Convert a Mass to a Toposurface

To convert a conceptual mass to a Revit toposurface for use with Site Designer, use the Toposurface Conversion tool.

Note: This task requires Site Designer, which is available to Autodesk subscribers of a supported Revit product or suite, and users with Autodesk Education accounts.

For example, you can use this tool if you have used Revit to create a conceptual mass, or have imported geometry from another application to a mass family and created an instance of the mass family in the project. (See Importing Massing Studies from Other Applications.) Then use the Toposurface Conversion tool to convert a face of the mass into a Revit toposurface.

To convert a mass to a toposurface

1. Open a 3D view or the site plan view that displays the mass.

   Make sure the mass is visible in the view.

   Tip: Open a 3D view and the site plan, and tile them to see the views side-by-side. To tile the views, type the keyboard shortcut w t.
2. Click Site Designer tabConvert panel (Toposurface Conversion).
3. In the Convert Object To Toposurface dialog, do the following:
   1. For Toposurface Name, enter a unique name for the original toposurface, such as Existing Surface.
   2. For Phase Created, select Existing (or the corresponding phase name used by your organization).
   3. Click Pick.
4. In the drawing area, select the mass.

   As you move the cursor over the mass, check the message in the status bar; it indicates the category, family, and type of the item. When the status message indicates that the highlighted item is from the Mass category, click to select it.

5. In the Convert Object To Toposurface dialog, click Convert.

   Site Designer converts the selected mass into a Revit toposurface.

   Now the model contains both the toposurface and the underlying mass. In most cases, the mass is no longer useful, so it can be deleted or hidden to avoid confusion.

6. (Recommended) Delete the mass:
   1. Move the cursor in the view until it highlights the mass.

      Check the message in the status bar. If the status message indicates that the highlighted item is from the Topography category, do not click to select it. Press Tab to cycle through nearby elements. When the status message indicates the desired mass, click to select it.

   2. Press Delete.
7. Use the Set Base Toposurface tool to create a copy of the Revit toposurface for use with Site Designer. (Start at Step 4 of that procedure.)