordinates the use of BIM software for construction projects. This course may assist a BIM specialist in expanding their skills in the area of site modeling and landscape design using Revit. A BIM specialist will find this course helpful for learning to use site tools, creating topography from various sources, and using advanced features like the Environment plugin. The course provides essential training for BIM specialists looking to manage site related aspects of building projects. They will learn to accurately model land features. The course's in-depth training on point cloud data integration is also highly relevant for the work of a BIM specialist.
Civil Engineer
A civil engineer designs and supervises construction projects, including roads, bridges and infrastructure. For a civil engineer, understanding the processes involved in site modeling and topography using Revit, as taught in this course, is crucial for the development of detailed site plans. This course provides practical experience in using site tools, creating topography profiles, and managing earthworks, which are all very relevant to the work of a civil engineer. The course's detailed instruction on using Revit and the Environment plugin should be helpful for creating designs that are both functional and efficient. Further, a civil engineer may find the course's exploration of working with point cloud data useful for site surveys. The course may be particularly helpful for those civil engineers looking to work more closely with landscape and site development.
Architect
An architect designs buildings and other structures, and this course may be helpful for an architect wanting to understand site development. The course teaches how to use Revit for landscape and topography modeling. It provides a deep dive into site tools, modeling from geographic data and various file formats, as well as creating site families. An architect will find the course material on how to use the Environment plugin, particularly useful for creating complex designs. These skills allow the architect to better visualize the interplay between the building and the site. The course provides a grounding in the technical aspects of site design that is very useful for an architect.
Drafting Technician
A drafting technician creates technical drawings and plans for construction and manufacturing. This course may help a drafting technician learn the skills to use Revit for landscape and site modeling, which is increasingly part of projects. The course provides techniques involving site tools, modeling topography, and creating site families. A drafting technician may find it especially useful to work with multiple file formats, such as CAD and FormIt, which this course addresses. The work with the Environment plugin and the course's overview of point cloud data processing provide additional important skills. These skills are an asset to their day to day tasks. This course provides the foundation to take on more complex drafting tasks.
Environmental Consultant
An environmental consultant advises clients on environmental issues, including land use and site assessments. This course may help an environmental consultant by providing training in site modeling and topography using Revit, as well as the Environment plugin. An environmental consultant will find the course's focus on site analysis and modeling from various file types useful. The course content on point cloud data is relevant to site surveys. Through this course, an environmental consultant may gain a better understanding of landscape design, and be able to better provide strategies for their clients.
GIS Analyst
A geographic information systems analyst uses mapping software to analyze spatial data. This training may be useful for a GIS Analyst to enhance their skills using Revit. The course covers modeling topography, based on geographic location, as well as how to use various site tools available in Revit. A GIS analyst will gain skills in 3D modeling and the use of AI in urban planning, a valuable asset for a GIS specialist. The course's exploration of point cloud data processing is particularly relevant, given its use in creating accurate site models. This course may help a GIS Analyst add new skills to their repertoire.
Construction Project Manager
A construction project manager oversees the planning and execution of construction projects. This course may help a construction project manager gain a better understanding of site preparation and landscape design. It provides a deep dive into using Revit for modeling topography, site analysis, and working with various file formats. This course's instruction on using the Environment plugin to create design plans can be beneficial to a construction project manager who needs to manage the work of landscape and site crews. The course provides valuable knowledge regarding site development that can assist in the planning of a construction project.
Real Estate Developer
A real estate developer manages land development and building construction project. A real estate developer may find this course useful, as it provides training in site analysis and landscape design using Revit. This course's deep dive into site modeling, topography and the use of the Environment plugin can enable a developer to better assess the potential of a site, and to create more compelling presentations. The course's focus on integrating point cloud data for site surveys is also relevant to understanding the real estate development process. The course can provide the foundation for a real estate developer to better evaluate the feasibility and design of their projects.
Interior designer
An interior designer plans and designs interior spaces. This course may be useful for an interior designer, especially one who collaborates with landscape architects. This course focuses on site design using Revit and the Environment plugin. An interior designer may find that understanding site design is helpful in creating spaces that suit the context of the surrounding environment. The course’s training in topography modeling and the use of various file types can provide better insight into how the built interior interacts with the outdoor environment. The knowledge gained may offer better collaboration with the design process.
Surveyor
A surveyor measures and maps land for construction and other purposes. This course may be helpful for a surveyor looking to enhance their skills, especially in the use of software like Revit. The course covers site topography and modeling, with instruction on using point cloud data for site measurements, which is a common task for surveyors. This course’s study of the Environment plugin is also beneficial to a surveyor. The course gives a surveyor a foundational knowledge and training in the use of Revit.
Construction Estimator
A construction estimator calculates the costs of materials, labor, and other resources for construction projects. A construction estimator might find this course useful as it provides insights into landscape design and site modeling within Revit. The course introduces the use of site tools, topography modeling, and the use of the Environment Plugin. For the estimator, the ability to utilize Revit, and its processes for understanding site layout, could be particularly useful. This course focuses on elements of project design which allow an estimator to understand more precisely the scale of earthwork and site labor.
Cartographer
A cartographer creates maps and charts, often using geographic data. This course may provide a cartographer an opportunity to enhance their skills using Revit to model topography, learning the use of site tools. This course expands their knowledge of mapping using site modeling techniques. The course's focus on using geographic data and point cloud data could be useful in their work. The course's instruction in both traditional topography modeling, and the use of plugins and AI to create urban space, is highly relevant. A cartographer looking to add to their skillset may find the course helpful.
Software Trainer
A software trainer educates others on using various software programs. This course may help a software trainer understand the functionality of landscape design software. The course provides instruction on modeling topography, creating site families, and using a variety of site tools available in Revit. A software trainer who plans to provide training in architecture and related fields may find this highly helpful. The course's detailed examination of the Environment plugin is essential for understanding the program's functionality. A software trainer may find it very useful to undergo this training, so that they may understand the requirements of their students.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Design Landscape with Revit.
Provides a comprehensive guide to using BIM (Building Information Modeling) in landscape architecture. It covers the integration of landscape design with other disciplines and the use of BIM software like Revit. This book is valuable as a reference text and provides additional depth on the BIM process in landscape architecture. It is commonly used by industry professionals.
Provides a concise overview of landscape architecture principles and history. It helps contextualize the technical skills learned in Revit within the broader field of landscape design. While not directly Revit-focused, it provides valuable background knowledge for informed design decisions. It is useful as additional reading to broaden understanding.

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