Revit Data on Forge - How Can the Design

Automation for Revit API Help Me?

Sasha Crotty | Diane Christoforo | Ryan Duell

Product Manager | Development Manager | Product Owner

About the speakersSasha joined Autodesk, Inc., in 2005 as a developer for Revit Structure. She went

on to lead the Revit Structure Development Team before switching gears into

product management. As the Revit Platform + Services product manager, she is

responsible for the direction and evolution of Revit's multi-disciplinary tools and

cloud services like Revit Cloud Worksharing and Forge Design Automation API. In

her spare time, Sasha enjoys growing orchids and traveling the world.

Diane has been a software developer at Autodesk for thirteen years. She has

worked on a variety of aspects of Autodesk Revit, including linked files, Autodesk

Revit eTransmit, the API, shared coordinates, and Forge Design Automation for

Revit. She graduated with a degree in computer science from MIT in 2005. She

square dances in her spare time.

Ryan started his career at an architectural firm in Boston Massachusetts, working

on a variety of project teams and functioning in the BIM Manager role. He joined

Autodesk in 2008 as a member of the product support organization. From there he

transitioned into the development organization, currently functioning as a QA

Analyst and scrum team Product Owner for Revit. He holds a degree in design

computing from Boston Architectural College. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys

running and playing both current and classic Nintendo games.

Sasha CrottyProduct Manager

Diane ChristoforoDev Team Manager

Ryan DuellProduct Owner / QA Analyst

We may make statements regarding planned or future development efforts for our existing or new products and services. These statements are not intended to be a promise or guarantee of future availability of products, services or features but merely reflect our current plans based on factors currently known to us. These planned and future development efforts may

change without notice. Purchasing decisions should not be made based upon reliance on these statements.

We assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist or change after the date

on which they were made.

No promises madeLike water all things may change

No purchase decide

Why Forge?

THE WORLD IS CHANGING

MORECREATIVITY AUTOMATIONOPPORTUNITIES

BETTERPERCEPTIVEINFORMEDSUSTAINABLE

Image courtesy of Gensler.

LESSTIMERISKWASTE

FORGE

Data Management API Reality Capture API

Design Automation API BIM 360 API

Model Derivative API & Viewer

Webhooks API

The Forge Ecosystem

DESIGN BUILD/MAKE OPERATE

OBJECT STOREBIG DATA PLATFORM

ACCESS CONTROL

MACHINING RENDERING & SIMULATION

DERIVATIVE SERVICE TRANSLATE MACHINE LEARNING

EVENT SERVICES

FOUNDATION SERVICES

AUTODESK FORGEDEVELOPER PLATFORM

COMMON DATA ENVIRONMENT

A u t o d e s k a n d T h i r d P a r t y A p p S o l u t i o n s

Does Forge Work with Revit Data?

The Forge Design Automation API

Design Automation API

for AutoCAD

(AutoCAD.io)

Design Automation API

for Inventor

(Inventor.io)

Revit’s engine exposed through

the Forge Design Automation API

Design Automation API

for Revit

(Revit.io)

[Design Automation for Revit]

opens up a wide range of opportunities

for us… [It] has unlocked the ability for us

to really develop new Software-as-a-

Service products and business models.

Matt Mason, IMAGINiT

AUTODESK CONFIDENTIAL: NEED-TO-KNOW

Create

Extract

Modify

Create Extract Modify

Design Automation API for RevitUse Revit data in cloud-native applications to automate at scale

• Generate custom content

• Automate model creation

• Explore & analyze model data

• Produce automated reports

• Maintain company standards

• Automatically create documentation

Data Processing on Demand

Input/outputs are NOT stored, they are downloaded/processed and DISCARDED

Upload results via links

Download inputs via links

Send links to your data to Forge DA

(permissions!)Make your data available in the

cloud

© Autodesk, Inc. 2017

WhoAtkinsMustafa Salaheldin Ali

APIs Used:

Solution Revit families are stored and organized by category in a digital manager. Using the Forge Viewer the families can be selected, inserted and manipulated directly in the browser.

