Video Tutorial: How to Import Revit into Unity3D
This tutorial provides an overview of the process involved with importing architectural models into Unity3d. In this case, we’re using Revit Architecture 2009, but the process is relatively universal, and can be applied to just about any architectural CAD or BIM software. After importing your model, try out our Architectural Beginner’s Kit, which enables you to quickly add operable doors, lights, material changers, orbiting cameras and more. If you need some help, or would rather not tackle this on your own, I can also be brought in as a consultant to help with your project.
Importing Revit Architecture into Unity3D Tutorial from Jon Brouchoud on Vimeo.
Hey Jon,
Still seems like there is some serious voodoo in the *.fbm material generation from Revit to Unity. What specifically happens in this phase, i can not seem to replicate it??
Thanks for the video!!!
-dave.
Hey Jon,
After some research i discovered it is a Revit 2011 thing. The *.fbm file is a shared permanent file now between acad, revit, max, etc. There is no longer an independent *.fbm created by Revit…which kind of stinks. As such, in Unity you have one material per model assigned to all the objects, and the fbx format from revit is really only designed to run directly to max. I am working with a work-around by isolating materials and exporting sets of fbx files from Revit…a bit annoying but both practical and acceptable. Let me know if you think i am missing something in the process if you get a chance!
-dave.
Hi Dave,
In your FBX exporter diaglogue box (in Revit 2009 anyway..) I have the option of saving to a variety of FBX versions, including earlier years. I wonder – if you exported to FBX 2009 format, would it product an fbm?
Let me know if that works!
Cheers,
Jon
It just occurred to me.. if you can dynamically link the file to 3DS, try saving the 3DS file into your assets folder. Unity automatically detects and imports files from 3DS. It might even retain the material assignments?
I’m having the same issue with Revit 2011. The materials are not importing, no FBM file to be found. When I try to change the material type in Unity it applies to the entire model. Any help would be appreciated. thanks for the video!
Hi Pete,
Have you been able to try using an older FBX format? In your export dialog, do you see the option to use older versions of FBX?
Also, are you able to try the export to 3DS first?
If changing one material changes the whole model, I wonder if the model is somehow combining itself (might also be something you can test in the FBX export dialog.) – are you able to select individual meshes in the scene, or only the whole model?
I also found quite a few articles suggesting the FBX exporter in Revit 2011 didn’t work quite right, and a fix is available:
http://area.autodesk.com/forum/autodesk-3ds-max/autodesk-3ds-max–3ds-max-design-2011/migrated-revit-file-2010-to-2011-40exported-fbx41-will-not-load/page-last/
Hope that helps!
Hi Jon,
Great website and thanks for the video.
I’m having the same problems importing fbx from Revit 2011 into Unity.
The link you’re giving is a fix for 3ds-max, right? Not for Revit.
The original 2011 file is imported but everything is one material. Meshes remain individuallu selectable in Unity.
I’ve tried using the Autodesk converter, but without any results. When I convert the 2011 fbx to 2010 or 2009 (binary, with embed media, using autodesk fbx converter on windows and osx), the problem remains: One material named -noName.
I also believe the problem is indeed the fbx format in 2011. The Autodesk converter tool doesn’t seem to be able to handle this becuase the 2010 and 2009 converted fbx files show empty in Quicktime.
I haven’t tried the 3ds-max bypass, but will look into that once I have more time.
If you have new light on the subject I’m very interested.
Regards
Hi Sander, thanks for providing this info – hopefully we can find a fix for this somehow!
I would assume Revit isn’t backward compatible.. otherwise, a last resort might be to save it down to an earlier version of Revit and export.
Unfortunately… Revit isn’t backwards compatible.
Revit 2009 and 2010 export beautiful fbx and fbm files which seamlessly come into Unity.
But they seem to have broken 2011… and no fixes are available yet.
Still looking for a viable workaround.
=)
Hello,
I’m also experiencing material problems with the FBX generated from either Revit or AutoCAD (2011 and 2012). I think it must have something to do with Autodesk Material Library which is now unified.
Once the FBX is inside Unity3d there is only one material for all family instances. It seems to ignore the existing materials.
Did anyone manage to get it working again with 2011/2012?
Any workaround or available fix?
Regards,
Fernando.