What is the difference between Project Base Point and Survey Point in Revit?

The Project Base Point (PBP) is the origin of Revit's internal coordinate system — all element coordinates in the model are measured from it. The Survey Point represents a known real-world location (a survey benchmark or control point) that links the model to the real-world coordinate system, such as state plane coordinates or UTM. You position the Survey Point relative to the PBP to tell Revit where the building sits on earth without moving the model geometry. Setting the Survey Point correctly is essential for multi-discipline model alignment and for accurate IFC/GIS export.

How do you align Revit models from different disciplines so they overlay correctly?

The most reliable approach is Shared Coordinates. The architectural team sets up the reference model with the Project Base Point at a known location (typically the intersection of Grid A and Grid 1). Other discipline teams link the architectural model and then use Manage > Coordinates > Publish Coordinates to write that position into their own file. Subsequently, when anyone links using 'Auto - By Shared Coordinates,' the models align automatically. The fallback approach — 'Auto - Origin to Origin' — works only if all teams started their files with the Project Base Point at the exact same real-world location.

Why do architectural and structural levels in Revit often not match?

Architectural levels typically reference the top of finished floor (TOF), which is the floor surface that occupants walk on. Structural levels reference the top of structural slab (TOS), which is the concrete slab surface before any topping or flooring is applied. The difference is the finish floor thickness — commonly 50 to 150mm depending on flooring type and slab system. This offset must be agreed and documented in the BIM Execution Plan at project kickoff. The structural engineer sets their Level 2 at TOS; the architect sets theirs at TOF. Both are correct — they just describe different physical surfaces.

What should a professional Revit project template include?

A production-quality Revit template should include: the firm's title block family loaded and configured; View Templates for all common view types (floor plan, RCP, elevation, section, detail, 3D) with correct visibility settings; standard object styles with correct line weights and patterns for the firm's graphic standards; a pre-built Sheet Set with standard sheet names and numbers; commonly used loadable families (doors, windows, structural shapes) pre-loaded; correct Project Units for the firm's market; a phasing structure for typical project types; and any shared parameters the firm uses for scheduling and data export. Starting every project from this template enforces standards without manual configuration effort.

How do you set up Revit for IFC export with correct real-world coordinates?

For IFC export with accurate geolocation, position the Survey Point at a known real-world reference coordinate before modeling begins. In IFC export settings (File > Export > IFC), set the coordinate base to 'Shared Coordinates' so the exported IFC uses the Survey Point's position as its origin. The IFC Site element will then carry the correct geographic location metadata. If the Survey Point is left at the default internal origin, the IFC will export with arbitrary coordinates that do not match any real-world system — a common problem when BIM models are imported into GIS platforms or digital twin environments.

What is the correct way to name views and levels in Revit for a large project?

For levels, use consistent, descriptive names that match the project's floor schedule: Level 1, Level 2, Roof, Penthouse Level, Basement 1. Include structural versus architectural level designations if both are used (e.g., Level 2 - TOS, Level 2 - TOF). For views, use a prefix-based naming convention that indicates discipline and purpose: '01 ARCH - Level 1 Floor Plan' for plotted architectural plans, 'WIP - Level 1 - Coordination' for working views, '3D - MEP Zone A' for coordination 3D views. Configure the Project Browser to group views by these prefixes using browser organization settings, so the tree stays navigable on projects with hundreds of views.

Design·9 min read·June 19, 2026

📐 How to Set Up a Revit Project: Levels, Grids, Shared Coordinates, and Project Templates

A step-by-step guide to setting up a Revit project correctly from day one: selecting and customizing templates, configuring Project Units and Project Information, creating levels and grids, understanding Project Base Point versus Survey Point, establishing Shared Coordinates for multi-discipline coordination, and saving a Central Model for worksharing.

📖Structural Engineering Drawing Set — Illustrated Reader (Full Access)

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Why Project Setup Matters More Than You Think

The first hours you spend on a Revit project are the most leveraged. Decisions made during project setup — the coordinate origin, the level structure, the unit precision, the shared parameters — propagate through every view, every sheet, every linked file, and every IFC export for the life of the project. A five-minute shortcut on day one can become a week of rework on day 180 when you realize the model is positioned 20 kilometers from the real site in coordinate space, or that your structural engineer's levels do not match your architectural levels by 100mm.

Topics covered

Revit project setupRevit levels grids tutorialRevit shared coordinatesProject Base Point Survey Point RevitRevit project templateRevit Project UnitsRevit IFC export coordinatesRevit central model setupmulti-discipline BIM coordinationRevit BIM setup best practices