Once the families have been positioned a combined template model can be generated using Design Automation for Revit. This model matches the geometry organized in the Forge viewer, and contains individual families for all content.

Content Management & Creation

Design

Automation

Viewer Model

Derivative

How Do I Use Design Automation?

Some quick questions

The handout has more details

What you’ll need

BetaACCESS

IdeaREVIT ADDIN

SkillsREVIT API

.NET REST API

ForgeACCOUNT

Three easy steps

1. Write your code

2. Upload resources

3. Hit the road

(by submitting a job)

Step 1:Code

Code: Writing your Revit add-in

Revit DB layer only▪ Don't include UI references▪ Write a failure handler

No network access ▪ Output results to a file

No user interaction▪ Run automatically▪ Handle our "ready" event

Code: Writing your Revit add-in

Step 2:Upload

Upload: Three Design Automation terms

appbundles

Contains the Revit addin

workitems

Asks DA to do work

activities

Defines inputs and outputs

Upload: How it works

Upload: appbundles

Upload Revit addin code:

▪Zip file containing addin and any

other dependencies

▪Write your own or use shared

appbundles

▪Specify Revit version (2018 or 2019)

Can also be:

▪Shared – By Forge ID or everyone

▪Aliased – Production, Beta, Alpha

▪Versioned

Upload: activities

Describes:

▪ Which appbundle to use

▪ How many input files

▪ Parameter types

▪ How many outputs

Can also be:

▪ Shared – By Forge ID or everyone

▪ Aliased – Production, Beta, Alpha

▪ Versioned

Upload: Input files

▪ Must be in a cloud location

▪ Use a signed URL

Step 3:Hit the road!

Hit the Road: workitems

Describes:

▪ Link(s) to input file(s)

▪ Link to output file location(s)

▪ Parameter values

Results

▪ Status – Complete, Error, Pending

▪ Polling or Callback

▪ Log file – Debug output, error handling

What’s changed since last year?

▪ Design Automation V3

▪ Aliases and nicknames

▪ Can cancel workitems

▪ Callback for completed workitems

▪ Specify custom output location

▪ Pick a localized version of Revit

▪ Revit 2019 in addition to 2018

▪ Better linked files handling

▪ (a lot of behind the scenes stuff)

System Details

▪ Revit’s DB layer only

▪ No access to the network

▪ No “sticky sessions”

▪ No printing

▪ No IFC

▪ No Navisworks export

▪ Desktop Connector is not supported

▪ Run many jobs in parallel

▪ Automate tedious tasks

▪ Multiple versions of Revit

▪ No Revit license needed

What Can I Build?

© Autodesk, Inc. 2017

WhoBouygues ConstructionMaxime Vallee

APIs Used:

Solution Using the Data Management API models stored in BIM 360 can be accessed and displayed in the integrated viewer.

A custom addin supports additional input data and is processed using Design Automation for Revit. The result is then translated into viewables using the Model Derivative API and displayed in the Forge Viewer.

In this specific example a custom view and legend is generated by the View Selector extension.

View Selector Extension

Design

Automation

Viewer Data

Management

Model

Derivative

© Autodesk, Inc. 2017

WhoXinapsGeert van Gorp Frank SchuyerAntoine Meurillon Hans de Kruijff

APIs Used:

Solution Supported RVT files are displayed from BIM 360 using the Data Management API. The model is then converted and loaded into a Unity webgl viewer. Using the BIMobject API a list of products is provided and the RFA is converted to a Unity viewable lighting object using Design Automation for Revit and the Model Derivative API.

After placement a calculation for the fixtures per room using clashing \ energy demand \ lux per room is completed and a bill of quantities is generated. The lighting fixtures are then integrated back into the Revit file by pushing the RFA from BIMobject, the added locations from our web viewer and the base Revit file to Design Automation for Revit.

The newly generated Revit file is saved as a new file version to BIM 360 using the Data Management API.

