Jan 24, 20233 min read

Convert SketchUp Model to Native Revit BIM

Convert free form SketchUp geometry to structured native Revit content
The native content will behave as if it was originally modeled in Revit. Ex: moving a level will further adjust the Helix generated geometry based on the wall, window and door constraints to that level.
When setup is standardized, non-Revit users can have their content converted from SketchUp to Revit

Create Tags for Helix to map as Revit Family Categories Alternate: if the SketchUp model is properly setup with tags, you can also use this setup. I prefer using new tags to make sure that unwanted geometry is not placed on that tag

Place the SketchUp geometry on the correct tag
For surface based elements, place the SketchUp face onto the correct tag. Ex: walls, curtain walls, floors, roofs and ceilings
For point based elements, place the component or group on the correct tag. Ex: windows, doors, meshes
NOTE: some elements, like topography, can have face geometry or component geometry placed on a tag to be mapped. For a list of mapping compatibility, see this post: SketchUp ⥤ Revit | Supported Categories and Mapping

Tip: can use the color by tag feature to visualize the process

Open a Revit model that has the necessary families types loaded (wall types, doors, windows, curtain walls)
On the EvolveLAB Revit ribbon tab, click the Sync Family Types button. You should get a dialogue with a summary of the synced content.
NOTE: Skipping this step will only allow you to map to Helix starter families, instead of the families that you have in your template/standards

Open the Helix interface by pressing the Helix button on the SketchUp toolbar
Select a face with the proper tag, and assign the Revit category & Family Type Alternate: You can also use the interface without selection to map the tags. Using the selection is helpful to quickly find the layer of the geometry
For components that need to be represented 1:1 in Revit, you can map that geometry as a Mesh.
NOTE: You can also map as Mesh, any geometry of categories not currently supported as native Revit elements. Ex: the railing and post geometry in this example are mapped as Mesh (DXF) and set to the Railing category
Repeat this process for all the tags

To use the same mappings for other projects, or to restore the mappings in the current project, export the mappings to an externa file.
On the mapping tab, click the Export Map Settings button
Choose a directory to save the file.

In the Helix SketchUp UI, go to the tools button
Click on the ADD LEVEL button to add a level in SketchUp
Copy this level to other floors, to make sure that elements have the proper base constraints.
NOTE: if this step is skipped, all native geometry is hosted to the level closest to 0’-0"

Press Send to Revit button on the SketchUp Helix UI You should get a Sync Completed notification

If you get the Sync Completed with Warnings notification, after clicking Send to Revit, review the warnings and correct the model
Go to the status report tab
Click the eye button to investigate the modeling error
In this example, when mapping to a Revit wall, an edge cannot be less than 1/256" in length, per Revit’s smallest edge limit. This edge needs to be cleaned up before exporting, so that the wall can be properly constructed in Revit (otherwise it is skipped).

Back in Revit, press the Load Model button on the EvolveLAB ribbon tab → Helix Panel

If not all the geometry transferred correctly in Revit, review the status report for more info.
Click the Status Report button in the EvolveLAB Revit ribbon tab, Helix panel.
Filter the report to see Failed elements only
In this example, the Line Segment is too short warning is not resolved. Notice how the missing walls also cause the windows and doors to not transfer, as the missing walls cannot be found for proper hosting.
NOTE: Clicking the element ID cell, in the table, will select and focus the element in Revit

You can make changes in SketchUp and re-sync the model with Revit
NOTE: Only the changed elements in SketchUp will be updated in Revit. Unchanged elements stay are left unmodified in Revit (even if they were adjusted in Revit)

Further refine the geometry in Revit. Ex: moving a level will properly adjust the elements constrained to that level (walls, doors, windows…)

To download or try Helix, you can click this link. To learn more about Helix, please visit www.evolvelab.io/helix

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