Session 1.4
Area Plans – they aren’t just for egress calculations
Synopsis:
Area Plans are an often-underutilized feature in Revit. They can be used for a variety of things such as planting plans, unit plans, and test fits. This presentation will show some alternate uses for them that harnesses the I in BIM.
Learning Objectives:
1. Learn about Area plans and how to set up them in your project.
2. Learn about limitations to area plans and strategies for overcoming them.
3. Learn various ways that Area Plans can be used and how the data within them can help you design efficiently.
Body:
Area plans are a feature of Revit that many don’t seem to use to their full potential. Any time you need to calculate the square footage of your project, use an area plan. They are a quick and easy way to get a good idea of different ways that you can use your space. Doing a test fit with only CAD backgrounds to start with? Use an area plan for different options. Need to show planting bed areas that automatically calculated the number of plants you need? Use an area plan.
This presentation will lay out the benefits of using an area plan in Revit, which include the following:
• Harnessing the power of schedules and calculated values to quickly show different scenarios based on different square footage areas
• Using area schemes to show in hatches or colors different sections of something –
i.e. planting, use groups, departments, etc.
• Creating custom tags to show calculated values such as the number of occupants in a space, or the number of plants in a planting area
• Creating existing and proposed square footage calculations when doing a test fit of a building
• Creating area boundaries and their settings
• Areas and phasing
• Some limitations of using area plans vs regular floor plan views
And so much more!