Signify Philips Lighting Designer

Design

Automation

Viewer Data

Management

Model

Derivative

© Autodesk, Inc. 2017

WhoHyparAnthony HauckIan Keough

APIs Used:

Solution The Hypar platform helps capture, explore, extend, and apply AEC expertise to accelerate the delivery of a better built environment.

Hypar is using Design Automation for Revit to create Revit models from generated designs.

In this example slabs and columns are created from a generated design option for a mixed-use tower on a site in Los Angeles.

Generated Design Automation

Design

AutomationModel

Derivative

© Autodesk, Inc. 2017

WhoCAD & CompanyJaap van den Handel

APIs Used:

Solution Using the BIM platform BLDNG360.com custom room data is generated in a version of the Revit model.

This existing addin has been modified to use Design Automation for Revit to process and publish the custom room data. Rooms in the Revit model are utilized during the creation of generic models. Custom parameters are added and the resulting geometry is isolated in a custom 3D view.

The result is then uploaded using the Data Management API and a Design Automation for Revit job does the processing. Once complete the results are downloaded and displayed in the Forge Viewer.

BLDNG360 Room Data

Design

Automation

Viewer Data

Management

Model

Derivative

© Autodesk, Inc. 2017

APIs Used:

Design

Automation

Viewer Data

Management

Model

Derivative

WhoAutodesk Developer NetworkAutodeskZhong Wu Rahul BhobeAugusto Goncalves

Additional Samples…

Solution 1. Model upgrade app (Revit 2018 > 2019.)

2. Design Automation for Inventor to Design Automation for Revit using webhooks and BIM 360.

3. Revit family content creator.

4. Design Automation design check with webhookintegration.

5. Sketch It app sample supporting sketch lines to walls for design continuation in Revit.

1 2

3 4

5

What’s Next?

Roadmap

Now

Onboarding

documentation

Select partnerships

Invite-Only Beta

We’re Nearly There

Open beta for all Forge

partners

Address partner

feedback

Ensure scalability

Public Beta

TBD

Public availability

Production-level

support

Public Release

Revit Cloud

Worksharing support

Dynamo scripting

support

SOC2 Certification

Post Launch

Public Beta Coming January 28

To be notified about updates please complete our survey at www.autodesk.com/revitonforge

Prepare by refactoring your Revit add-in or begin working on an add-in that contains your custom logic

Questions? Email us at revitonforge@autodesk.com

For Inventor: inventoronforge@autodesk.com

For AutoCAD: Check out V2 API

Revit Design Automation Accelerator

Boston, MA – February 4-8, 2019

A special program to help developers leverage Autodesk Forge APIs to build next generation solutions

Work up close and personal with the Autodesk team to turn your idea into a working prototype.

Apply at www.autodeskcloudaccelerator.com

Forge Experts Available!

Please Visit

• Forge Village at DevCon

• Autodesk Answer Bar in the AU Exhibit Hall

• Forge Quad in the AU Exhibit Hall

Forge DevLab

Tuesday, November 13, 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. in Galileo 1002 (Level 1)

• Drop-in workshop / informal lab for software developers of all skill levels - get one-to-one help and advice

• Open to all Forge DevCon and Autodesk University attendees

• Book a 30 minute slot in the Class Catalog (enter Forge DevLab in the search bar) or drop by

Image courtesy of Christian Kasper

Design Automation• SDFDC255339

Design Automation: Revit and Inventor – Better Together

• AS226079

Manage Revit Digital Content using Forge Design

Automation API for Revit

• SD225601

Bringing your Inventor Add-in into Forge DesignAutomation

• SD224848-L

Pushing Revit to the Next Level: An Intro to RevitPlugins with C#

• BES219848

Revit Programming for Beginners: Easily Access the RevitAPI Using

Free Tools

• BLD227018

Tips and Tricks About Using Revit API to Achieve Enhanced and

Customized BIM Metrics

• SD195990

Revit API Expert Roundtable: Open House on the Factory Floor

Revit Add-ins

Autodesk and the Autodesk logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or

trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for

typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

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