Element Behavior in a Parametric Modeler

In projects, Revit uses 3 types of elements:

• Model elements represent the actual 3D geometry of the building. They display in relevant views of the model.

  Examples:

  • Walls, windows, doors, and roofs
  
  Structural walls, slabs, ramps, and roofs
  
  Sinks, boilers, ducts, sprinklers, and electrical panels

• Datum elements help to define project context. For example, levels and reference planes are datum elements.
• View-specific elements display only in the views in which they are placed. They help to describe or document the model. For example, dimensions are view-specific elements.

Elements for Revit Architecture

Elements for Revit Structure

Elements for Revit MEP

There are 2 types of model elements:

Hosts (or host elements) are generally built in place at the construction site.

Examples:

• Walls and ceilings

Structural walls and roofs

Walls and ceilings

Model components are all the other types of elements in the building model.

Examples:

• Windows, doors, and cabinets

Beams, structural columns, and 3D rebar

Sinks, boilers, ducts, sprinklers, and electrical panels

There are 2 types of view-specific elements:

• Annotation elements are 2D components that document the model and maintain scale on paper. For example, dimensions, tags, and keynotes are annotation elements.
• Details are 2D items that provide details about the building model in a particular view. Examples include detail lines, filled regions, and 2D detail components.

This implementation provides flexibility for designers. Revit elements are designed to be created and modified by you directly; programming is not required. If you can draw, you can define new parametric elements in Revit.

In Revit, the elements determine their behavior largely from their context in the building. The context is determined by how you draw the component and the constraint relationships that are established with other components. Often, you do nothing to establish these relationships; they are implied by what you do and how you draw. In other cases, you can explicitly control them, by locking a dimension or aligning 2 walls, for example.