Underlay CAD data in a Revit model

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In a Revit model, linked CAD files can be used as an underlay to trace building objects

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such as walls, doors, and windows.

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When linking AutoCAD data in your project, it is important to ensure that the CAD file is pinned, so that it maintains its position.

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To begin, open a project with a linked CAD file.

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In this example, a CAD file with walls is used.

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To distinguish the CAD lines more easily, zoom in on a building object, such as a corridor wall.

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Then, on the Quick Access Toolbar, enable Thin Lines.

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This displays all lines in the project as a single width.

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If you want to match the thickness of the walls in the CAD file,

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you can measure them to determine their thickness.

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On the Quick Access toolbar, click Measure Between Two References.

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Hover the cursor over the walls and the CAD lines highlight.

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Click on the face of a wall, then click on the other face of the same wall.

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When you do, a temporary dimension displays.

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Now, place walls over the CAD file underlay.

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From the Architecture ribbon in the Build panel, click Wall.

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Next, expand the Type Selector drop-down and choose a wall with matching dimensions as the temporary dimension.

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Then, in the Properties palette, set Top Constraint to Level 1.

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Set the Location Line to Finish Face: Exterior.

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With the wall type configured, you can trace the walls.

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From the ribbon, Draw panel, choose Pick Lines.

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Begin placing the corridor walls based on the interior walls of the CAD file.

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When you hover the cursor over the finish face of a wall, a dotted line appears.

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The line is positioned based on the location line.

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In this instance, with Finish Face: Exterior selected, the dotted line indicates the wall centerline

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based on the wall type you specified.

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Once the dotted line is positioned correctly, click to place the wall.

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If you place a wall in the wrong location, you can use the flip control to correct its placement.

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You can place one wall on each side of the corridor and use the Trim/Extend to Corner tool to help connect walls.

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With this tool activated, simply select the two walls you want to extend to form a corner.

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When you are finished, click Modify to end the command.

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Using a linked CAD file is an easy way to recreate building objects in Revit.